The mast cell is the focus of the Mast Cell Biology Section (MCBS) research effort. This multifunctional inflammatory cell is involved in both innate and acquired immunity and plays a central role in the induction of allergic inflammation. An integrated program investigating mast cell biology includes studies into the growth and differentiation of mast cells, mast-cell signal transduction, and the products generated by mast cells that lead to disease. The MCBS program emphasizes basic research that may be translated into the clinic and from the clinic to the bench, where protocols include studies on the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis, physical urticarias and clonal mast cell disorders. Research efforts have contributed to the identification of mutations in mast cell disease, understanding signaling through KIT and the high affinity IgE receptor, and how alterations in the control of mast cell mediator production affect human disease.
First row left to right: Geethani Bandara, Annika Pfeiffer-Daniels, Andrea Luker, Ana Olivera, Melody Carter, Robin Eisch, Hyejeong Bolan
Dean D. Metcalfe, M.D., M.S. (He/Him/His)
Chief, Mast Cell Biology Section
Specialty(s): Allergy and Immunology, Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
M.D., University of Tennessee
M.S., University of Michigan
Yun Bai, M.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Biologist
Education:
M.S., University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Languages Spoken: Chinese
Focus is on the studies of the genetic analysis and specific gene expression related with human mast cell diseases. Provides research assistance on the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases and clonal mast cell disorders.
Geethani Bandara, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Biologist
Education:
University of Pittsburgh
Languages Spoken: Sinhala
Geethani Bandara received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the Mast Cell Biology Section in 2008. Her research interests are the identification and characterization of mast cell receptors and their contribution to pathogenesis of mast cell associated diseases.
Hyejeong Bolan (She/Her/Hers)
Study Coordinator
Education:
University of Phoenix
Languages Spoken: Korean
Melody C. Carter, M.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Staff Clinician, Mast Cell Biology Section
Education:
M. D., Tulane University Medical School
B.S., Biology, Newcomb College, Tulane University
Robin Eisch (She/Her/Hers)
Study Coordinator
Education:
B.S., Nursing
Research Nurse working with studies of conditions affecting mast cells. Protocols include a natural history study of mastocytosis, a clinical trial using sarilumab/placebo in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis, and a natural history study for patients with systemic capillary leak syndrome.
Guido Falduto, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Projects include contribution of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in mast cell biology, as well as the molecular, functional and pharmacological outcomes in mast cells containing the common KIT variants D816V and/or V560G.
Hirsh D. Komarow, M.D. (He/Him/His)
Staff Clinician, Mast Cell Biology Section
Specialty(s): Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
B. S., Tulane University
M.D., Sackler School of Medicine
Languages Spoken: Hebrew
Andrea Luker, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Research focuses on germinal center reactions and antibody responses to murine models of inflammation. Specializes in high-parameter flow cytometry.
Ana Olivera, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Associate Scientist, Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases
Education:
Ph.D., Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Dr. Olivera received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Spain, and relocated to the US with a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Georgetown University, Washington DC, where she later became a Research Assistant Professor.
Annika Pfeiffer-Daniels, Ph.D (She/Her/Hers)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Genetics, Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Languages Spoken: German
Dr. Annika Pfeiffer received her Ph.D. in genetics and cell biology from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She joined the Mast Cell Biology Section as a postdoctoral fellow in 2019. Dr. Pfeiffer’s research interest is to understand the formation, characteristics and functions of extracellular vesicles secreted by mast cells.
Linda Scott (She/Her/Hers)
Nurse Practitioner
Education:
MSN, Georgetown University
BSN, University of MD College Park
Yuzhi Yin, M.D., Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Biologist
Education:
Beijing Medical University
Languages Spoken: Chinese
Involved in improving culture of Human mast cells. Investigating the expression and function of CD25 and CD30 in mastocytosis patients. Also, evaluates basophil activation in mastocytosis patients.
Former Research Group Members
Valerie Hox, M.D., Ph.D.- Assistant Professor Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques universitaires, Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
Rosa Muñoz-Cano, M.D., Ph.D.- Pneumonology department, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Joseph M. Kulinski, Ph.D.- Regulatory Science Biologist, CBER, FDA
Araceli Tobio-Ageitos, Ph.D.- Assistant Professor, Pharmacology Department, Veterinary School, University of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
Do-Kyun Kim, Ph.D.- Full Professor, Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
Andrea Naranjo-Erazo, Ph.D.- OITE Research Ethics Training Coordinator, NIH