March 2006

It has been some time since our last departmental alumni update (2004). 

The Department, Graduate Program and Chair were reviewed last year.  The review was extremely positive and we received a number of useful suggestions from both the outside reviewers (Drs. John Iandolo, University of Oklahoma and Dennis Ohman, Virginia Commonwealth University) as well as the WSU Review Advisory Panel.  Although resources are limited, we will be implementing a number of these suggestions (e.g. the continued recruitment of new faculty, the replacement of aging equipment, intensifying the graduate student recruitment process, updating the departmental website; and the fine tuning of our IBS and advanced course offerings).

With respect to faculty recruitment Mairi Noverr joined the Department this past Fall.  Mairi studies the immunological and molecular characterization of Candida during host-pathogen interactions as well as the effects of polymicrobial interactions at mucosal surfaces.   In addition, I am pleased to report that we are currently recruiting another faculty member with research interests in bacterial pathogenesis.  We anticipate that this individual will join us by the Fall of this year.  We currently have a commitment to begin another search in the coming academic year.

Our most notable equipment purchase has been a new Dako Cyan Flow Cytometer.  This 3 laser instrument will allow us to analyze 11 parameters.

As you may already know, at the beginning of March Dr. Robert Mentzer became the new Dean of the School of Medicine.  Dr. Mentzer was previously Chair of Surgery at the University of Kentucky.  He has a strong research commitment holding an NIH RO1 grant as PI.

Once again I issue my standing invitation to all of you to remain in contact with us and return to the Department and participate in our seminar program.  I would also continue to encourage you to help us identify prospective graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty candidates.  Finally, if I can be of any help to you, please do not hesitate to contact me.