Lisa K. Jasperson

Year entered: 2003

Degrees Received:
Sc.B. Biochemistry, Brown University, 2003

Honors and Awards:
Honors: Years 1 and 2, Medical School
NIH/NIA National Research Service Award for Individual Predoctoral MD/PhD Fellows, 2008-2011

Thesis Advisors: Bruce Blazar, M.D., Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology Graduate Program (MICaB)

Thesis Research:  IDO and tolerance

Bone marrow transplant is a promising treatment for hematopoietic malignancies and other disorders. It is currently limited by the high rate of graft versus host disease (GVHD) that occurs due to mismatch of major and/or minor histocompatibility antigens. We are attempting to circumvent GVHD by creating tolerance to allogeneic antigens, while maintaining reactivity to malignant cells and pathogenic organisms. My project focuses on the role of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the tryptophan catabolism pathway, in GVHD. This enzyme is expressed in antigen presenting cells and suppresses allogeneic T cell responses. By modulating the activity, timing, and location of this enzyme, we hope to ameliorate the effects of GVHD.

Publications:
Jasperson LK, Bucher C, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Taylor PA, Mellor AL, Munn DH, Blazar BR. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase is a critical regulator of acute graft- versus-host disease lethality. Blood 2008;111:3257-3265.