Areas of Research
Principal Investigators in this Research Area:
Goldfeld Lab
A major focus of the Goldfeld laboratory is understanding the mechanisms of transcriptional activation of the tumor necrosis… More
Hur Lab
Correct discrimination of "self" vs "non-self" nucleic acids by the innate immune system is essential for host defense… More
Kirchhausen Lab
Our research focuses on the processes that mediate and regulate the movement of membrane proteins throughout cells. In… More
Lieberman Lab
The Lieberman lab studies cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) that are key cells in the immune defense against… More
Remold Lab
Neutrophils and Pulmonary Infection
The Remold-O’Donnell Laboratory studies the role of SerpinB1 in protecting the host defenses of… More
Winau Lab
The Winau lab studies diverse aspects of antigen presentation, a process pivotal for activation of T-lymphocytes. Winau and… More
Wu Lab
The Wu laboratory of structural immunology focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanism of signal transduction by immune receptors,… More
Immune Defense
Immune defense is the coordinated, complicated interplay of cellular mechanisms and antibodies to fight disease-causing agents, including viruses, bacteria, and other types of infection.
A prime example of our research in immune defense is an aggressive study of the role and specificity of a key element in our adaptive immune system: how killer T cells eliminate infectious cells.
Significant progress has occurred in understanding how a vaccine based on a protein derived from a common bacterium may prompt a potent T cell defense against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This work will have substantial impact in a more general understanding of how T cells can be marshaled to fight viruses and tumors.
Investigators have identified the following scientific challenges in this area of concentration:
- Understanding the regulation of T cell response in chronic infections
- Understanding how to regulate and manipulate killer T cells at the molecular level
- Discovering the role of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in immune defense
- Methods for inducing T cells specific for cancer and for viruses
Related News and Announcements
RNA interference: Putting bacteria to work to silence genes
The Lieberman Lab reported important progress in producing the RNAs that inhibit gene synthesis.
If you are a scientist and you want to turn… Read Full Article »
Dr. Goldfeld receives Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award
Dr. Anne Goldfeld, Professor of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School and Senior Investigator in the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Boston Children's Hospital received the Dr. Jean… Read Full Article »
Anne Goldfeld bridges research and action in global health
Anne Goldfeld, M.D., was interviewed Friday morning February 1st by WBUR radio Host of 'Morning Edition' Bob Oakes. She was recognized in their 'Visionary Series' as someone who "bridges research and action in global health". Dr. Goldfeld is… Read Full Article »
Harvard Immunologist Klaus Rajewsky Receives Max Delbrück Medal
Press Release - Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine
The German immunologist Professor Klaus Rajewsky from Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, has received the Max Delbrück Medal in Berlin, Germany. The jury from various… Read Full Article »