Master 2 Intership

The Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases (CIID) serves as the major laboratory research component of the Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology.

Basic Science Aimed at Enhancing Patient Care

The process of chronic inflammation characterizes classic autoimmune diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus as well as asthma and other allergic and immunologic disorders. Recent evidence also suggests the immune system influences the development of common conditions such as cancer, heart disease, obesity, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease.

At the CIID, our basic research focuses on understanding the immune system and the inflammatory process—and how these contribute to the origin and development of a wide range of diseases. We work closely with many of Mass General's clinical and research units to integrate basic science, clinical research and clinical care related to immunology-mediated diseases.

Since 2000 we have helped to clarify the mechanisms underlying diseases such as arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer's disease, pulmonary fibrosis and scleroderma. Our division's shared goal is to deliver new therapies and treatments that ultimately improve care for patients with these and other conditions.

Summary of the internship proposal:

Contexte: Regulatory T cells (Treg) play an important role in suppressing allergic airway inflammation characteristic of asthma. Deficiency or dysfunction in Tregs leads to the develop of asthma. Using a house dust mite model of allergic asthma, we and others have found that adoptive transfer of allergen-specific Tregs is able to suppress T helper type 2 (Th2) cell-mediated allergic airway inflammation. Further, we have recently found that in the memory phase allergen-specific Tregs reside in the lung, however the role of these cells is unknown.

Goal: Projects in the Luster lab aim to uncover antigen-specific resident memory Treg role in allergic airway inflammation. The student's role will be to demonstrate that allergen-specific resident Tregs are capable of memory recall and downstream the Th2 inflammation

Methods: Using a house dust mite model of allergic asthma, several parameters will be analyzed by flowcytometry, multiplex, airway capacity assay, in vitro culture to evaluate the role of antigen-specific resident memory Treg

Candidates must be interested by Immunology, inflammation and cellular biology. We seek motivated, self-driven, independent, and creative individuals with organizational, writing, and communication skills. Ability to work in a multicultural environment are essential. Experience with murine models is expected.