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The Division has seven principal investigators with research interests in cancer immunology and biochemistry, antigen processing and T-cell development, and structure analysis using mass spectrometry and NMR methods:
- Studies on cancer immunology by John Shively include the use of anti-CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) antibodies to direct tumor therapy, and the study of CEA-related antigens in T-cell activation and mammary epithelial cell polarization.
- Antigen processing, a fundamental first step in the presentation of antigens in the immune system, is being studied by Susan Kovats in the MHC class II system in autoimmune diseases.
- Chih-Pin Liu is studying the role of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling in T-cell development and the interactions of the TCR and MHC class II system in autoimmunity.
- Terry Lee directs primary structural studies on proteins by mass spectrometry, an approach that has been embodied in the concept of the proteome, the protein equivalent of the genome.
- Three dimensional, NMR solution phase structure analysis is performed by Yuan Chen with an emphasis on bioactive peptides in micelles, protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions.
- Markus Kalkum is developing mass spectrometric and biochemical technology to conduct focused proteomics studies, such as the analysis of protein interactions. The detection of peptides and proteins at high sensitivity is among his main objectives.
The Division of Immunology, which was established in 1972 by Charles Todd, has maintained his original vision-- a dual focus on both immunology and structural biology.
Today, the division has state of the art facilities in mass spectrometry and microsequencing, and excellent instrumentation for NMR. The unique combination of biological and structural studies has created an interactive and productive environment that has attracted numerous collaborative interactions among investigators at the City of Hope and at other institutions.
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