Lab Directory

Immunology Laboratory


The Immunology Laboratory has extensive experience performing and interpreting tests for the diagnosis and management of a variety of immune-mediated diseases. Our service laboratory offers tests that evaluate patients with monoclonal gammopathies, infectious diseases and a variety of immunologic diseases such as, autoimmune disorders. We offer consultation to physicians seeking assistance in diagnosing and treating complex or unusual disorders. Additionally, the faculty provides laboratory support for clinical trial studies and vaccine trials.

KEY FACULTY

Barbara Detrick

Barbara Detrick, Ph.D.
Professor of Pathology
Director, Immunology Laboratory and Cytokine Laboratory
Primary Appointment in Pathology; Joint Appointment in Molecular Microbiology & Immunology (BSPH)
Member, Graduate Program in Immunology; Member, Graduate Program in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (BSPH)

Clinical interests
My professional interests focus on the discovery and implementation of laboratory tests to evaluate patients with a variety of immunologic disorders

Research interests
My research interests include work on the immunologic and virologic aspects of immune mediated disorders. Currently, I investigate immune and viral factors associated with pathogenic processes within the eye. I have studied the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell extensively as an important immunoregulatory cell and tracked its role in ocular immunity. Over the years, both animal model systems and a human RPE cell model have been utilized to study viral immunopathology. We have developed a murine coronavirus model, experimental coronavirus retinopathy, which identifies how a virus can trigger a retinal degenerative process. These studies revealed both a genetic predisposition and an immune component in this disease. We are continuing to explore the genetic and molecular basis of this autoimmune component of retinal tissue damage.

RPE cells are key players in the first-line defense against invading organisms. Another area of active research is the exploration of innate immunity within the retina. TLRs are critical recognition receptors in the host defense against microbial pathogens and play pivotal role in innate immunity. Using real time PCR analysis of TLR gene expression, we identified the presence of TLRs (TLRs 1-7 and 9-10) in human RPE cells. Moreover, TLR signaling in the RPE cells results in the production of several cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules. We are continuing our studies to further define the role of this epithelial cell in innate and adaptive immune responses.

More recently, research efforts have been focused on role of cytokines in regulating and modulating immune responses and immune mediated diseases. Specifically, I have been studying these molecules in vasculitis, infection, cardiovascular disease & atherosclerosis and transplant rejection. To date, our studies are attempting to bring together the current information concerning the role of cytokines in the development, progression, and complications of these inflammatory conditions and to identify their possible role as biomarkers of early inflammatory disease.

Recent Publications


600 N. Wolfe Street, Meyer B-125A,
Baltimore, MD
Phone: 410-614-3286/301-480-2988
E-mail: bdetrick@jhmi.edu


William M. Baldwin III, M.D., Ph.D.
William M. Baldwin Professor of Pathology; Director, Division of Immunology

Education and Training
M.D., Ph.D., University of Rochester; Residency in Pathology, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.

Professional Interests
Mechanisms of complement-mediated injury to vessels and tissues, macrophage and platelet interactions with endothelial cells that are stimulated by complement, antibody-mediated mechanisms of transplant rejection.

Notable Accomplishments
Authored more than 100 research articles in medical journals, 20 review articles, five book chapters. Created models of complement deficiency and regulation of complement synthesis. Introduced applications of novel reagents to the diagnosis and prevention of complement mediated tissue injury.

Major Professional Leadership
Editorial Board for Transplantation. Reviewer, Journal of Immunology, American Journal of Pathology, Laboratory Investigation, Human Immunology, Tissue Antigens, Developmental and Comparative Immunology, Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. Member, Program Committee in the Basic Sciences for the American Society of Transplant Physicians. Ad hoc reviewer of grants for NIH, The Foundation of Medical and Health Research, The Netherlands, and the Kidney Foundation of Canada

Recent publications:

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions,
720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 664D,
Baltimore, MD 21205;
Phone: 410-614-2053;
Fax: 410-614-3548;
E-mail: wbaldwin@jhmi.edu


