Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity

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Lena Al-Harthi, PhD

Meet our department’s faculty and staff.

MPI Research

Learn more about our department’s research.

Learn about our seminar series

Learn more about the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity seminars.

Learn about our media coverage

See the latest press coverage of our research.

 

Our leading-edge research focuses on translational laboratory programs in HIV immunology and virology, host pathogen interaction, microbiome studies and tumor immunology.

Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity in the News

Jeffrey R. Schneider, PhD
Faculty News

A recent study by Jeffrey Schneider, PhD and researchers at Rush University and Northwestern University.  Read more…
The results of the study were recently published in Cell Reports.  You can learn more about the study here.

Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty News
Research highlight featuring the study by Lena Al-Harthi, PhD is posted on the NIMH website.  Read more…
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty News
Rush News article “Test Tube to Bedside: The RUSH Way” by Lena Al-Harthi, PhDRead more…
Summer Internship Program with British International High School
Department News
Rising seniors from the British International School of Chicago-South Loop (BISC-SL) completed a research internship at Rush University, organized by MPI. The students also participated in several activities to learn about the career paths of biomedical scientists. A special thank you to the laboratories of  Dr. Dino Samartzis, Dr. Ryan Ross, Dr. Robin Pourzal, Dr. Xiu-Ti Hu, Dr. Edward Barker, Dr. Hannah Lundberg, and Dr. Lena Al-Harthi for hosting them and facilitating their learning experience.
See more photos of BISC-SL students working in the lab of Dr. Al-Harthi here.
Jeffrey R. Schneider, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
Jeffrey Schneider PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity and Jeffrey Borgia PhD, associate professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology have received a $1.4 million grant to study “breakthrough” infections of COVID-19 in vaccinated people who have received booster shots. Read more…
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
An article published in PLOS Pathogens by Dr. Al-Harthi and others with the media coverage.
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments

HIV can reside in brain cells, and the AIDS-causing virus can spread from the brain to the body, even if it’s been suppressed by antiretroviral therapy, according to a study by Lena Al-Harthi, PhD, chairperson of the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity and an immunology expert. Read more…


Dr. Al-Harthi articles in the press and media coverage highlight her recent work. Read more…

Edward Barker, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
A batty solution? The potential vaccine for future outbreaks” MPI expert opinion on vaccination relevant to COVID-19

Kudos to one of our own, Edward Barker, PhD, for publishing an opinion piece on preventing bat viruses from infecting the human population! As you recall, Dr. Barker was selected to the Public Voices fellow program through the OpEd project championed by the President’s Office.

Bats transmitted the three coronaviruses causing epidemics/pandemics in the last decade (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-COV2). Targetting vaccinating them against their own viruses could stop transmission the human population! Read more…

News Archives

Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity News Archives

Jeffrey R. Schneider, PhD
Faculty News

A recent study by Jeffrey Schneider, PhD and researchers at Rush University and Northwestern University.  Read more…
The results of the study were recently published in Cell Reports.  You can learn more about the study here.

Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty News
Research highlight featuring the study by Lena Al-Harthi, PhD is posted on the NIMH website.  Read more…
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty News
Rush News article “Test Tube to Bedside: The RUSH Way” by Lena Al-Harthi, PhDRead more…
Summer Internship Program with British International High School
Department News
Rising seniors from the British International School of Chicago-South Loop (BISC-SL) completed a research internship at Rush University, organized by MPI. The students also participated in several activities to learn about the career paths of biomedical scientists. A special thank you to the laboratories of  Dr. Dino Samartzis, Dr. Ryan Ross, Dr. Robin Pourzal, Dr. Xiu-Ti Hu, Dr. Edward Barker, Dr. Hannah Lundberg, and Dr. Lena Al-Harthi for hosting them and facilitating their learning experience.
See more photos of BISC-SL students working in the lab of Dr. Al-Harthi here.
Jeffrey R. Schneider, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
Jeffrey Schneider PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity and Jeffrey Borgia PhD, associate professor of Anatomy and Cell Biology have received a $1.4 million grant to study “breakthrough” infections of COVID-19 in vaccinated people who have received booster shots. Read more…
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
An article published in PLOS Pathogens by Dr. Al-Harthi and others with the media coverage.
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments

HIV can reside in brain cells, and the AIDS-causing virus can spread from the brain to the body, even if it’s been suppressed by antiretroviral therapy, according to a study by Lena Al-Harthi, PhD, chairperson of the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity and an immunology expert. Read more…


Dr. Al-Harthi articles in the press and media coverage highlight her recent work. Read more…

Edward Barker, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
A batty solution? The potential vaccine for future outbreaks” MPI expert opinion on vaccination relevant to COVID-19

Kudos to one of our own, Edward Barker, PhD, for publishing an opinion piece on preventing bat viruses from infecting the human population! As you recall, Dr. Barker was selected to the Public Voices fellow program through the OpEd project championed by the President’s Office.

Bats transmitted the three coronaviruses causing epidemics/pandemics in the last decade (SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-COV2). Targetting vaccinating them against their own viruses could stop transmission the human population! Read more…

Giselle Sandi, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments

Giselle Sandi, PhD has been selected by Great Minds in STEM to receive the 2019 Hispanic Engineer National Achievement award for education. This prestigious award honors Giselle’s life-long commitment to promote STEM education for under-represented minority groups. Her efforts have had a sustained regional and national impact for STEM education at all levels from elementary to higher level education. She will receive this prestigious award at the upcoming Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC).

Jennillee Wallace, MS, PhD
Alumni Accomplishments
The Q&A with Graduate College alumna Jennillee Wallace, MS, PhD.
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD
Faculty Appointments
Lena Al-Harthi, PhD, as the next chairperson of the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity
Read more…
Nell S. Lurain, PhD
Faculty Accomplishments
Nell S. Lurain, PhD, professor of the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity, recently received a Rush Faculty Excellence in Education Award.
Faculty Recognition Reception celebrating winners to be held on June 25, 2019.
2019 Faculty Excellence Award Winners and Recognition Reception Video.

Learn more about the Department of Microbial Pathogens and Immunity

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