Research Interests
Type-1 Diabetes: Quest for Cure
While our understanding of autoreactive T cells in T1D has grown, a cure remains out of reach, and the initial triggers of the autoimmune attack are still unknown. The only disease-modifying therapy, teplizumab, offers a delay but broadly impacts all T cells. Our innovative research into Dual Expressers (DEs) has yielded a unique antibody that, when administered in a tolerogenic form, demonstrated disease reversal in preclinical studies. We are committed to advancing this targeted approach towards clinical trials and a potential cure for T1D.
Revealing Hidden Driver(s) of Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and axonal degeneration. MS is widely considered a T cell–mediated disease that recognize myelin autoantigens. Yet the most effective treatments target CD20, a marker typically found on B cells. This paradox remains one of MS’s biggest mysteries. Our research is focused on shedding new light on this disconnect: We are actively investigating the hypothesis that current therapies work by unintentionally depleting DEs. In support of this hypothesis, DEs are highly enriched reactivities for myelin autoantigens express CD20 and are present in the cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients. If DEs prove to be a major driver of MS, our discovery paves the way for the development of targeted DE-specific therapies, offering a more precise and immune-sparing approach to treating this debilitating disease. If DEs are indeed key drivers of MS, this discovery opens the door to precision immunotherapies that target DEs specifically—offering effective treatment while preserving the rest of the immune system.
Graves’ Disease: The Unsolved Mystery
Graves’ disease, an autoimmune trigger of hyperthyroidism, arises from thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSI) that bind the TSH receptor (TSHR), relentlessly stimulating thyroid cells to overproduce hormones. Without a cure, the disease is controlled with antithyroid drugs that block hormone production. Yet, the source of these autoantibodies, which mimic TSH to drive hyperthyroidism, remains elusive.
Our innovative research focuses on whether DE cells are the source of these disease-causing antibodies, a pathway we are determined to explore for the development of future cures. Pinpointing this source could unlock the development of specific, targeted treatments.