History

The AIDS epidemic, the identification of new microbial pathogens, and the emergence of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria are clear indications that infectious diseases remain a significant health problem. In the United States, infectious diseases are the third leading cause of death, and the situation is even more serious worldwide. A concerted effort is needed to deal with the growing threat of infectious diseases, and a central component of this effort is the training of scientists in the fields of microbiology and microbial pathogenesis.

In the early 1990's, Yale School of Medicine responded to the increased threat of new viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic pathogens by rebuilding a strong Microbiology Graduate Program and establishing the Department of Microbial Pathogenesis. Our goal is to train future leaders in the field.