Immune Booster #4: Human autoimmunity with Jane Buckner
Jul 23, 2024
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Jane Buckner, an immunologist at the Benaroya Research Institute, dives deep into the complexities of human autoimmunity. She shares her inspiring journey into medicine fueled by a passion for autoimmune diseases. Highlights include her groundbreaking research on how regulatory T cells can fail, contributing to autoimmunity. Jane also discusses the interplay of genetics and environment in disease dynamics, emphasizing the importance of patient engagement in advancing research.
Jane Buckner's career reflects the critical integration of patient care and scientific research to address autoimmune diseases.
Her lab's focus on innovative gene editing technology aims to identify genetic and environmental contributors to autoimmune disorders for targeted treatments.
Deep dives
Journey to Immunology
Jane Buckner's passion for science began at a young age, influenced by her reading habits, highlighting her unique intersection of interests in both science and music. Choosing a career in science over a musical one, she pursued a chemistry major in college, eventually recognizing the limitations of that discipline in understanding real-world applications. Her transition to medical school was motivated by the aspiration to become a physician scientist, driven by a desire to understand and improve the treatment of autoimmune diseases she encountered during her medical training. This realization of the importance of combining patient care with scientific inquiry has shaped her career trajectory and focus on immunology research.
Advancements in Immunology Research
Buckner's research has significantly evolved with the advent of new technologies, particularly emphasizing the ability to analyze millions of individual cells and their genetic regulation. Her lab has been focused on studying human diseases, especially autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes, through a comprehensive biorepository that collects samples and personal data from a diverse array of participants. By examining the shared characteristics among different autoimmune diseases, her work seeks to uncover the underlying genetic and environmental factors contributing to these conditions. The innovations in gene editing and the ability to manipulate primary human cells have expanded the scope of her research, leading to potential therapeutic advancements.
Future Directions in Autoimmunity
Buckner discusses the emerging focus on early intervention strategies in autoimmune diseases, particularly the predictive capabilities that can indicate disease onset before clinical symptoms arise. This proactive approach has the potential to delay or prevent diseases, fundamentally changing the treatment landscape for conditions like type 1 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. Efforts are being made to identify environmental triggers alongside genetic predispositions, enhancing the understanding of disease mechanisms. By developing antigen-specific therapies and biomarkers, Buckner's research aims to pave the way for targeted interventions that could effectively re-educate the immune system and improve patient outcomes.
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Exploring the Journey of Autoimmunity Research and Medical Training
From the American Association of Immunologists 2024 conference in Chicago, Cindy and Steph meet up with Jane Buckner to talk about her career, and the research of her laboratory on mechanisms by which regulation of the adaptive immune response fails or is overcome in the setting of human autoimmunity.