Manuel Quinones Perez
BME PhD Proposal Presentation

Date: 2025-11-04
Time: 11:00am-1:00pm
Location / Meeting Link: IBB 1128 Suddath Seminar room

Committee Members:
Ankur Singh,PhD (Advisor); Andres Garcia, PhD; Aniruddh Sarkar, PhD; Marian Ackun-Farmmer, PhD; Jeremy Boss, PhD


Title: Engineered Ex Vivo Platforms for the Study of Follicular Immune Responses in Individuals Diagnosed with B-Cell Malignancies

Abstract:
B-cell maturation in adaptive immune responses, which happens in secondary lymphoid organs, is essential for producing high-affinity antibodies. However, in immune-compromised donors and aging, pathogen-neutralizing antibody responses are impaired, leading to weakened immunity. For example, lymphoma patients treated with rituximab exhibit reduced antibody production, and lupus patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies have diminished vaccine responses. Despite clinical evidence of immune dysfunction, the role of the lymphoid niche in these impairments is not well understood. To overcome this challenge, we propose to develop synthetic hydrogel environments and an immune-on-chip platform to study B-cell maturation in immunocompromised patients. This work is both innovative and impactful, combining bioengineering tools with immunology to explore how genetic B-cell factors and extrinsic niche signals affect adaptive immunity. We aim to improve understanding of B-cell maturation dysfunction and to guide more effective vaccine and therapeutic strategies for immunocompromised populations.