Future disease detectives. Hands-on experience now.

At West Virginia University, you will develop the laboratory skills and knowledge needed to assess the function of the immune system and to safely cultivate and identify microorganisms that cause disease.

At the WVU School of Medicine, the Immunology and Medical Microbiology program fully integrates knowledge of the immune system with an excellent understanding of the mechanisms utilized by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites to cause disease. 

Rooted in a hands-on research approach, the program's curriculum provides a strong foundation and preparation for medical, dental or veterinary school, graduate school and biotechnology.

You’ll gain an in-depth understanding of how the immune system protects hosts from infectious diseases and the consequences of immune system malfunction, which can result in autoimmunity or cancer.

Top-rated internships and opportunities.

From the classroom to the clinic and the library to the lab, the School of Medicine, housed on the Health Sciences Campus has programs and resources to fit every goal and interest.

IMMB students have access to:

• Hands-on learning opportunities in research in basic science laboratories.
• Paid research opportunities in infectious diseases, cancer cell biology and more.
• Internship opportunities in biosafety, flow cytometry, microscopy and imaging, animal behavior and more.

Many of the classes have laboratories that are designed to give students basic and advanced laboratory research skills starting in their freshman year.  Students also have the opportunity to perform research in individual faculty labs and receive credit while in the lab.

WVU School of Medicine students have established a Student Chapter of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) at WVU. ASM is the leading international society for microbiology, with strong educational and research support for undergraduate students.