Vicki R. Kelley, PhD

Brigham And Women's Hospital

Academic Titles

Professor, Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Research Program Affiliation

Member, Cancer Immunology

Research Abstract

The focus of my laboratory is the molecular and cellular mechanisms of autoimmune disease and inflammation. We are identifying the events that lead to leukocytic accumulation in the tissues. Our ultimate goal is to identify therapeutic targets. These projects include understanding the immunoregulatory mechanisms. We are determining the impact of the co-stimulatory molecules that regulate T cell activation including the B7, ICOS and PD-1 pathways. We are studying the importance of the macrophage growth factor CSF-1 and its three forms, proteoglycan, glycoprotein, and membrane bound, in macrophage biology. This includes functional(recruitment, adherence, activation, phagocytosis) and gene expression studies, and impact on inflammation and autoimmune disease associated with lymphoproliferative disorders. We are identifying chemkine therapeutic targets in kidney inflammation and using gene transfer approaches to deliver chemokine receptor blockers.