Planning Committee for Immunology

Immunology at Johns Hopkins

Immunology, a discipline that has experienced transformative advancements over the past few decades, has a long history at Johns Hopkins. The nation’s first independent department of immunology was one of the founding departments of the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health when it was established in 1916 by William Henry Welch. Evolving into today’s W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, the department offers two master’s programs (MHS, ScM) and a PhD program. The School of Medicine has hosted the Graduate (PhD) Program in Immunology since 1982, with prominent faculty members contributing from numerous departments across the school including Medicine, Rheumatology, Oncology, Pathology, and Dermatology. Additionally, immunology is an important research area for many faculty in the WSE-SOM Department of Biomedical Engineering, the WSE Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and numerous centers and institutes across the institution.

Charge of the Committee

We are convening a committee to conduct a comprehensive assessment with a view to creating a new interdivisional institute, department, or other organizing entity of immunology. This evaluation will encompass multiple facets as detailed below, incorporating current capabilities and future potential for advancing world-class innovative research and education in immunology at Johns Hopkins. The committee will make detailed recommendations to university leadership to address key issues and outline the necessary steps to ensure the successful establishment and operation of the new entity.

The committee will examine the following areas and any others it deems relevant:

• Identify the immunological research organizations at JHU and peer institutions.
• Draft a mission statement and short- and medium-term goals that would help advance a new entity.
• Propose a leadership structure and organization that would support the mission and facilitate effective governance.
• Consider faculty needs and implications, including: interdivisional appointments; faculty searches, promotions, and tenure; and compensation.
• Consider infrastructure needs and implications, including: financial organization and organizational funding; research infrastructure and cores; and space requirements.
• Consider educational offerings, including: undergraduate education, graduate education, teaching loads and opportunities, and professional training opportunities.
• Propose a detailed timeline for the establishment of a new organization, including key milestones and deadlines.

Committee Membership

• Arturo Casadevall, Co-chair, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Alfred & Jill Sommer Professor and Chair, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (BSPH); Department of Medicine (SOM)
• Erika Pearce, Co-chair, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Department of Oncology (SOM); Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BSPH), Co-Director, Immunology Cancer Program
• Nicole Baumgarth, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Peetz Family Professor, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (BSPH); Infectious Diseases/Medicine (SOM), Director, Lyme and Tickborne Diseases Research and Education Institute
• Daniela Cihakova, Professor of Pathology (SOM); joint appointment Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (BSPH), Director of Immune Disorders Laboratory and Director of the WHO collaborating center at the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Elizabeth Jaffe, Dana and Albert “Cubby” Broccoli Professor of Oncology and Deputy Director of the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center (SOM)
• Rachel Karchin, William R. Brody Faculty Scholar, Professor, Institute for Computational Medicine, Department of Biomedical Engineering (WSE); Department of Oncology (SOM), Department of Computer Science (WSE)
• Maximilian Konig, Assistant Professor, Division of Rheumatology (SOM), Director of the Cellular Therapy Program (Autoimmunity)
• Rejji Kuruvilla, Professor of Biology and Vice Dean for Natural Sciences (KSAS)
• Joel Pomerantz, Associate Professor of Biological Chemistry (SOM)
• Jamie Spangler, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (WSE), Oncology (SOM), Ophthalmology (SOM), and Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (BSPH)
  

Timeline

The committee will begin their work in January 2025, with broad faculty consultation planned throughout the spring semester. Preliminary recommendations will be released in Summer 2025, with a second round of consultation and feedback in early Fall 2025. Final finding and recommendations will be shared in late Fall 2025.