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Hematology and Oncology

Drobyski Laboratory

General Interests

Inflammation and Immunology, Transplantation Biology

View William R. Drobyski Bio
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Research Areas

Research in the Drobyski lab is focused on transplantation immunology with a specific emphasis on the immunobiology of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the pathophysiology of graft versus host disease (GVHD) which is the major complication in patients undergoing this potentially curative therapy. Specifically, the lab seeks to understand the complex interplay between inflammatory and regulatory pathways that become imbalanced during this disease, and develop new mechanistic insights designed to promote the re-establishment of tolerance and amelioration of inflammatory cellular and cytokine-driven pathways. The long-term goal of the lab is to employ a bench to bedside strategy that leads to a reduction in transplant-related morbidity and mortality and thereby improves overall transplant outcomes in patients.

Current research in the lab focuses on: (1) the role of inflammatory cytokines in mediating pathological damage in the gastrointestinal tract which is the major target organ of GVHD, (2) discovery of novel regulatory mechanistic pathways that inhibit alloreactivity and induce tolerance, (3) understanding the mechanisms by which GVHD induces inflammation and cognitive dysfunction in the brain, and (4) the translation of pre-clinical findings into the clinic by devising and implementing rational clinical trials designed to prevent untoward complications arising from this disease.

Current Members

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Mark Castleberry, PhD

Research Scientist I

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Jonathan Florentin, MS, PhD

Research Scientist II

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Alison Moe, PhD

Research Scientist II

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Alex Myers, BA

Research Technologist II

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Marlenny Vargas-Cortes, BS

Research Technologist I

Recent Publications

Publications of William R. Drobyski MD from the Faculty Collaboration Database

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