The Department was established in 1970 to support the teaching mission of the newly established College of Medicine at the University of South Florida. Today, the mission of the Department is to create new knowledge through laboratory research in the areas of infectious diseases and immunity and to disseminate knowledge through training and other educational programs.
Additional facilities are currently under construction.
The student populations served by the department are those seeking a Ph.D. or M.D. degree as well as postdoctoral students seeking advanced training in microbiology and immunology. Research experiences and opportunities are also available to high school and undergraduate students. Stipends for graduate studies are available through a training grant funded by the National Institutes on Drug Abuse. Additional financial support is available.