Faculty
Gerald T. Nepom, MD, PhD
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Director, Benaroya Research Institute; Director, Immune Tolerance Network
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For more than 25 years, I have focused on human immunology research, contributing to our understanding of HLA and autoimmune disease, integrating genetics with function, and engaging in translational initiatives to bridge laboratory and clinical immunology programs. My laboratory’s work on identification and characterization of the human CD4 T cell response in type 1 diabetes (T1D) has evolved from the original descriptions of HLA class II associations, structure, and function to the development of class II tetramers for direct detection and analysis. Over the last decade, I have focused on understanding CD4 T cell activation and commitment in the context of T1D, and studies of immunomodulation are a direct extension of these interests. A next step will be the development of bioengineered devices with immunomodulatory properties, involving the use of stem cells.
