(Posted October 23, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Michael Boyle, von Liebig Chair in Biomedical Science, was one of 16 microbiologists to complete a yearlong Scholar in Residence program , sponsored by the American Society of Microbiology.
The program is designed to bring together outstanding faculty who are working to investigate and document the challenges and issues that arise when teaching microbiology.
At the start of his residency in July 2005, Boyle attended a four-day institute on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning at the American Society of Microbiology headquarters in Washington, D.C. In May 2006, Boyle presented a talk about his work at Juniata at the society's Conference for Undergraduate Educators in Orlando, Fla. Dr. Boyle, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, started his career as a visiting fellow and visiting scientist at the National Institutes of Health\'s National Cancer Institute from 1974 to 1980. His research focused on using specific antibodies to identify and purge or kill tumor cells from bone marrow to be used in bone marrow transplantation.
Currently his research focuses on two areas: using immunotechnology to adapt antibodies as the basis for diagnostics and other tests; and the study of pathogen interactions between Group A streptococcus and the human immune system.
Boyle began his academic career in 1981 as an associate professor of immunology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Fla. He was promoted to full professor in 1985. He served as an adjunct professor at the Florida medical college from 1988 to 1990.
Dr. Boyle joined the faculty of the Medical College of Ohio (MCO) in 1988 and served as director of the college\'s pathogenesis and immunology program within the newly created MCO cancer center.
His education began in Europe, earning a bachelor\'s degree in biochemistry from the University of Glasgow, in Glasgow, Scotland in 1971. He earned a doctorate from the Chester Beatty Research Institute, Belmont, Sutton in Surrey, England. He has served on a variety of academic committees at both MCO and the University of Florida.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.