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What We Do
The Sharpe laboratory investigates T cell costimulatory pathways and their immunoregulatory functions. We focus on the roles of these pathways in regulating pathogenic and protective immune responses needed for the induction and maintenance of T cell tolerance and the prevention of autoimmunity, as well as effective antimicrobial and antitumor immunity.
We are also involved in studies aimed at translating the fundamental understanding of T cell costimulation into new therapies for autoimmune diseases, chronic viral infections, and cancer. Manipulation of T cell costimulatory pathways is of great therapeutic interest as it may provide a means to enhance immune responses to promote anti-microbial and tumor immunity, or to terminate immune responses to control autoimmune diseases and achieve tolerance for organ transplantation.