{"685994":{"#nid":"685994","#data":{"type":"event","title":"PhD Proposal by Manuel Quinones Perez","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EManuel Quinones Perez\u003Cbr\u003EBME PhD Proposal Presentation\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDate\u003C\/strong\u003E: 2025-11-04\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETime\u003C\/strong\u003E: 11:00am-1:00pm\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELocation \/ Meeting Link\u003C\/strong\u003E: IBB 1128 Suddath Seminar room\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECommittee Members:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EAnkur Singh,PhD (Advisor); Andres Garcia, PhD; Aniruddh Sarkar, PhD; Marian Ackun-Farmmer, PhD; Jeremy Boss, PhD\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETitle\u003C\/strong\u003E: Engineered Ex Vivo Platforms for the Study of Follicular Immune Responses in Individuals Diagnosed with B-Cell Malignancies\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAbstract:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB-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.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EEngineered Ex Vivo Platforms for the Study of Follicular Immune Responses in Individuals Diagnosed with B-Cell Malignancies\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Engineered Ex Vivo Platforms for the Study of Follicular Immune Responses in Individuals Diagnosed with B-Cell Malignancies"}],"uid":"27707","created_gmt":"2025-10-24 19:01:54","changed_gmt":"2025-10-24 19:02:18","author":"Tatianna Richardson","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","field_event_time":{"event_time_start":"2025-11-04T11:00:00-05:00","event_time_end":"2025-11-04T13:00:00-05:00","event_time_end_last":"2025-11-04T13:00:00-05:00","gmt_time_start":"2025-11-04 16:00:00","gmt_time_end":"2025-11-04 18:00:00","gmt_time_end_last":"2025-11-04 18:00:00","rrule":null,"timezone":"America\/New_York"},"location":"IBB 1128 Suddath Seminar room","extras":[],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"102851","name":"Phd proposal"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[{"id":"1788","name":"Other\/Miscellaneous"}],"invited_audience":[{"id":"78771","name":"Public"}],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}