About the Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases

The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID) serves as the major laboratory research component of the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology.

Basic Science Aimed at Enhancing Patient Care

The process of chronic inflammation characterizes classic autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus as well as asthma and other allergic and immunologic disorders. Recent evidence also suggests the immune system influences the development of common conditions such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

At the CIID, our basic research focuses on understanding the immune system and the inflammatory process—and how these contribute to the origin and development of a wide range of diseases. We work closely with many of Mass General's clinical and research units to integrate basic science, clinical research and clinical care related to immunology-mediated diseases.

Since 2000 we have helped to clarify the mechanisms underlying diseases such as arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, pulmonary fibrosis and scleroderma. Our division's shared goal is to deliver new therapies and treatments that ultimately improve care for patients with these and other conditions.

Interdisciplinary & Multi-institutional

The CIID is a true interdisciplinary and multi-institutional effort. We are building bridges across disciplines at Mass General—such as allergy, rheumatology, pulmonary, infectious disease and cardiology—to assess problems from different expert perspectives and generate innovative ideas.

Our studies are further enriched by collaborations with investigators from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT & Harvard, the Mass General Cancer Center and Mass General's thematic centers for Computational and Integrative Biology, Human Genetic Research, Regenerative Medicine and Systems Biology.

Seventeen principal investigators, all of whom are affiliated with Mass General and Harvard Medical School, operate research laboratories at the CIID. Learn more about their research labs.

Training Tomorrow's Leaders

As part of a world-class academic medical center, the CIID is committed to training future leaders in basic and translational research. Postdoctoral fellows and students from Harvard Medical School graduate programs work in our labs, along with undergraduate students from Harvard and elsewhere.