Immunology/Microbiology
Linda Baum, MD, PhD
Glycans in cell-cell interactions and immune function
T cells mature in the thymus, and then migrate to organs such as spleen and lymph nodes, where they participate in the immune response to foreign invaders. We have found that a carbohydrate binding protein, termed galectin-1, is expressed in numerous cell types in humans and mice, including organs of the immune system, immune privileged tissues, and tumors. Galectin-1 induces apoptosis, or programmed cell death, of T cells both during development in the thymus and after immune stimulation in the periphery, indicating that galectin-1 plays a role in shaping and regulating the immune response. Galectin-1 induced cell death occurs via a novel, caspase-independent pathway.
Alistair Cochran, MD
Melanocytic tumors and the interactions of immunological, molecular and genetic factors that determine whether metastatic spread occurs
Dr. Alistair Cochran is primarily interested in the pathology of the skin with a focus on diseases and tumors of the melanocytes: nevi and melanomas. Secondary interests include the pathology of diseases of the breast and lung. His research interests include the elucidation of mechanisms of metastasis as a basis for the development of new and better approaches to the prevention and treatment of metastases in melanoma and breast cancer. Continued >>
Gay Crooks, MBBS
Human hematopoietic stem cells, lymphopoiesis and transplantation
Dr Crooks research program was founded on the question of how to identify and functionally define human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This central theme has reached over time into three related areas, 1. the characterization and manipulation of human hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid progenitors in cord blood, bone marrow and thymus, 2. mechanisms of thymic reconstitution after bone marrow transplantation, and 3. hematopoiesis from human embryonic stem cells. Specific areas of current investigation include regulation of lymphoid commitment in human hematopoiesis, VEGF-mediated thymic cross-talk, thymic graft re-engineering, and intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of hematopoiesis from human pluripotent stem cells. More Info >>
Kenneth Dorshkind, PhD
Lymphocyte development from embryogenesis through senescence
The overall goal of the laboratory is to study B cell development during fetal and adult life. The first B lineage cells emerge in the embryo, and recent studies have demonstrated that these arise from a B lineage progenitor whose developmental potential is restricted to the production of B-1 B cells. B-1 B cells are a minor population of B lymphocytes that are involved in innate immune responses. B cell progenitors that derive from hematopoietic stem cells, and which are destined to produce B-2 B cells, arise subsequently during embryogenesis. More Info >>
Steven Dubinett, MD
Inflammation and immunity in the pathogenesis of lung cancer
Dr. Dubinett conducts translational research in the immunobiology of lung cancer. Building on original discoveries regarding inflammation in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), he has developed a translational research program, which now utilizes these laboratory-based studies in the laboratory and clinical setting. His laboratory has identified inflammation-dependent genes and proteins mediating angiogenesis, apoptosis resistance, invasion and immune suppression in NSCLC. His studies focus on the microenvironment, inflammation and epithelial mesenchymal transition in the pathogenesis of lung cancer.
Samuel French, MD, PhD
Hepatitis C viral mediated hepatocarcinogenesis
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide. One of most common causes of HCC includes infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in association with cirrhosis. We study the impact of HCV on hepatocyte cell signaling that augments viral infection and promotes hepatocarcinogenesis. We primarily utilize a proteomic approach to identify pathways targeted by HCV.
Jerzy Kupiec-Weglinski, PhD
Liver and pancreas transplantation
Currently, Dr. Kupiec-Weglinski's group is working in several key transplant research areas. These include:
1. Studying the pathophysiology of liver ischemia and reperfusion injury;
2. Analysis of T cell costimulatory pathways and memory alloreactive CD8+ T cells in allograft rejection in sensitized recipients; Continued >>
Charalabos Pothoulakis, MD
Dr. Pouthoulakis' research program is primarily focused on the role of neuropeptides and hormones in several disease states, including inflammatory bowel disease, Clostridium difficile infection and colitis-associated colon cancer. His recent projects also involve the neuropeptide-dependent mechanisms by which communication between the intestinal mucosa and the fat depots affect the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation, colitis-associated colon cancer and stress-related motility responses, as well as diet-induced obesity with particular focus on mesenteric fat. Continued >>
Elaine Reed, PhD
Immunogenetics and transplantation immunology
Dr. Reed's current research efforts are focused on understanding the mechanism of chronic allograft rejection. The development of anti-HLA antibodies following transplantation is associated with transplant atherosclerosis, a manifestation of chronic allograft rejection. We postulate that anti-HLA antibodies are pathogenic in chronic rejection by binding to HLA class I molecules on endothelium and smooth muscle of the allograft... Continued >>
Ram Raj Singh, MD
Autoimmune diseases: T, NKT and dendritic cells; immune tolerance; biomarkers
Interactions between different immune cells, including dendritic cells, T cells, and B cells, in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, with a current focus on cellular migration, immune tolerance induction, immune modulation, roles of sex chromosomes and sex hormones, epigenetic regulation of immune response genes. More Info >>
Michael Teitell, MD, PhD
Signaling and epigenetics in immune system development and cancer
My laboratory studies two overlapping areas with emerging roles in cancer of the immune system. We initially compared gene expression profiles from B cell tumors that arose in immune deficient versus immune competent settings. This approach resulted in the isolation of a large number of differentially expressed genes. We have characterized these isolates and focused on members of the TCL1 gene family, which... More Info >>