Molly McGovern Chair in Biomedical Research
There are a variety of rotation projects that use a variety of imaging and biochemical techniques to assess microglial function in the CNS. The main projects are highlighted below. 1. Dissecting novel molecular mechanisms underlying microglial function at synapses. 2. Exploring new roles for microglia in the spread of neuroinflammation in neurological disease. 3. Identifying novel ways microglia regulate other glial cell populations (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes) in the CNS.
Dr. Bomprezzi is fellowship trained in neuroimmunology and he is involved in the treatment of inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, neurosarcoidosis.
School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Health Informatics And Implementation Science
Biostatistics And Health Services Research
Dr. Ionete is a clinical neuroimmunologist and educator with special interests including clinical trials in multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune neurological diseases, and neurological complications of HIV infections. She chairs the Department of Neurology's education committee.
Cutler Chair in Vascular and Endovascular Surgery
<p >Rotation Projects: Characterization of gene which influences survival in sporadic ALS patients. Characterization of 2 newly identified familial ALS genes. Development of a new mouse model for familial ALS. Positional cloning of novel genes which cause familial ALS.
Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III
Please email Kate.Fitzgerald@umassmed.edu if you are interested in rotations.
Dr. Henninger is a vascular neurologist with research interest in the neurobiology of axonal injury associated with traumatic brain injury and its contribution to functional outcome.
Lambi and Sarah Adams Chair in Genetic Research
Rotations: Targeting the IFN-?-chemokine axis for treatment of vitiligo: We are using our newly developed mouse model and human tissues from patients with vitiligo to identify the cytokines and chemokines that are expressed within the depigmenting skin and which skin cells produce them. We are using genetically modified mouse strains (knockouts, conditional knockouts, fluorescent reporter strains), and cytokine and chemokine neutralizing antibodies to identify the key proteins required for disease. This data will permit us to rationally develop and test new therapeutic agents. Understanding the proinflammatory signals generated by melanocytes under cellular stress. Melanocytes from vitiligo patients have intrinsic abnormalities, including cellular stress evidenced by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The immune system has evolved to recognize this stress as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which activate innate immunity. We are using human cells and tissues to determine how cellular stress, innate immunity, and adaptive immunity cooperate to initiate and perpetuate depigmentation in vitiligo. Developing a humanized mouse model of immune-skin interactions to serve as a pre-clinical bridge to clinical studies: We are developing a humanized mouse model of skin disease that consists of an immunodeficient mouse strain as a host for an autologous human skin graft and immune reconstitution in order to study mechanisms of inflammation in the skin, including allergic contact dermatitis, response to infection, tumor immunotherapy, and autoimmunity, all within a fully human environment. This model system will act as a pre-clinical bridge between mouse models and human clinical trials, providing an opportunity to test new treatments on human cells and tissues prior to initiating trials on patients. Tracking real-time autoreactive T cell migration and interactions within the skin: We are using fluorescently/bioluminescently tagged CD8 T cells to track their movements and interactions within the skin in live mice, using real-time confocal microscopy and bioluminescent imaging. Initial studies will focus on the role of cytokines and chemokines in T cell migration within the skin. Clinical trial to test a novel treatment for vitiligo: We are in the early stages of developing a clinical trial based on insights developed from our animal data to test a novel drug for its ability to treat vitiligo.
Rotations: Targeting the IFN-g-chemokine axis for treatment of vitiligo: We are using our newly developed mouse model and human tissues from patients with vitiligo to identify the cytokines and chemokines that are expressed within the depigmenting skin and which skin cells produce them. We are using genetically modified mouse strains (knockouts, conditional knockouts, fluorescent reporter strains), and cytokine and chemokine neutralizing antibodies to identify the key proteins required for disease. This data will permit us to rationally develop and test new therapeutic agents. Understanding the proinflammatory signals generated by melanocytes under cellular stress. Melanocytes from vitiligo patients have intrinsic abnormalities, including cellular stress evidenced by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The immune system has evolved to recognize this stress as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which activate innate immunity. We are using human cells and tissues to determine how cellular stress, innate immunity, and adaptive immunity cooperate to initiate and perpetuate depigmentation in vitiligo. Developing a humanized mouse model of immune-skin interactions to serve as a pre-clinical bridge to clinical studies: We are developing a humanized mouse model of skin disease that consists of an immunodeficient mouse strain as a host for an autologous human skin graft and immune reconstitution in order to study mechanisms of inflammation in the skin, including allergic contact dermatitis, response to infection, tumor immunotherapy, and autoimmunity, all within a fully human environment. This model system will act as a pre-clinical bridge between mouse models and human clinical trials, providing an opportunity to test new treatments on human cells and tissues prior to initiating trials on patients. Tracking autoreactive T cell interactions within the skin: We are using fluorescently tagged CD8 T cells to track their cellular interactions within the skin using confocal microscopy. Future studies will adapt this model to investigate real-time migration and other movements of these cells within compartments of the skin. Clinical trial to test a novel treatment for vitiligo: We recently completed a clinical trial based on insights developed from our animal data to test a novel drug for its ability to treat vitiligo.
Interests: Vitiligo, autoimmunity, immunology, translational research
Richard M. Haidack Professor in Medicine
Idanis Berrios Morales, MD, is a board-certified neurologist and educator with clinical subspecialty training in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis. Her research interest is shared decision making in patients with multiple sclerosis.
There is a current project opening for using deep learning to train and ultimately perform automatic segmentation for multiple brain structures of interest in Multiple Sclerosis. Helpful background would include some proficiency in shell and Python. Please email me if interested.
Dr. Hemond is a board-certified neurologist with clinical subspecialty training in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis. His research focuses on the development and validation of MRI-based biomarkers to improve (1) early identification and (2) pathophysiological understanding of the neurodegenerative processes underlying MS.
Dr. John Meyers Professor in Primary Care Medicine
Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Postdoctoral Training Biomedical Optics and Translational Medicine
Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Tweets by @DrSherryPagoto
Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences at UMass Chan - Baystate
Preventing Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury
Preventing Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury Playing the Long Game: Consensus for Preventing OA
Preventing Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury Playing the Long Game: Consensus for Preventing OA Characteristics of Accelerated Hand Osteoarthritis
Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research