Janis Burkhardt, PhD

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA

2005 Genetics

With funding from the LRI, Dr. Burkhardt set out to examine how HS1—a gene that is altered in people at increased risk for lupus—regulates the immune system.

An established immunology research but new to lupus investigation, Dr. Burkhardt made several key discoveries, including finding that the agent (Abl kinase), which is known to be important in regulating T cell responses, acts on HS1.

She also discovered that dendritic cells that lack HS1 cannot present antigen effectively.

Ongoing funding:

Dr. Burkhardt won a $1.25 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to build upon the discoveries she made with her LRI grant.

Rev. July 2010

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