Immunology
Immunology is a branch of biology that covers the study of immune systems in all organisms. Immunology charts, measures, and contextualizes the: physiological functioning of the immune system in states of both health and diseases; malfunctions of the immune system in immunological disorders (such as autoimmune diseases, hypersensitivities immune deficiency, and transplant rejection); the physical, chemical and physiological characteristics of the components of the immune system in vitro, in situ, and in vivo. Immunology has applications in numerous disciplines of medicine, particularly in the fields of organ transplantation, oncology, rheumatology, virology, bacteriology, parasitology, psychiatry, and dermatology.
The term was coined by Russian biologist Ilya Ilyich Mechnikov who advanced studies on immunology and received the Nobel Prize for his work in 1908. He pinned small thorns into starfish larvae and noticed unusual cells surrounding the thorns. This was the active response of the body trying to maintain its integrity. It was Mechnikov who first observed the phenomenon of phagocytosis, in which the body defends itself against a foreign body.
Prior to the designation of immunity, from the etymological root immunis, which is Latin for "exempt"; early physicians characterized organs that would later be proven as essential components of the immune system. The important lymphoid organs of the immune system are the thymus and bone marrow, and chief lymphatic tissues such as spleen, tonsils, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, adenoids, and liver. When health conditions worsen to emergency status, portions of immune system organs including the thymus, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other lymphatic tissues can be surgically excised for examination while patients are still alive.
Many components of the immune system are typically cellular in nature and not associated with any specific organ; but rather are embedded or circulating in various tissues located throughout the body.
* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .
Matching Immunology Colleges
Yale University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $59,950 average out-state tuition; $59,950 average in-state tuition |
Tulane University of Louisiana
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $56,684 average out-state tuition; $56,684 average in-state tuition |
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Four or more years; Public; $20,400 average out-state tuition; $8,568 average in-state tuition |
Loyola University Chicago
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $46,410 average out-state tuition; $46,410 average in-state tuition |
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus
Four or more years; Public; $25,433 average out-state tuition; $10,099 average in-state tuition |
University of Toledo
Four or more years; Public; $18,388 average out-state tuition; $9,028 average in-state tuition |
Rush University
Four or more years; Private not for profit; $29,828 average out-state tuition; $29,828 average in-state tuition |
Scholarships for Immunology Majors
Edith Nourse Rogers STEM ScholarshipU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs |
||||
award Up to $30,000 |
deadline Varies |
|||
Jewel Scholars Program - Mount Mary CollegeMount Mary College |
||||
award $27,000 |
deadline Varies |
|||
SMART ScholarshipUnited States Department of Defense (DoD) |
||||
award Up to $38,000 |
deadline December 01, 2023 |
|||
Lumpkins Family Merit Scholarship in the College of ScienceUniversity of Notre Dame |
||||
award $25,000 |
deadline January 01, 2024 |
|||
Quantitative Biology Research Community (QBReC) FellowshipBrandeis University |
||||
award Up to $20,500 |
deadline January 01, 2024 |
|||
Bess Heflin FellowshipUniversity of Texas at Austin, Office of Graduate Studies |
||||
award $19,000 |
deadline Varies |
|||
National Space Club Keynote ScholarshipNational Space Club |
||||
award $15,000 |
deadline December 04, 2023 |
|||
Multi-Country Research Fellowship ProgramCouncil of American Overseas Research Centers |
||||
award $12,600 |
deadline December 06, 2023 |
|||
Alice P. Gast STEM ScholarshipLehigh University |
||||
award $12,500 |
deadline January 15, 2024 |
|||
SOLV Energy Women in Solar ScholarshipSolar Energy International (SEI) |
||||
award $10,000 |
deadline Varies |
Immunology Related Majors
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Biochemistry
- Biomedical Sciences
- Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- Zoology/Animal Biology
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Biology
- Wildlife Biology
- Physiology
- Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
- Pharmacology
- Biotechnology
- Genetics
- Molecular Biology
- Anatomy
- Neurobiology and Neurosciences
- Cell Biology and Anatomy
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- Human/Medical Genetics