Pitt Public Health is one of the few graduate schools of public health with a department dedicated to the study of infectious diseases, which are at the root of some of the world’s most pressing health issues.

The Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) is committed to training the next generation of scientists and public health professionals to enhance the control of infectious diseases in the human population. Our integrated microbiology graduate programs are devoted to the education and training of graduate students in various molecular, immunologic, epidemiologic, and biologic aspects of microbial pathogenesis, as well as infectious disease control, prevention and education.

Pitt Public Health has made major contributions in defining, preventing, and treating some of the most devastating diseases of the past 60 years. Among the pioneering scientific breakthroughs made by IDM researchers are...

  • Prevention of poliovirus with gamma globulin, which helped in the development of the Salk polio vaccine
  • Identification of dengue viruses and the hemorrhagic fever caused by them
  • Discovery of adeno-associated virus
  • Linking the transmission of cytomegalovirus to infected organs in transplantation
  • Evidence showing HIV load in the blood is a strong predictor of disease progression
  • Establishing the Pitt Men's Study, a part of the ongoing, greater than 30 year nationwide Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study on the natural history of HIV infection
  • Establishing The Mid Atlantic AIDS Education and Training Center (MAETC) which has provided HIV/AIDS education, consultation, technical assistance and resource materials to health care professionals for over 30 years

Degrees

The IDM Department is committed to high-quality graduate education that is consistent with our cutting-edge research and behavioral and community education programs. Drawing on the disciplines of molecular biology, immunology, epidemiology, medicine, health education, and community intervention, our graduate programs encourage students to engage in cross-disciplinary research of multiple aspects of infectious diseases.

Doctoral and master level degree programs offered include...

Within the MPH program two concentrations are available:

 

Henning breaks down the risks associated with ticks

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT - In the...
Henning breaks down the risks associated with ticks

THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT - In the past century, Pennsylvania has become very favorable for the ecology of tick-borne diseases. The region's woodlands, rivers, growing white tailed-deer population, plentiful population of white-footed mouse, and the expansion of human populations into the black-legged t... (08/12/2019)

Smith talks in-depth immunotherapy for lung cancer

HOPE WITH ANSWERS - Discover ...
Smith talks in-depth immunotherapy for lung cancer

HOPE WITH ANSWERS - Discover in-depth information about immunotherapy for lung cancer through this conversation between Kellie Smith (IDM '13) of Johns Hopkins and patient advocate Lysa Buonanno, part of a video series providing the next level of information for patients to understand treatment opt... (08/12/2019)

MidAtlantic AIDS Education & Training Center receives $14.2 million to extend efforts into 2024

INSIDE UPMC - Public health a...
MidAtlantic AIDS Education & Training Center receives $14.2 million to extend efforts into 2024

INSIDE UPMC - Public health alumnae & RPCVs Marilyn Blasingame (IDM '16) and Ingrid Godfrey (IDM '18), and IDM professor Linda Rose Frank discuss their work on the prevention and treatment  of HIV/AIDS and its co-morbidities through the MidAtlantic AIDS Education & Training Center (MAAETC), which r... (08/10/2019)

Zika and travel: Marques tells you what you need to know

THE NEW YORK TIMES - The viru...
Zika and travel: Marques tells you what you need to know

THE NEW YORK TIMES - The virus has been out of the headlines, but that doesn't mean it is gone. The World Health Organization just updated guideines for travelling to the Zika zone. "Summer in the north is winter in the south and vice versa, so you have to consider that," said IDM's Ernesto Marques... (07/10/2019)

The Zika virus is still a threat. Here's what Marques, other experts know

THE NEW YORK TIMES - Remember...
The Zika virus is still a threat. Here's what Marques, other experts know

THE NEW YORK TIMES - Remember Zika? With measles and Ebola grabbing headlines, it is easy to forget the health panic of 2016, when Zika was linked to severe birth defects in thousands of Brazilian newborns whose mothers were infected while pregnant, striking fear across the country and much of the ... (07/03/2019)

 

Fri
9/20 IDM Event
35th Anniversary of the Pitt Men's Study IDM Event
35th Anniversary of the Pitt Men's Study
Fri 9/20 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Public Health Auditorium (G23)

Join IDM to commemorate this NIH-funded study that has been ongoing in Pittsburgh since 1984, following approximately 3,000 men to gather information on the epidemiology, virology, immunology, and pathology of HIV. Featuring remarks by PI's Charles Rinaldo and Jeremy Martinson, plus presentations by national experts highlighting the history and future of this important study. 
Wed
9/25 IDM PhD & MS Journal Club
Article - Bacteriophage Trigger Antiviral Immunity and Prevent Clearance of Bacterial Infection IDM PhD & MS Journal Club
Article - Bacteriophage Trigger Antiviral Immunity and Prevent Clearance of Bacterial Infection
Wed 9/25 12:00PM - 1:00PM
A719 Public Health
Thu
9/26 IDM Event
2019 IDM Symposium as part of Research Day IDM Event
2019 IDM Symposium as part of Research Day
Thu 9/26 8:00AM - 11:30AM
Public Health Auditorium (G23)

Join us for IDM's newest addition to Research Day as we welcome invited speakers to our morning symposium.
Thu
9/26 IDM Event
2019 IDM Research Day IDM Event
2019 IDM Research Day
Thu 9/26 1:30PM - 4:00PM
Public Health Auditorium (G23)
Mon
9/30 IDM Seminar Series
IDM Research Day Winners IDM Seminar Series
IDM Research Day Winners
Mon 9/30 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Public Health Lecture Hall (A115)
More IDM Events
More Pitt Public Health Events