Research

The main research interest in the Blazar laboratory is in immunobiology and transplantation. There are five basic project areas we are currently investigating:

1. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)
2. Regulatory T Cells
3. Immune recovery and regeneration post-transplant
4. Graft-versus-leukemia (GVL)
5. Genetic manipulations and reprogramming of immature and mature cells

Education

The laboratory is actively involved in education, participating in undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral training programs (see lab staff). University of Minnesota graduate students from the programs of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MICAB), Molecular, Cellular Developmental Biology and Genetics (MCDB&G), Molecular, Cellular and Structural Biology and Stem Cell Biology are eligible to join the laboratory. Fellows in the Department of Pediatrics are eligible for a research rotation in the laboratory. Medical students may also contact the lab if interested in research. Driven and determined individuals are always encouraged to contact us regarding joining our research teams.

Funding

This research is funded from a combination of government grants, private foundations, and donations. Below is a list of agencies that have supported our research.

• National Institutes of Health / National Cancer Institute
• National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Aging
• National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
• National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
• Department of Defense
• Children's Cancer Research Fund
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Minnesota Medical Foundation
• Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, Inc.
• Progeria Research Foundation
• American Heart Association
• DebRA International