Immunology

The UCSF Immunology Graduate Program is a component of both the Biomedical Sciences (BMS) program and the Program in Biological Sciences (PIBS). Students interested in the program are admitted into the BMS program and elect to follow the Immunology Track at the end of their first year. First year BMS students pursue coursework with an emphasis on mammalian cells and tissues, including the immune system. Modern approaches for understanding the molecular mechanisms of cell, organ, and immune system function are studied as are integrative approaches toward defining the physiological in vivo importance of these mechanisms. We believe that this coursework will provide an excellent knowledge base for graduate students with a strong interest in immunology and related fields such as infectious disease. In addition, first year students do three research "rotations" in different BMS/Immunology laboratories to learn experimental approaches hands-on and to aid them in choosing a thesis laboratory and project. For students who elect the Immunology Track, the Immunology Graduate Program provides continuing advanced training in current developments of immunology and in other aspects of modern molecular and cellular biology via a weekly immunology student/faculty journal club, an annual immunology retreat, yearly advanced topics minicourses, and a weekly seminar series that hosts outstanding immunologists from around the U.S. and occasionally overseas. In addition to the above courses and activities, our connection with PIBS provides our students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty with close interactions with scientists studying cell biology, genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology, developmental biology, biophysics, and neuroscience. As these fields are highly relevant to modern study of immunology, these connections enhance the education of students in the Immunology Program.

External Links

Participating Faculty

Oscar Aguilar Alfaro, PhD

Assistant Professor

M_Microbiology and Immunology

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Virology & Microbial Pathogenesis
Research Summary
NK cells, NK receptors, and NK ligands in viral immunity and tumor immunity.

Gregory Allen, MD, PhD

Asst Professor In Residence

M_MED-CORE-HMON-ONCO-GEN

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Research Summary
Our group develops and applies advances in synthetic biology to better understand biological systems and then to re-engineer these systems to tackle disease.

Christopher Allen, PhD

Assistant Professor

Cardiovascular Research Institute

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
None
Research Summary
Cellular Dynamics of Allergic Immune Responses
Mentorship Development

4/26/19    Sharpening your Mentoring Skills (SyMS) with Sharon Milgram (Mission Bay)
2/16/21    Three Truths and Three Tries: Facing and Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels

Mark Anderson, MD, PhD

Director, Medical Scientist Training Program

Diabetes Center

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Human Genetics
Research Summary
The Genetic Control of Autoimmune Disease
Mentorship Development

11/2020 - Building Community in the UCSF MSTP 
2/2021 - Three Truths and Three Tries: Facing and Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels    
4/2021 - Allyship Taking Action

Mark Ansel, PhD

Director, Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program

Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Research Summary
RNA Regulation in the Immune System
Mentorship Development

7/2020-6/2021 - HHMI Mentorship Skills Development 1/12/22 - Equity Based Interview Practices
4/2024 - Supporting Learners in Distress

Judith Ashouri Sinha, MD

Assistant Professor in Residence

M_MED-CORE-RHEU

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Research Summary
Pathogenic Antigen-activated T cells in Autoimmune Disease
Mentorship Development

10/2021 - CCMBM "Welcome to the Lab" Letter Workshop

Kamran Atabai, MD

Associate Professor

Department of Medicine

Primary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Secondary Thematic Area
Immunology
Research Summary
Extracellular matrix regulation of metabolism, pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease

Jody Baron, MD, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Medicine

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Virology & Microbial Pathogenesis
Research Summary
Innate and adaptive immunity to viral pathogens

Peter Beernink, PhD

Professor in Residence

M_PEDS-INFECTIOUS DISEASE

Primary Thematic Area
Virology & Microbial Pathogenesis
Secondary Thematic Area
Immunology
Research Summary
My laboratory investigates molecular interactions among microbial vaccine antigens, host antibodies, and other immune system proteins.

Mallar Bhattacharya, MD

Assoc Professor In Residence

M_MED-CORE-PULM

Primary Thematic Area
Immunology
Secondary Thematic Area
Tissue / Organ Biology & Endocrinology
Research Summary
The Bhattacharya Laboratory studies the effect of macrophages on fibroblast activation during the fibrotic phase of tissue injury, with a focus on lung fibrosis.

Robert Blelloch, MD, PhD

Professor

Department of Urology

Primary Thematic Area
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Secondary Thematic Area
Immunology
Research Summary
Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Stem Cells, Cancer, and Anti-tumor Immunity
Mentorship Development

4/29/19    Sharpening your Mentoring Skills (SyMS) with Sharon Milgram (Parnassus)
10/20/20    Gathering in Community: a Training for Faculty and Staff

Joseph Bondy-Denomy, PhD

Associate Professor

M_Microbiology and Immunology

Primary Thematic Area
Virology & Microbial Pathogenesis
Secondary Thematic Area
Immunology
Research Summary
CRISPR-Cas immunity and anti-immunity
Mentorship Development

4/2019 - Acknowleding and Negotiating the Mentee-Mentor Tensions Inherent in the Research Lab (Mission Bay)
2/2021 - Three Truths and Three Tries: Facing and Overcoming Critical Social Justice Challenges at the Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels
6/2022 - Career Conversations
11/2022 - Faculty Development Program: Supervising People Who Aren't You: Mentoring/Managing Different Work Styles