Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology

A man in a dark shirt with headphones in, on a video chat
Peter Salk was 11 years old when a University of Pittsburgh team led by his father, the late Jonas Salk, created the inactivated poliovirus vaccine. Today, at 76, he’s back in the spotlight as researchers around the world race to develop new vaccines to stem the COVID-19 pandemic.
A person in a face mask, white coat and blue gloves holds up a vial
The discovery in animals is being used to make a drug for potential therapeutic and preventive use against COVID-19 in humans.
a woman in a Pitt branded blue and gold face covering with her arms crossed on her chest
Senior Sai Bhatte and a committee of undergraduate and graduate students are working to keep campus open. “You hear complaints from your friends, your peers, your professors—to be in a position to take that to someone in power and make a change is really impactful,” she said.
A person in a yellow t-shirt and face mask walks on campus
Expert faculty members in the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine are at the helm of a new COVID-19 Medical Response Office, which will oversee the implementation of a virus monitoring program on all five Pitt campuses. The program will direct the University’s COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, reporting procedures and isolation and quarantine protocols.