Hamerman Lab

Introduction

In the Hamerman Lab, we are interested in understanding how myeloid cells contribute to both productive and pathological immune responses during infection, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases.

Our research focuses on monocytes and macrophages, and conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, key players in innate immune responses that set the stage for subsequent adaptive immunity.

We are particularly interested in understanding how signaling by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is regulated in these innate cells and how dysregulated TLR responses contribute to both initiation and propagation of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the autoimmune complication macrophage activation syndrome (MAS).

We also have a key interest in monocyte and macrophage development during homeostasis, and how this process changes during inflammation, whether due to infection, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases.

Our research will lead to a better mechanistic understanding of how TLRs and myeloid cells function and will allow for identification of new therapeutic intervention points in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Jessica Hamerman
Member

Jessica Hamerman, PhD

Director, Academic Affairs; Member, Center for Fundamental Immunology; Principal Investigator, Hamerman Lab
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Lab Members

Susan Canny

Susan Canny, MD/PhD

Visiting Scientist, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology; Rheumatology Attending, Seattle Children's Hospital; Acting Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, UW
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Griffin Gessay

Griff Gessay

Research Technician, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology
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Lucy Li

Lucy Li

MCB Graduate Student, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology; UW Medical Scientist Training Program
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Minjian Ni

Minjian Ni, MSci, PhD

Staff Scientist, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology
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Susana Orozco

Susana Orozco, PhD

Post Doctoral Research Associate, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology
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Natalie Thulin

Natalie Thulin

Graduate Student, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology; Department of Immunology, University of Washington
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Fanny Vaca Flores

Fanny Vaca Flores

Lab Aide, Hamerman Lab
Hayley Waterman

Hayley Waterman

Graduate Student, Hamerman Lab; Center for Fundamental Immunology; University of Washington Molecular and Cellular Biology
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Research Projects

Hamerman Research Project Preview - Flightless-1 in lung macrophage and DC development and function

Flightless-1 in lung macrophage and DC development and function

Myeloid cells express a variety of proteins to regulate the actin cytoskeleton, key to migration, adhesion, and phagocytosis.
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Hamerman Research Project Preview - Immune complex activation of pDC IFNα production in lupus

Immune complex activation of pDC IFNα production in lupus

In lupus, Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) internalize antibody-containing immune complexes through Fc receptors thereby delivering nucleic acid containing antigens to endosomal TLRs resulting in IFNα production, which amplifies the disease.
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Hamerman Research Project Preview - Monocyte-derived inflammatory hemophagocytes in disease

Monocyte-derived inflammatory hemophagocytes in disease

In the Hamerman lab we are working to gain a mechanistic understanding of how monocytes differentiate and contribute to diverse pathologies in autoimmune disease, macrophage activation syndrome and malarial anemia in order to help identify therapeutic targets to restrain diseases.
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