Stefanie Breitbarth

E-mail: breit060@umn.edu

Year entered: 2007

Degrees received:
B.A., Spanish Education, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, 2004
B.S., Biology, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN, 2006

Thesis research:

Innate immune cell-mediated tissue destruction resulting from chronic inflammation contributes to disease and the mortality rate of people with systemic autoimmunity. Understanding the mechanisms by which these innate immune cells are recruited to and retained at the sites of inflammation may help elucidate potential therapeutic targets. Our laboratory studies the K/BxN mouse model of inflammatory arthritis, in which a transgene-encoded T cell receptor recognizes a ubiquitously-expressed self-antigen. My projects are focused on understanding the mechanisms by which innate immune cells contribute to cardiac valve inflammation in this model, focusing on the role of adhesion receptors and the clearance of apoptotic debris.