Timothy Denning, PhD
Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics

Research interests: My laboratory is focused on understanding how intestinal antigen presenting cells regulate adaptive immune responses. In particular, we are interested in how lamina propria macrophages and dendritic cells control CD4+ T cell differentiation and function in the intestine during homeostasis and inflammatory conditions. Using multicolor flow cytometry and high-speed cell sorting we have begun defining the phenotype and functions of murine lamina propria macrophage and dendritic cell subsets along the length of the GI tract (Denning et al., Nat Immunol. 2007).  It is our hope that information gained from these studies will lead to major advances in the understanding of intestinal antigen presenting cell functions as they relate to the induction of tolerogenic and immunogenic mucosal immune responses.

Denning Lab members: Oscar Medina, PhD; Clifton Huang, MD; Duke Geem

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Nancy Louis, MD
Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics

Research interests: Work in the Louis lab investigates mechanisms regulating intestinal barrier function and innate immunity in acute and chronic infection in models of mature and developing intestine.  Recent projects focus more specifically on the glycosylation-dependent regulation of neutrophil transepithelial migration and clearance from the intestinal epithelium, as well as the consequences these interactions have for subsequent epithelial barrier and neutrophil function.  Ongoing studies in the laboratory are currently supported by a Senior Research Award from the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA) and by the Emory Egleston Children’s Research Council.

Louis Lab members: Jennifer Brazil, PhD; Ilya Sotnikov, MD, PhD; Barbara McElhanon, MD

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Sarah Wise, MD
Assistant Professor, Emory University School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery

Research interests: Dr. Wise’s clinical research interests include the use of 3D technology for endoscopic pituitary and skull base surgery, sublingual immunotherapy outcomes, and office-based rhinology procedures.  Her translational research focuses on the pathophysiology of allergic/inflammatory nasal polyposis and specifically examines the effect of inflammatory mediators on sinonasal epithelial intercellular junctional proteins and epithelial permeability.  Dr. Wise has recently been awarded two research grants for her work on sinonasal epithelial junctional proteins: the American Rhinologic Society New Investigator Award through the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery CORE Grant program and a KL2 Mentored Clinical and Translational Research Scholars grant through the Atlanta Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute and the National Institutes of Health.

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