Mayo Faculty | | Research Interest |
| Henrique Borges da Silva, Ph.D. | Dr. Henrique Borges da Silva, Ph.D. studies how extracellular nucleotides regulate the immune system. Nucleotides (e.g. ATP, AMP, and Adenosine) are produced by and influence numerous intracellular pathways. In diverse circumstances, they are released into the extracellular environment and are sensed by specific receptors (purinergic receptors). Many purinergic receptors are expressed by immune cells. Dr. Borges da Silva’s lab has a main focus on determining how extracellular ATP (eATP) sensing affects transcriptional, metabolic and functional mechanisms of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells in response to viral infections or cancer. This stems from fundamental discoveries made by Dr. Borges da Silva which showed a crucial role for the eATP sensor P2RX7 in the establishment of CD8+ T cell memory. Dr. Borges da Silva aims to expand these findings by using a wide range of current and new experimental tools. |
| Marion Curtis, Ph.D. | The main research focus of Marion R. Curtis, Ph.D., centers on understanding how the tumor microenvironment influences the metabolism of immune cells and how the metabolic state of immune cells may regulate cancer metastasis and response to immunotherapy. Dr. Curtis' laboratory employs a wide variety of techniques, including metabolomics, proteomics and advanced cellular imaging, applied to primary human cells and cancer models to identify mediators of immune cell metabolism and function. |
| Fotini Gounari, Ph.D. | The research focus of Dr. Fotini Gounari is on understanding transcription and epigenetic networks that regulate T cell development to shape a healthy and balanced T cell immunity and how the deregulation of these networks can promote inflammation and cancer. In particular we are studying regulatory networks involving Tcf-1, a central regulator at nearly every stage of T cell differentiation that binds to accessible chromatin sites together with several other transcription regulators. We want the determine the fundamental functions of regulatory complexes in which Tcf-1 participates and define their transcription and epigenetic functions. Tcf-1 can be functionally modulated by the multifunctional protein β-catenin and conditional activation of β-catenin in T-cells redirects Tcf-1 to cause pathologies in human disease. We are focusing on understanding how the deregulated activation of β-catenin interferes with the physiological functions of Tcf-1 to promote leukemia, inflammation and colon cancer. Current research interests include: - Elucidating the Molecular functions and interactions of Tcf-1 in thymocytes.
- Defining the molecular processes by which β-catenin engages Tcf-1 to promote genomic instability the T cell transformation.
- Determining the processes by which β-catenin renters Tregs proinflammatory.
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| Elizabeth A. Jacobsen, PhD | Elizabeth A. Jacobsen, PhD. is an expert in eosinophil biology. Eosinophils are granulocytes that are generally associated with asthma and allergies, but recently are found to play a role in metabolism, liver injury, transplant rejection, cancer and many other diseases. Understanding the factors that regulate the responses of these cells is a major goal of Dr. Jacobsen’s research. Dr. Jacobsen primarily works with in vitro and translational models of inflammation, yet also participates with the greater Division of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Group at Mayo Clinic in patient studies. |
| Khashayarsha Khazaie, Ph.D., D.Sc. | Khashayarsha Khazaie, Ph.D., D.Sc., directs basic and translational research in cancer immunology and immunosenescence. Dr. Khazaie's lab studies immune responses that help tumors grow and spread as well as immune responses that protect against cancer. A major focus is on regulatory T cells (Tregs), their subsets, and their diverse functions in regulating inflammation and immunity in the gastrointestinal tract. In this context, there is interest in the role of microbiota and circadian rhythm. Breast cancer recurrence is a second topic of research, wherein the role of the immune system in controlling tumor dissemination, tumor dormancy and metastasis is investigated. Novel microbial-based vaccines are tested for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Dr. Khazaie is also interested in understanding how the immune system changes during the aging process and how these changes help to predispose the aged to cancer. Finally, Dr. Khazaie is dedicated to ensuring continually high-quality patient care through the education of current and future physicians and scientists and carries out various teaching activities in the field of immunology. |
| Gloria B Kim, Ph.D. | The Lab for Cellular Immunotherapy and Immunoengineering (LCII) led by Dr. Gloria Kim is in the Department of Physiology and Biomedical Engineering and the Department of Immunology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. LCII focuses on using genetically engineered immune cells (CAR-T and TCR-T cells) and biomaterials to develop the next-generation treatment options for patients with cancers and immune-related diseases. We invite you to join our mission to leverage our expertise in T cell engineering, immunology, material science, and biomedical engineering to understand how immune cells work in health and disease while advancing biomedical technologies that can boost the efficacy and persistence of cellular immunotherapies. |
| Hirohito Kita, Ph.D. | Dr. Kita’s laboratory studies the immunologic mechanisms of allergic diseases, including peanut and food allergy, allergy rhinitis (hay fever) and bronchial asthma. The goals are to better understand the pathophysiology of these diseases and to develop novel treatment and preventive strategies for patients. The laboratory isolates, cultures and studies airway epithelial cells, innate lymphoid cells and T cells in vitro. Several mouse models have been developed to simulate human diseases, and transgenic and gene-deficient mice are used to dissect the mechanisms. Blood and tissue specimens from patients are also collected and analyzed. |
| Jessica Lancaster, Ph.D. | Jessica N. Lancaster, Ph.D., investigates age-associated alterations to the immune system. As the immune system ages, it is less able to combat new pathogens and responds poorly to vaccination, making the elderly more vulnerable to infectious disease. The aged immune system also has more trouble recognizing cancer, making therapy less effective in elderly patients. At the same time, the immune system is more likely to be activated inappropriately, leading to increased incidence of autoimmune disease. Dr. Lancaster’s research focuses on the development and response of T cells and B cells, members of the immune system that are exquisitely tailored to their targets and are essential for resolving infectious threats. Using live-cell two-photon microscopy, Dr. Lancaster directly visualizes T and B cells as they interact within their organ microenvironments, in order to understand how communication within the immune system breaks down with age. The molecular mechanisms of the altered immune response are further studied using in vitro culture, flow cytometry, and mouse models. As an ever-increasing segment of the world’s population reaches the age of 65 years and older, it is critical to understand why the immune system changes with age in order to develop strategies to improve immunity and quality of life. |
| SangKon Oh, Ph.D. | The overall research goal of the laboratory of SangKon Oh, Ph.D., is to understand how the innate immune system plays a decision-making role in orchestrating the strength, quality and persistence of antigen-specific T and B cell responses. This fundamental question can be addressed in the context of microbial infections, cancers and inflammatory diseases (including autoimmune diseases). |