Michael W. Russell MA, PhD

Dr. Michael Russell is a Professor in the Departments of Microbiology and Immunology and of Oral Biology at the University at Buffalo (State University of New York). His research interests focus on the mucosal immune system, with particular respect to the generation and functions of IgA antibodies, immunity to infections of the mouth and genital tract, and novel approaches to mucosal vaccine development exploiting enterobacterial heat-labile enterotoxins as adjuvants.

Dr. Russell received his B.A. (Honours) in Natural Sciences (Biochemistry) at the University of Cambridge (St. John's College) followed by his M.A., and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Reading, England. After post-doctoral work at Guy's Hospital Medical and Dental Schools in London, he moved in 1979 to the University of Alabama at Birmingham where he joined the Mucosal Immunology Group and the Department of Microbiology, eventually becoming Research Professor. He moved to the University at Buffalo as Professor of Microbiology & Immunology and Oral Biology in 2000, and served a term as Director of the Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology. His research in mucosal immunology has been supported by several NIH grants, including one continuously funded since 1984 and given as a MERIT award in 2000. He has published over 200 papers, reviews, and book chapters, including several in the comprehensive treatise, Mucosal Immunology (Academic Press).

In the ASM he has served as Chair-Elect then Chair of Division E (Immunology) and Division Group II Representative, as well as on the ASM Branch Lectureships Committee (Lecturer 2008-2010) and on the ASM Press Books Committee (2001-2010).