Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology

The Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology at SIU Medicine is dedicated to cutting-edge research that contributes to innovative advances in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of medical diseases.

Welcome

Welcome to the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology at SIU Medicine. Our faculty, graduate students and medical students are involved in discovery-based, forward-thinking biomedical research that supports future generations of scientists, providers and health care leaders.

Our research innovations focus on areas of interest including tumor cell growth, viral and bacterial infections, the human gut microbiome and the role of immune function in reproduction and cancer.

Our faculty

The faculty at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is focused on educating the region's top physicians, researching new models of care, and providing expert clinical services that address the health care needs of central and southern Illinois.

See the department

RESEARCH

SIU earns elite Research 1 status in national rankings

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Southern Illinois University has joined the nation’s top research institutions. The university has been designated a Research 1, or R1, institution in the latest Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing it among the top 5% of research universities in the country.

Federal budget changes threaten medical education, student access

September 18, 2025

Sweeping changes in federal student aid programs included in the budget reconciliation bill could dramatically reshape the landscape of medical and graduate education. Leaders at SIU Medicine say the proposals would not only burden students with greater financial strain but also threaten the pipeline of physicians needed to care for rural and underserved communities.

Seed funding, strong roots: Two SIU researchers explore early clues to chronic conditions

August 26, 2025

2025 Spring Research Seed Grants launch projects on rheumatoid arthritis and balance disorders. Two early-stage research projects at SIU School of Medicine are taking on complex, chronic diseases that

'COVID Stories' will highlight local impacts of global pandemic

July 29, 2025

A series of Springfield-area events will bring moments from the global pandemic back into sharp focus this fall. ‘COVID Stories’ will provide both local and universal reflections on how we as a society adjusted when things went viral, literally.