Chair's Welcome
As Chair, I'd like to welcome you to the Department of Medical Parasitology. We study parasites that cause the global infectious diseases afflicting the world's poor. These diseases, such as malaria, Chagas Disease, trypanosomiasis, and amoebic dysentery, need to be better controlled if the worldwide community is to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. This urgent global health need focuses our scientific mission on basic and translational discoveries that will lead to better control of these diseases.
Our Department has a distinguished history of malaria research, especially the basic science discoveries leading to vaccine development of the Glaxo Smith Kline RTS,S and Sanaria live attenuated vaccines. We are unique in the U.S. in that we are the only Parasitology Department in a Medical School. Our great strength is the 80 or more outstanding faculty, students, research scientists and postdoctoral fellows dedicated to understanding the biology and control of parasitic diseases. We also play a leadership role in advocacy, curriculum development, institutional strengthening and research in global health. Our excellence, legacy of academic achievement and critical mass provide a unique training environment for those interested in pursuing a career in parasitology. The political will and drive to achieve the Millennium Development Goals makes this an opportune time to engage in our mission.
Sincerely,
Chair and Professor, Department of Medical Parasitology
