Overview

The Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Program at Mayo Clinic is dedicated to translational research on immune-mediated diseases, with the goal of expanding the scope of clinical immunology in different subdisciplines. These subdisciplines include autoimmunity, allergy, immunodeficiency disorders, bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, immunotherapeutics, immunosenescence, and microbial therapeutics.

The program promotes collaborative research activities within the Department of Immunology and the Division of General Internal Medicine, across Mayo Clinic, and with other institutions and industry partners. The faculty comprises investigators from a variety of specialties who have immunology-related interests within their specialties.

The program's specific objectives to advance immunology research include:

  • Promoting research in clinical immunology by providing research support for clinical immunology projects.
  • Seeking opportunities to work across Mayo Clinic departments by bringing together investigators with common interests; facilitating the exchange of ideas and resources; and promoting synergy among investigators in research, clinical and diagnostic lab disciplines.
  • Providing resources and training grant opportunities for junior or new faculty members at Mayo Clinic who want to conduct research in the immunological sciences.

FOCIS Center of Excellence

The Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCIS) comprises 66 member societies and represents approximately 65,000 physician-scientists.

It provides:

  • A scientific forum to foster the cross-disciplinary approaches required to understand and treat immune-based diseases as the discipline of clinical immunology evolves.
  • A better understanding of the shared pathophysiological underpinnings of clinical immunology and the new therapeutic approaches suggested by these novel relationships, including the increasingly widespread use of biologics in therapy.
  • A forum for education of trainees, physicians, patients and the public in the discipline of clinical immunology.
  • Support on public policy issues.

As part of its mission, FOCIS has created Centers of Excellence worldwide to accelerate multidisciplinary scientific and clinical innovation and education.

Mayo Clinic is one of the institutions designated as a FOCIS Center of Excellence in the U.S. With this designation, Mayo Clinic shares a national and international leadership role and responsibility to promote clinical immunology as an expanding area of lab diagnosis, clinical practice, research and education.

Khashayarsha Khazaie, Ph.D., and Amir A. Sadighi Akha, M.D., D.Phil., serve as the director and associate director, respectively, of Mayo Clinic's FOCIS Center of Excellence.

Affiliations

The Clinical Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Program is affiliated with other Mayo Clinic research areas, including: