The immune system has a pervasive role in health and disease. Hence, immunology spans all areas of biological and clinical science. The mission of the Immunology Focus Group (IFG) is to facilitate basic, translational and clinical collaboration in WSU, KCI and HFH, and with other leading institutions within and beyond the metro Detroit area.

The areas of interest of the IFG include, but are not limited to:

• Molecular, cellular and developmental immunology
• Infection / inflammation / autoimmunity / immunodeficiency / allergy
• Cancer immunology and immunotherapy
• Immunology of metabolic diseases and aging
• Immunology of mental and behavioral disorders
• Immunology of reproductive diseases
• Bioengineering and immunotherapy
• Immunopharmacology

IFG promotes immunology-related multidisciplinary research to successfully compete for extramural funding. We work closely with other scientific theme groups and administrative units on campus to host external investigators to strengthen research collaboration that is underpinned by immunology.

All scientists and clinicians in the departments, centers and institutes in the Wayne State University, Barbara Ann Karmanos Institute, Henry Ford Health, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center as well hospitals affiliated with the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) in the greater Detroit area are invited to in our scientific and educational activities.

The IFG lectures are usually held on the first Tuesday of each month, unless otherwise scheduled.

Leading external investigators conducting research across all areas of immunology are invited to our campuses. The IFG also arranges them to have private meetings with WSU, KCI, HFH, VA and DMC investigators, graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, residents and fellows. The IFG platform is also used by the participating entities for recruiting outstanding talents to WSU.

IFG internal meetings take place two to three times a year, where members review the progress and gather suggestions for future activities.

IFG activities have been supported by the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and participating departments, institutes and centers of Wayne State University, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute and Henry Ford Health.

The IFG has been successful since its inception. Through our efforts, participating members have established fruitful collaboration, obtained competitive extramural funding and published collaboratively on many leading journals. We have also been successful in facilitating the recruitment of new faculty members to WSU, training graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, developing new teaching curriculum for graduate students, and connecting basic science and clinical faculty members across campus and the affiliated hospitals. These achievements have allowed the IFG to become a model for other interdisciplinary scientific groups in WSU.