From the common cold to HIV, immunologists study the body's amazing ability
to resist disease. They can ply their specialty through teaching, research,
clinical medicine and product development -- just to name a few areas.
Dr. Robert Finberg is an immunologist directing his own lab. He's looking
at how immunity occurs, and why the body responds to foreign substances.
"The role of the human T-cell response to HIV and the cell-virus interactions
leading to infection and their consequences is an active area of study." Finberg
uses in vitro (outside the body) tissue culture methods, as well as protein
chemistry and animal models.
Dr. Caroline Graham is a clinical immunologist at a hospital for children.
She deals with immune deficiencies and allergies in children. She's also an
assistant professor at the university level.
Dr. Andrew Stadnyk spends his time developing research and supervising
PhD and master's students in his lab. "We're studying why we develop inflammation
in the intestines. It's related to two human diseases -- Crohn's disease and
ulcerative colitis. Both clearly have immune system involvement, but the cause
of these diseases isn't known."
Dr. Albert Agro, an immunologist, works in tandem with researchers like
Stadnyk. He tests new compounds clinically in human beings. "We recruit and
solicit doctors across the world for test subjects. They'll contact us with
someone they think would be a good test person."
Immunologists, depending on their focus, can work in a lab or at a hospital.
Agro spends most of his time traveling to different hospitals around the world.
"I've just recently been to Trinidad, Barbados, Germany, Washington and England.
I've been very busy."
Graham stays put as a clinical immunologist. She sees patients in her clinic
and medical ward at the hospital. She does paperwork and reports, researches
information on the Internet, e-mails other physicians and works on lectures
in her office. Stadnyk and Finberg both have modern, well-equipped laboratories
and offices.
Finberg sees immunology becoming more accessible to doctors. "The pace
of change has increased. There's more technology, new equipment and machinery
to allow us to progress."
Agro agrees. "It's the quickest growing field. Ten to 15 years ago, the
immune system was set apart. Now it's recognized as the 'needle and thread'
throughout the body. It's more heavily integrated."
Graham sees a trend in pediatric immunology. Allergies related to the immune
system affect 15 to 20 percent of America's population. "But lately, the medical
schools haven't been turning out many allergists. There are never enough.
With people worried about life-and-death allergies, like peanuts for example,
the quality of allergy research has improved."
There aren't any physical requirements for immunologists. You do, however,
need a good head on your shoulders. Manual dexterity is an asset during experiments.
Safety issues while studying viruses are regulated by labor laws that deal
with biohazard safety.