Columbia University/Center for Infection and Immunity

Mission Statement

We are committed to assembling a global immune system that will enable scientists and clinicians to manage potential threats before they can affect the health of communities worldwide.

The first step toward achieving this goal is being able to quickly identify the pathogens that cause disease.

That is our specialty.

We have developed and validated techniques for the rapid identification of pathogens in our laboratories and have taken our expertise into the field to train local personnel and assist governments in managing outbreaks.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected through travel, trade and technology, the probability of a local outbreak spreading across borders is higher than ever, making surveillance of disease ever more important. Our global networks, however, also provide more opportunities to collaborate with local leaders and agencies in an effort to weave together a cohesive public health system.

Our core values — fostering science, service and sustainability — stem from the philosophy that clinicians, scientists and public officials must work together to protect the health of people around the world.