Investigating Lymphocyte Development and Regulation
Summary of research in the Davis laboratory:
My laboratory focuses on cellular and molecular immunology and malignant hematology (leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma). In general, we are interested in determining how alterations in normal lymphocyte development and function lead to diseases such as autoimmunity and leukemia. As a postdoctoral fellow, I co-discovered the FCRL multigene family which encodes Ig-like transmembrane receptors that are preferentially expressed by B lymphocytes. Our current projects involve investigating FCRL members (1-6) in humans and mice to characterize their functional roles in normal and pathogenic immunologic conditions.
Student researchers in the Davis lab should:
• Be highly motivated with a great desire to learn science, develop analytical skills, and formulate scientific hypotheses/questions.
• Have an interest in molecular biology, cell biology, and/or bioinformatics to investigate immune system regulation.
• Commit time and patience to optimize research techniques involving in vitro and in vivo human or mouse preclinical models.
• Be strong communicators and utilize constructive feedback to operate as part of a research team of graduate students, medical trainees, technicians, and faculty members.
Potential projects for students:
• To assess how FCRL1 influences B lymphocyte physiology and intracellular signaling in normal and pathogenic states to pioneer its role as a potential immunotherapeutic target.
• To investigate the role of FCRL6, which is restricted to natural killer and cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes that mediate tumor immunity, and how it binds a recently discovered ligand(s).
Department(s) Involved: Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Microbiology
Date Posted: February 11, 2019 9:59:42 AM CST
Location: Birmingham Campus
Type of research: Basic science
Audience: Undergraduate Student - Summer, Undergraduate Student - Academic Year, Medical Student - Summer, Medical Student - Scholarly Activity, Graduate or MD/PhD Student, Resident
Research Type: Basic science
smith3tr@uab.edu
205-934-1816
My laboratory focuses on cellular and molecular immunology and malignant hematology (leukemia/lymphoma/myeloma). In general, we are interested in determining how alterations in normal lymphocyte development and function lead to diseases such as autoimmunity and leukemia. As a postdoctoral fellow, I co-discovered the FCRL multigene family which encodes Ig-like transmembrane receptors that are preferentially expressed by B lymphocytes. Our current projects involve investigating FCRL members (1-6) in humans and mice to characterize their functional roles in normal and pathogenic immunologic conditions.
Student researchers in the Davis lab should:
• Be highly motivated with a great desire to learn science, develop analytical skills, and formulate scientific hypotheses/questions.
• Have an interest in molecular biology, cell biology, and/or bioinformatics to investigate immune system regulation.
• Commit time and patience to optimize research techniques involving in vitro and in vivo human or mouse preclinical models.
• Be strong communicators and utilize constructive feedback to operate as part of a research team of graduate students, medical trainees, technicians, and faculty members.
Potential projects for students:
• To assess how FCRL1 influences B lymphocyte physiology and intracellular signaling in normal and pathogenic states to pioneer its role as a potential immunotherapeutic target.
• To investigate the role of FCRL6, which is restricted to natural killer and cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes that mediate tumor immunity, and how it binds a recently discovered ligand(s).
Basic Information
Principle Investigator: Randall S. Davis, MDDepartment(s) Involved: Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Microbiology
Date Posted: February 11, 2019 9:59:42 AM CST
Location: Birmingham Campus
Type of research: Basic science
Audience: Undergraduate Student - Summer, Undergraduate Student - Academic Year, Medical Student - Summer, Medical Student - Scholarly Activity, Graduate or MD/PhD Student, Resident
Research Type: Basic science
Contact Information
Tasha Renee Smith, PhD, MPHsmith3tr@uab.edu
205-934-1816
