David Fischer

David Fischer serves as Assistant Professor and Director of the Division of Integrated Biomedical Sciences at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry, where he joined in 2017. He currently holds his second term as Dental School Faculty Assembly Vice President and participates in University Shared Governance and Wellness Committees.

His educational background includes a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in Immunology and Microbiology from Wayne State University School of Medicine, followed by postdoctoral research at Ohio State University's Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Dr. Fischer's research centers on immunology-virology interactions in oral health, specifically investigating human herpesviruses in periodontal disease and nutritional impacts on oral immune responses. His prior work examined vaccine development (influenza/rotavirus), gastrointestinal microbiota, probiotics, and malnutrition-immunity relationships, reflecting a consistent focus on host-pathogen dynamics across mucosal environments.

The Fischer Lab receives funding through a University of Detroit Mercy grant (Human herpesvirus infection, salivary antibodies and nutritional status in periodontal disease) and NIH ReBUILDetroit support. Lab personnel include Jamal Alhabeil (Laboratory Technician), Racha Tiba (Undergraduate BUILD Scholar), and Kaldoun Barawi (Dental Student).