Allergy and Immunology

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Research


Overview

Faculty and fellows of the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology are engaged in a wide range of clinical, translational and basic investigation related to pediatric allergic and immunodeficiency diseases.  
 
The research being conducted in the Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology is broadly based.  These areas of research include human T and B cell development and aberrations in their development and regulation, effector mechanisms of immune damage, bone marrow transplantation for severe combined immunodeficiency, the role of the thymus in post-natal T cell development in complete DiGeorge Syndrome, T cell development and defining the molecular bases of inherited immunodeficiency diseases, asthma and the characterization of food allergens at the molecular level, and therapy of food allergy.
 

Research Faculty

Name
Areas of Special Interest
Rebecca H. Buckley, MDPrimary immunodeficiency
Primary immune disorders and immunodeficiencies
Thymus transplantation
Michael M. Frank, MDComplement
General allergy and immunology
M. Louise Markert, MD, PhDDiGeorge Syndrome
Joseph L. Roberts, MD, PhDPrimary immunodeficiency
Allergic and immunologic disorders, especially food allergy, atopic dermatitis, and anaphylaxis
Xiaoping Zhong, MD, PhDCell signaling


Clinical Research

  • Thymic transplantation for DiGeorge Syndrome
  • Stem cell transplantation for primary immunodeficiency diseases
  • The use of C1 inhibitor in the treatment of attacks of hereditary angioedema
  • Food allergy 
  • Immunotherapy for food allergy

Basic Research

  • Central and peripheral tolerance mechanisms
  • Immune system development and maturation after reconstitution
  • Role of complement and immune complexes in the immune response and the development of autoimmunity
  • The role of complement in the pathophysiology of HIV infection
  • The role of complement factor H in the development of macular degeneration of the elderly
  • The mechanisms that control T cell maturation, activation and self-tolerance
  • Regulation of Toll-like receptor signaling and innate immunity
  • Study of T cell function, T cell diversity and HLA restriction after thymus transplantation
  • Study of B cell function after thymus transplantation

Translational Research

  • Subcutaneous infusion of C1 inhibitor protein as a method of administration
  • Pathogenesis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis
  • Pathogenesis and immunotherapy for peanut allergy
  • Study of thymus allograft development after thymus transplantation
  • Study of quality of life and development after thymus transplantation
  • Thymus transplantation plus parathyroid transplantation for complete DiGeorge Syndrome
  • Use of serum-free medium in thymus transplantation for complete DiGeorge Syndrome
  • Analysis of T cell receptor gene utilization during T cell development of the newly transplanted thymus tissue
  • Mechanisms of the development of food allergy
  • Immunotherapy for food allergy
  • Mechanisms of the development of oral tolerance
  • Effects of probiotics on T regulatory function
  • Define new molecular etiologies of severe combined immunodeficiency and other inherited T cell immunodeficiency diseases
  • Investigate change in T cell signaling following treatment for selected food allergies using genome-wide oligonucleotide microarrays and other methodologies

Fellow Research

Current and recent fellows have worked on many of the above projects and in addition the following projects: 
  • Thymic transplantation
  • Primary immunodeficiency diseases
  • Food allergy
  • Mucosal immunotherapy


Clinical Trials

For further information about clinical trials currently being conducted in the Division of Allergy and Immunology, please contact:

Jan Kamilaris, NP919.681.3529janet.kamilaris@duke.edu  
Pam Steele, CPNP919.668.1333steel003@mc.duke.edu