MRC/University of Birmingham Centre for Immune Regulation
Professor Eric J Jenkinson
Director of MRC/University of Birmingham Centre for Immune Regulation
The Birmingham Centre for Immune Regulation brings together 16 internationally competitive research groups, with complementary skills in studying the different facets of immune responses and their regulation.
This coordinated research considers the way the immune system maintains health. It links this basic research on immune regulation with the study of persistent viral infections and tuberculosis; infections that require continued immunological control to maintain health. In addition the centre studies arthritis and vasculitis - groups of relapsing and remitting inflammatory conditions associated with immunological damage to joints or blood vessels. The difference between health and illness in each of these diseases relates to the balance within and between the multiple components of the immune system. It follows, that study of their pathogenesis requires a broad understanding of the complex components of this system. Against this, as each component is highly complex, a single research group can only be internationally competitive if its studies are focused. This conflict is addressed through the research groups of the centre working together on complementary aspects of immune regulation. In this way ambitious targets can be set for the analysis of multi-stage processes, and the way they are controlled. This increases the power of the centre’s research far beyond the potential that would be realised by its individual groups working alone. This synergy also applies to the training and career-development available within the centre.
Department of Immunology
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
Telephone: +44 (0)121 414 4068
Fax: +44 (0)121 414 3599
Web: www.mrcbcir.bham.ac.uk
