background behind the research
Innate Immune Cells
• Innate immune cells play important roles in many other conditions and diseases.
• We explore their phenotype and function in a number of different conditions.
Gliomas
• A number of immune cells are present in gliomas, but they are either inactive or immunosuppressive, and hence are unable to kill the cancer cells.
• We have been collaborating with clinicians and researchers at Mazumdar-Shaw Center for Translational Research (https://www.msctr.org/2016/09/16/dr-nameeta-shah/ ) to characterize the suppressive immune cells present in brain tumors.
• The ultimate goal of this project is to understand if specific immune cells may be targeted for treatment of gliomas.
Fibrosis of biomaterial implants
• Neutrophils and monocytes are involved in fibrosis of biomaterial implants.
• Bacterial infections are also known to develop around biomaterial implants. • One question that interests us is how do immune cells interact with bacteria next to a biomaterial implant? • Using neutrophils and staphylococcus model systems, we explore this question both in vitro and in vivo.
Ultimate Goal:
To develop immuno-modulatory drug delivery systems that improve the capacity of macrophages and neutrophils to fight off microbial pathogens.
Time-frame: 5 – 10 years
• We explore their phenotype and function in a number of different conditions.
Gliomas
• A number of immune cells are present in gliomas, but they are either inactive or immunosuppressive, and hence are unable to kill the cancer cells.
• We have been collaborating with clinicians and researchers at Mazumdar-Shaw Center for Translational Research (https://www.msctr.org/2016/09/16/dr-nameeta-shah/ ) to characterize the suppressive immune cells present in brain tumors.
• The ultimate goal of this project is to understand if specific immune cells may be targeted for treatment of gliomas.
Fibrosis of biomaterial implants
• Neutrophils and monocytes are involved in fibrosis of biomaterial implants.
• Bacterial infections are also known to develop around biomaterial implants. • One question that interests us is how do immune cells interact with bacteria next to a biomaterial implant? • Using neutrophils and staphylococcus model systems, we explore this question both in vitro and in vivo.
Ultimate Goal:
To develop immuno-modulatory drug delivery systems that improve the capacity of macrophages and neutrophils to fight off microbial pathogens.
Time-frame: 5 – 10 years
