Highlighted Researcher: Matthew Woodruff

What is your professional background?
I am an immunologist by training. I graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008 with a BS in biotechnology and received my doctorate at Harvard University in 2014. My early training focused on the fundamentals of vaccine biology – how does our immune system respond to vaccination, and can we instruct it to do it better? In 2017, I switched my focus towards human immunology and the investigation of autoimmunity.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor? 
I work under Dr. Iñaki Sanz in the Lowance Center for Human Immunology and the Division of Rheumatology.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important? 
I study the role antibody-producing immune cells play in damaging the kidneys of patients with lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis is an autoimmune disease where a patient’s own immune system begins to attack various organ systems including the kidneys. Left untreated, the disease can lead to renal failure and the need for kidney transplant. In our work, we try and identify the immune cells responsible for causing the kidney damage and understand how we can prevent them from either damaging the kidney or traveling to the kidney in the first place.

What do you like most about Emory?
The tight connection between the clinical and basic science worlds at Emory is truly unique. The willingness of our colleagues in clinical practice to help push our research forward through patient interaction and sample collection is an amazing asset from which we are fortunate to benefit.

What is your favorite movie or TV show?
Based purely on the amount of time I have spent watching it of late, I would have to say “Coco.”

What do you like to do in your spare time? 
I’m a postdoc and have two wonderful children under age 3 – I’m not familiar with free time.

What is a fun fact about you? 
I’ve recently learned that climbing small mountains with small people can be just as fun as climbing big mountains with big people.