Seminars in Investigative Medicine

Our Center for Immunobiology was established in 2016, designed to achieve cutting-edge discovery of immune cell activity, behavior and function. Together, we pursue basic and translational investigations focused on the role of B lymphocytes and other immune elements in health and disease.

B lymphocytes, commonly termed “B cells”, generate antibodies that are a key feature of the body’s defense against infectious and other diseases, but in autoimmune dyscrasias can produce antibodies against self components (autoantibodies) that participate in tissue destruction. Thus, proper activation and modulation of B cell activity is critical to the generation of correctly targeted and appropriately sized responses. Recent work has revealed complex roles for B cells that include cytokine secretion and regulation of other immune cells.

How B cells develop, how B cells become activated, how B cells function, how B cells respond to external signals, and how B cells are influenced by age and disease, represent current topics of study. At WMed, our studies encompass investigations relating to tau protein/Alzheimer’s Disease, apoB100/cardiovascular disease, NGcGM3/lung cancer, IL-10/sepsis, pneumococal pneumonia/sickle cell disease, IL-4/intracellular signaling, and FAIM/stress response.

Our laboratories are located on the 5th floor of WMed's W.E. Upjohn M.D. Campus. In addition to general laboratory facilities, separate cores in distinct locations within the Center include facilities for Flow Cytometry/Cell Sorting/Cell Imaging, Equipment/Instrumentation, Tissue Culture, BL2 experimentation, Radioisotope work, and Frozen Storage. In addition, statistical consultation is available from WMed's Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.