Immunology

Biography

Sarah Gaffen is the Professor of Rheumatology at the University of Pittsburgh Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology. She directs a research program focused on the IL-17 superfamily of cytokine receptors. Her lab was among the first to study signaling mechanisms mediated by this novel family of cytokines. Her group demonstrated that IL-17 is critical for immunity to oral mucosal infection with the commensal fungus Candida albicans. The treatment of autoimmune diseases has been revolutionized by biologic drugs that neutralize cytokines including the Th17/IL-17 pathway, IL-17 and her work also focuses on molecular signaling mechanisms of autoimmunity and the consequences of anti-cytokine therapy on susceptibility to infections

Research Interest

Her research interest focuses on molecular signalling mechanisms of autoimmunity and the consequences of anti-cytokine therapy on susceptibility to infections