P.I.

Loren D. Erickson, Ph.D.

Primary Appointment: Assistant Professor of Microbiology

Email Address: lde9w@virginia.edu

Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs: Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Molecular Medicine, Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology

Graduate Students

Chao Jiang

Email Address: cj7q@virginia.edu

Phone: 982-6452

Research Description: Antibodies are produced by specialized immune cells called plasma cells (PCs) that recognize, bind to, and destroy infectious pathogens. Thus, the capacity of PCs to produce antibodies provides healthy individuals with protection. Unfortunately, this process breaks down in autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, where PCs of SLE patients produce antibodies that recognize, bind to, and destroy one’s own tissue. The overall goal of my project is to investigate the role for a new molecule called B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) in controlling the production of PCs in lupus. If we can establish that BCMA is inappropriately controlling PCs that produce self-reactive antibodies then it is has the potential for therapeutic targeting in the treatment of SLE.

 

 

Hilda Enriquez

Email Address: hle2p@virginia.edu

Phone: 982-6452

Research Description: Systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE, is an autoimmune disease affecting nearly 2 million Americans. Autoantibody production by plasma cells is a characteristics of SLE. I am investigating the mechanism of autoantibody production using the Nba.2 SLE mouse model. I am specifically loking at the roles that the Fc gamma receptor 2 b and the SLAM family of receptors has on plasma cell homeostasis.

 

 

Erin Greenley

Email Address: ejg7h@virginia.edu

Phone: 982-6452

Research Description:Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable cancer of malignant plasma cells (PC) within the bone marrow (BM). The expression of two oncogenes, c-Myc and Bcl-XL, are deregulated in human MM and still it is unknown how they contribute to the generation of malignant PCs. My project is to understand the roles for c-Myc and Bcl-XL in MM pathogenesis in vivo. This will provide insight into the origin of MM and assist in the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

 

 

Laboratory Specialist

William Loo

Email Address:wml2f@virginia.edu

Phone: 982-6452

Research Description: As lab manager, I am responsible for coordinating the research resources used by everyone for experiments. I also assist in experimental design and data acquisition for both the myeloma and lupus projects.