Susan Winandy, PhD

Assistant Professor of of Microbiology-Immunology
Feinberg School of Medicine

Research Interests:
The research in the laboratory of Susan Winandy focuses on the study of the molecular basis of T cell development and homeostasis. Elucidation of regulatory mechanisms involved in these processes is the first step towards understanding how immune system diseases such as leukemia, autoimmunity and immunodeficiency can arise. Ikaros proteins have been identified as key regulators of lymphopoiesis and T cell homeostasis.

In a genetic model, mice which lack Ikaros expression display abnormal T cell development and, with 100% penetrance, develop T cell leukemia. However, the molecular role of Ikaros in these events has not yet been defined. Ikaros functions as both a transcriptional activator and a transcriptional repressor. Significantly, it is also a component of at least two chromatin remodeling complexes in which, it has been hypothesized, it functions as a targeting factor through its sequence specific DNA binding ability. This suggests that it may be responsible for the initiation of large programs of gene expression in response to developmental signals in the maturing T cell, many of which are delivered through the TCR complex.

One of Susan Winandy’s primary goals is to identify these programs of gene expression to not only identify gene targets for Ikaros activity, but also generate a molecular map for events downstream of TCR complex engagement.