Daniel Peterson
William M. Baldwin University of Nebraska, Lincoln

Born an immunologist into a family of farmers, Dan grew up working with his father, uncle and brother on a diversified farm of sorghum and soybeans plus pigs and cattle just outside of Lincoln, NE. He studied agriculture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he received a B.S. in Animal Science. He then left farming to pursue his passion for immunology as an MD/PhD student at Washington University in St Louis, working with Emil Unanue during his thesis years. His research is focused on the basic questions about the factors that determine the impact, level, and specificity of the immune response to different microbes. This interest became focused on the immune response gut microbiota during his postdoctoral time with Jeffrey Gordon at Washington University, in an era when sequencing the genomes of the gut microbes brought to light a new understanding of this microbial community that occupies the mammalian gut habitat. He moved back to Lincoln and the University of Nebraska-Gut Function Initiative to set up a research group and germ-free mouse facility to examine the host-microbe response in a simplified and defined mouse model. Trained as a clinical pathologist he has recently moved to Johns Hopkins Medical School to work in the pathology department as a diagnostic immunologist as well as continue the work on host-microbial interactions in the gut and defining the role that these play in development of the immune system.

The Peterson laboratory uses a "systems immunology" approach to study the complex systems in play in the host-microbial interactions in the gut in both homeostasis and disease. The laboratory uses metagenomic approaches to study the microbes and microbial taxa that are in healthy states compared to disease states in both human subjects as well as mouse models of disease (from Ulcerative Colitic to Small Bowel transplant). Basic cellular immunology of T cells and B cells that are specific to gut microbes with studies that are designed to study the specific impact of gut microbes on the development of specific and non-specific cells in the gut as well as measuring the impact of these immune responses on individual microbes and the microbial community. The systems immunology approach relies on the simplified models that can only be obtained in gnotobiotic and germ-free mice where the microbial composition in the gut can be controlled or removed from the experiments. The Peterson laboratory is in the process of establishing the only gnotobiotic mouse facility at JHU.


Richard L. Humphrey, M.D.
Associate Professor School of Medicine, Department of Pathology

Education and Training
M.D., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Residency and Internship, Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital; Fellowship, Biochemistry and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Clinical Interests
Nationally known in the field of plasma cell dyscrasias. His work with these disorders has applications for the recognition of multiple myeloma as well as Waldastrom’s macroglobulinemia, primary amyloidois and other lymphoproliferative disorders.

Research Interests
Monoclonal gammopathies, plasma cell dyscrasias, immunoglobulin structure and function, bone marrow transplantation, amyloidosis, hyperviscosity diagnosis and clinical syndromes, cryoglobulinemia, protein electrophoresis and immunofixation.

Notable Accomplishments
Introducedcellulose acetate electrophoresis, immunoglobulin quantitation, immunoelectrophoresis to Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. Participated in the early studies leading to myeloablative therapy and bone marrow transplantation for multiple myeloma.

Major Professional Leadership
Founding member of the Johns Hopkins Immunology Council. Served on several national task forces for cancer education and nursing research. Medical consultant for the American Red Cross, Plasma Operations. Reviewer for Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medical Journal, and Transplant Proceedings, among other professional journals.

Johns Hopkins Medicine
600 N. Wolfe Street, Meyer B125F
Baltimore, MD 21287;
Phone: 410-955-4382;
Fax:410-614-7314;
E-mail: rhumph@pds.path.jhu.edu


Noel R. Rose, M.D., Ph.D.

Noel R. Rose

Professor of Pathology, Medicine, Molecular Microbiology, and Immunology and Environmental Health Sciences; Director, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Autoimmune Disorders; Director, Immunologic Disorders Laboratory.

Education and Training

M.D., State University of New York at Buffalo; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania; Diplomate, American Board of Pathology, American Board of Medical Microbiology, American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology

Professional Interests
Clinical and diagnostic immunology, autoimmune disease.

Notable Accomplishments
Pioneering research on the etiology and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Developed new laboratory tests for autoimmune disease and cancer markers.

Major Professional Leadership
Past Secretary-Treasurer and President, Clinical Immunology Society. Past Secretary-Treasurer, Academy of Clinical Laboratory Physicians and Scientists. Board of Governors, American Academy of Microbiologists and the Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine. Fellow, College of American Pathologists. American Academy of Microbiology. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. American Public Health Association. Editor in Chief, Manual of Clinical Laboratory Immunology (5 editions), Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology. Member, editorial board, 21 professional journals. Editor or co-editor, 17 books.

Johns Hopkins Medicine,
720 Rutland Avenue, Ross 659,
Baltimore, MD 21205;
Phone: 410-955-0330 or 410-614-2905
Fax: 410-614-3548 or 410-955-0105
E-mail: nrrose@jhmi.edu


Robert G. Hamilton, Ph.D.

