Principal Investigator
Matthew Olson
Assistant Professor
Current Members
Nicole Anderson
Graduate Student - Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (PULSe)
B.S – Biology | Minor in Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, IN
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a spectrum of disorders characterized by distinct patterns of intestinal inflammation and a dysregulated intestinal immune response. Given the growing number of new diagnoses and the inconsistent results of current treatments, there is a major unmet need to understand IBD pathology to develop more effective therapies. The IBD-associated immune response is highly multi-faceted and consists of a network of adaptive CD4 T cells and innate-like γδ T cells that produce inflammatory cytokines and are associated with intestinal damage. Despite the association of these cell types with disease, how these responses become dysregulated and contribute to intestinal inflammation remains largely undefined. Here, I demonstrate that mice with CD4 T cell-specific deletions in the transcription factors STAT3 and BATF develop spontaneous colitis marked by elevated numbers of inflammatory γδ T cells that mimic those found in human IBD. Together, these data indicate that a STAT3/BATF+ CD4 T cell population is critical for regulation of inflammatory γδ T cells and that therapeutic targeting of this adaptive/innate-like T cell interaction may be beneficial in preventing or treating IBD.
Nicole's CV (PDF)
J. Alejandra Rodriguez
Graduate Student - Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (PULSe) at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.
B.S - Biology and Master in Biochemical Sciences, National University of Colombia, Bogotá.
Email: rodri660@purdue.edu
I am studying microbial interactions and the immune host defense in intestinal inflammatory diseases, with a particular focus on investigating the role of Granzymes and their interaction with the gut microbiota examining their significance in both healthy conditions and disease states.
Outside of the academy, I am a cat lover, my favorite plan is to spend time with my cats – Lucy and Lena! I also like artistic makeup and skating with friends.
About me:
- My CV (PDF)
- Google Scholar
Franklin Yeo
Graduate Student – Biological Sciences
B.S. – Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI
Graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) is a potentially deadly disease that often occurs in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). My current project is looking into a pathogenic subset of CD4 T cells that produces Granzyme A and drives progression of this disease.
In my free time I like to cook, go bouldering at the co-rec, and play computer games!
About me:
- My CV (PDF)
- Google Scholar
Alumni
Sungtae Park
Sungtae Park's CV (PDF)