| |
Cellular Immunology
The program in immunology involves both basic and clinical studies, Naynesh R. Kamani, MD, and Stanislav Vukmanovic, MD, PhD, have established an immunology interest group (IIG) at Children's. The aim of the IIG is to facilitate bridging clinical and basic immunology and to enhance our ability to compete for extramural funding in both areas.
 An established investigator in the field of cellular immunology, Dr. Vukmanovic, is leading the development of our basic immunology program. The work in his laboratory focuses on T-lymphocyte differentiation in the thymus as well as in the peripheral lymphoid organs, the role of effector and regulatory T cells in the immune responses. The basic knowledge on this topic is applicable to the understanding the pathogenesis, diganostics and immuntherapeutics in tumor immunology, autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiencies. Sasa Radoja, PhD, is interested in differentiation of CD8+ T lymphocytes into effector killer cells and regulation of granule exocytosis, the major molecular mechanism of CD8+ T cell cytotoxic action. Stephen Ladisch, MD, in collaboration with David Leitenberg, MD, PhD, from GWU, studies the role of gangliozides in T helper cell polarization.
Interest in tumor immunology by Dr. Ladisch, Dr. Radoja, Dr. Vukmanovic, Kelly Stone, MD, PhD, and Tobey J. MacDonald, MD, has been described in the section on tumor host interactions.
In the area of autoimmune diseases Olcay Y. Jones, MD, PhD, performs research related to treatment of murine lupus with bone marrow transplantation. Dr. Vukmanovic, and Dr. Jones, are studying the potential of regulatory T cells for treatment of murine spontaneous lupus. Naynesh R. Kamani, MD, and Brett J. Loechelt, MD, study the immune basis for chronic autoimmune diseases and, in association with National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), treatment of new onset type 1 diabetes with immune modulating agents. They also study the use of bone marrow transplantation in treatment of primary immunodeficiencies, as described in Stem Cell Transplantation. Finally, as described in the area of hematology, Dr. Vukmanovic, Naomi Luban, MD, and Caterina P. Minniti, MD study immunogenetics of hemoglobinopathies.
For more information contact:
Stanislav Vukmanovic, MD, PhD
Children's Research Institute
Center for Cancer and Immunology Research
Children's National Medical Center
111 Michigan Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20010
202-476-3898
svukmano@cnmc.org
|
|