Professor of Medicine and Pathology
Departments of Medicine (Division of Clinical Immunology) and Pathology
Director, Johns Hopkins Dermatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Reference Laboratory

Education and Training
Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University; Diplomate, American Board of Science in Nuclear Medicine; American Society of Nuclear Medicine; American Board of Medical Laboratory Immunology; American Society for Microbiology.

Clinical Interests
Allergic and Infectious disease; Immunodeficiency

Research Interests
Humoral immune responses to allergens, immunogens (vaccines) and
Assessment of Environments for Allergen burdens
Evaluation of Patients for Drug Allergy; Latex Allergy

Notable Accomplishments
Development of serologic assays for quantitation of allergen-specific human IgE, IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and lgG4 antibodies. Co-licensee for natural rubber latex diagnostic puncture skin test reagent. Developer, novel heterologous system employing chimeric antibodies for calibration of human antibody standards. Recognized internationally as expert in humoral immune responses associated with pathology and protection of humans with allergic disease.

Major Professional Leadership
Interagency Committee on Validation of Alternative. Toxicological Methods, NIOSH, CDC. Co-Chair, Diagnostic Allergy Sub-committee, Diagnostic Immunology Committee, National Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standards. Director, Diagnostic Allergy Interlaboratory Quality Control Program for USA. Member, Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology Resource Committee, College of American Pathologists. Editorial board member of numerous professional journals, including Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Journal of Clinical Immunoassay. Journal of Immunoassay. Clinical and Diagnostic Immunology. Reviewer, Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, Clinical Chemistry, Immunology Letters, Journal of Immunology, Allergy, International Archives of Allergy and Immunology.

Recent publications

Johns Hopkins Medicine,
Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center
5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 410-550-2031
Fax: 410-550-2030
E-mail: rhamilto@jhmi.edu

Timothy Amukele, MD PhD

Timothy Amukele, MD PhD

Instructor
Immunology Laboratory
Department of Pathology
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes

Education and Training

M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Ph.D., Sue Golding Graduate Division, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Diplomate, American Board of Pathology

Professional Interests

Diagnostic Immunology, Clinical Chemistry

Research Interests

We are interested in studying the etiology of chronic and autoimmune disease in sub-saharan Africa. Sub-saharan Africa is especially attractive for elucidating disease mechanisms because it is the most genetically diverse region in the world and reflects the biological and physical conditions where modern humans evolved. Current projects include:

We are also interested in Improving the Quality of the Clinical laboratories in low-resource settings. In the West, the quality of clinical laboratories is maintained by government regulation and financial incentives. In low-resource settings, these motivations are not readily available. We are interested in creating a system of Laboratory Quality Assurance that produces measurable results in settings without financial or regulatory incentives. Current Projects include work in Eritrea, Bhutan, Uganda and Malawi. There are many opportunities for collaboration for individuals interested in Laboratory Information Systems or Web-based electronic education.

Recent Publications

  1. Ricin A-chain Substrate Specificity in RNA, DNA and Hybrid Stem-Loop Structures Timothy Amukele and Vern L. Schramm. Biochemistry 43(17), 4913-4922, 2004
  2. Inhibition of Ricin A-chain with Pyrrolidine Mimics of the Oxacarbenium Ion Transition State S. Roday, T. K. Amukele, G. B. Evans, P. C. Tyler, R. H. Furneax and Vern L. Schramm. Biochemistry 43(17), 4923 — 4933, 2004
  3. Ricin A-Chain Activity on Stem-Loop and Unstructured DNA Substrates Timothy Amukele and Vern L. Schramm. Biochemistry 44(11), 4416 - 4425, 2005
  4. Use of a Resident On-call Database to Characterize Failures in Communication of Critical Laboratory Results Timothy K. Amukele, Andrew N. Hoofnagle, Michael L. Astion – Clin Chem 55(8) 1590-159, 2009
  5. Development and validation of a laboratory test for Whole Blood PT and Fibrinogen on the STAR instrument Timothy Amukele, Chris Ferrell and Wayne Chandler Amer J Clin Path (133) 550-556, 2010
  6. Principles of Quality Assurance in the Clinical Laboratory. A monograph, to teach Quality Assurance and Quality Control practices to laboratory workers in resource-challenged settings. Timothy Amukele, Robert Tuggey Ed.s January 2010. In collaboration with Washington University Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathologists Overseas

Phone: 410-614-4441
Email: Tamukel1@jhmi.edu


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