What is your professional background?
I obtained my MS in infectious diseases from the University of São Paulo in Brazil and my PhD in immunology from a joint program between University of São Paulo and Stanford University. I did my postdoctoral training at Stanford University in the Herzenberg Laboratory, where I used high-dimensional single-cell technologies to study the early development of the mammalian immune system. I also spent time in Japan as a visiting scientist at the University of Tokyo, where I used mouse models of single Hematopoietic Stem Cell (HSC) transplantation to study the potential of fetal and adult HSC transplantation to regenerate tissue-resident immune cells. I then returned to Stanford as an Instructor of Genetics before joining Emory University as an assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics in June of 2017.
In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?
My primary appointment is in the Division of Rheumatology, and I am faculty member of the Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Emory Vaccine Center, Center for Transplantation and Immune-Mediated Disorders of the Pediatric Research Alliance, and the Immunology and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMP) graduate program. Emory has an incredible roster of thought leaders in the field of immunology, and many are sources of inspiration and mentorship in my current academic career, including Drs. Iñaki Sanz, Max Cooper, Rafi Ahmed, Jerry Boss, John Altman, Dmitry M. Shayakhmetov, Joshy Jacob, Malú Tansey, Greg Gibson, Rabin Tirouvanziam, among others – I feel very fortunate to be a part of this community.
Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?
My laboratory at HSRB (www.ghosnlab.science) utilizes single-cell technologies to study the differences between the immune cells that develop in fetal, neonatal, and adult life, and to reveal how these differences affect immunopathology at different developmental ages. We are particularly interested in the immune cells that develop during pregnancy and are retained in tissues/organs throughout adulthood. We found that these tissue-resident cells, which participate in many inflammatory diseases, are not properly regenerated by blood stem cells (aka, HSCs). Our findings raise concerns about whether blood stem cell transplantation, the mainstay therapy to restore immunity in cancer (and other immune-compromised) patients, can indeed restore all necessary components of the immune system. We expect the results from our studies to provide new insights into the development and function of the human immune system in infants and adults and impact the development of new vaccines that are targeted to either children or adults. In addition, they may shed new light on the mechanisms that lead to autoimmunity, inflammatory diseases, and other hematological disorders (leukemia/lymphoma, immunodeficiency, etc.) that are predominant at different developmental ages.
What do you like most about Emory?
I appreciate the collegial, collaborative, and supporting environment, and the inter-disciplinary opportunities with researchers at Georgia Tech.
What is your favorite movie or TV show?
I don’t have a fair answer to this question, but I will instead name one of my favorite directors from the Dogme 95 movement, Lars von Trier. Of the films I’ve seen in the last few weeks, I very much enjoyed Capernaum, Cold War, Shoplifters, and Roma – the Oscar-nominated live action short films were also good.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I spend a good amount of time at the Tara and Midtown Art Cinema. Beside films, I enjoy reading non-fiction, cooking, jogging at Piedmont Park, playing volleyball, traveling, and mostly trying to find ways to make more spare time to cultivate new friends in Atlanta; it has been just a year and a half since I moved to the south.
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