Research

The Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR) was inaugurated July 1, 2007 to advance research initiatives, education, and clinical applications in new and important directions at the University of Virginia (UVa). Research programs center on the immune system in health and disease, and basic and translational research in immunity, autoimmunity, inflammation and regenerative medicine. The immune system is an important key to health and disease prevention. It is also a cornerstone for many scientific disciplines within the biological and biomedical sciences.

The CIIR consists of basic immunologists, clinical investigators, and affiliated members who facilitate the transition of immunological concepts underlying human disease to clinical trials. The CIIR and the Divisions of Nephrology and Rheumatology are linked thematically through common basic and clinical immunology research. Through this linkage, CIIR research programs interface with and complement established UVa School of Medicine research programs, including the Beirne Carter Center for Immunology Research, the Cardiovascular Research Center, Morphogenesis and Regenerative Medicine, the Department of Medicine and other basic science departments, and Biomedical Engineering. The Center is also an important training ground for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scientists.

The Center is in 13,000 sq ft of recently renovated space in the Division of Nephrology and the Center for Immunity, Inflammation and Regenerative Medicine (CIIR).

1. To create a vibrant, collaborative research environment that advances individual and common areas of research direction in autoimmunity, inflammation, infections, and regenerative medicine.
2. To translate basic concepts on the immunological basis of disease to clinical trials.
3. To translate basic concepts in tissue engineering that will permit the development of novel therapies to regenerate damaged tissues and relieve debilitating chronic disease.
4. To establish specialty clinics in the areas of lupus nephritis and other rheumatological diseases, and polycystic kidney disease and other renal diseases. These clinics will complement laboratory based basic immunology in the development of a human database, identification of genetic markers for human disease states, and establishment of the infrastructure for clinical trials.
5. To support training of students, residents and fellows in basic and translational aspects of immunology, regenerative medicine and disease.
6. To recruit and mentor junior faculty members of the CIIR.

Interest Group: Extracellular Vesicles
Focus: multidisciplinary group interested in the roles of extracellular vesicles, also invite international speakers.
Meetings: Twice a month, Thursdays at 11 am
Format/Location: in person or virtual
Contact: Uta Erdbruegger (ue2u@uvahealth.org)