Academic and Clinical Excellence


Vermont Center for immunology and Infectious Diseases LogoThe Vermont Center for Immunobiology and Infectious Diseases (VCIID) was created in 2006 with a five-year $11.4 million Phase I Center for Biological Research Excellence (COBRE) grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute of General Medical Sciences. In 2011, we entered a second five-year Phase II period; and in 2016, we entered a third 5-year Phase III period.  VCIID combines the expertise of the UVM groups in Immunobiology, Microbiology, Infectious Diseases, and the Vaccine Testing Center to promote collaborative studies into the immune response to infectious agents, including viruses, bacteria and parasites, as well as studies of microbial pathogenesis and autoimmune disorders.

Faculty in lab

Collaborations

The Center includes UVM faculty in eight departments and three colleges. VCIID has an NIH T32 Training Grant to support graduate students. We also maintain an active seminar series that brings international investigators in immunology and microbiology. In addition, we are committed to an expansion of the Center through the recruitment of new faculty.

Physicians and patient in MRI

Research Training

A research training program in Immunology and Infectious Diseases exists with opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. This is supported by funds from both the COBRE and T32 Training Grant awards.

Fluorescent imaging

Core Facilities

The Center supports core facilities in microarray, bioinformatics, proteomics, and flow cytometry. Clinical Trials for Infectious Dieases are conducted with the Division of Infectious Diseases and Vermont Vaccine Testing Center, and for autoimmune and rheumatic diseases with the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology.

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Spotlight

Botten, Bruce & Colleagues' Study Describes Streamlined COVID-19 Test

Test Doesn’t Use Scarce Reagents, Catches All But the Least Infectious and Addresses Major Testing Need in Developing World

A major roadblock to large scale testing for coronavirus infection in the developing world is a shortage of key chemicals, or reagents, needed for the test, specifically the ones used to extract the virus’s genetic material, or RNA.   READ MORE...