Associate Professor, Microbial Infection and Immunity
798 Biomedical Research Tower (BRT)
460 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210
Ken.Oestreich@osumc.edu
614-685-3549
Membership: OSU Comprehensive Cancer Center - James, Infectious Diseases Institute
Research Interests
The research in Dr. Oestreich’s laboratory focuses on better understanding how environmental signals and transcription factors govern cellular differentiation and function in the immune system. The formation of the immune system is entirely dependent on the ability of numerous cell types to arise from a common progenitor. Developmental transcription factors are necessary for regulating the cell-type-specific gene expression patterns dictating the phenotype of each of these unique cells. Unfortunately, mutations in these key factors often lead to their improper function, resulting in cancer and autoimmune disease. Therefore, it is critically important to understand the molecular mechanisms by which transcription factors direct cell-specific gene expression profiles.
By employing cutting-edge molecular biology techniques, our team seeks to elucidate the developmental and dynamic mechanisms that lead to the proper differentiation and function of individual immune cell types. Thus, the overarching goal of our research is to gain a better understanding of how environmental signals and developmental transcription factors regulate gene expression patterns, and to use this knowledge to develop novel immunotherapeutic strategies to aid in the treatment of human disease.
Laboratory
740 Biomedical Research Tower (BRT)
460 W 12th Ave, Columbus OH 43210
614-685-3634
Lab Website
Personnel
Gayathri Dileepan, Graduate Student, gayathri.dileepan@osumc.edu
Melissa Leonard, Graduate Student, leonard.329@osu.edu
Srijana Pokhrel, Post Doctoral Scholar, srijana.pokhrel@osumc.edu
Jasmine Tuazon, Graduate Student, jasmine.tuazon@osumc.edu
Robert Warren, Research Assistant, robert.warren2@osumc.edu