Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha PhD

Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha

Lee Ann Garrett-Sinha
PhD

Professor

Department of Biochemistry

Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences


Specialty/Research Focus

Autoimmunity; Cell growth, differentiation and development; Gene Expression; Immunology; Molecular and Cellular Biology; Molecular genetics; Signal Transduction; Transcription and Translation; Transgenic organisms

Contact Information
Room 5124
955 Main St
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 881-7995
Fax: (716) 829-2725
leesinha@buffalo.edu



Professional Summary:

As a faculty member at the University of Buffalo, I have studied the signaling pathways and transcriptional networks that regulate the differentiation of immune cells such as B and T lymphocytes and how they are impaired in autoimmune diseases. These studies have been funded both by the NIH and by private foundations including the Lupus Research Institute, the Alliance for Lupus Research, the International Myeloma Foundation and the American Cancer Society. I have been particularly interested in identifying the roles of the transcription factor Ets1 in B cell differentiation and B cell tolerance to self-antigens. Mice lacking Ets1 develop an autoimmune disease with similarities to human lupus and the human Ets1 gene has been identified as a susceptibility locus for a number of different human autoimmune diseases. To mechanistically understand how Ets1 regulates immune cell function and prevents development of autoimmune disease, my lab has extensively investigated the phenotypes of mice lacking Ets1 either globally or in B cells to identify pathways and target genes that are important in the autoimmune phenotype. My lab has also been interested in signaling pathways that regulate the expression and activity of immune cells, including the BCR signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor pathways, the CD22/SHP1 inhibitory pathway and the Notch pathway. Recently, we've developed an interest in the B cell co-receptor signaling pathway involving CD19/CD21 binding to C3d deposited on the surface of pathogens. We also have an interest in understanding how Ets1 cooperates with IL17RA signaling to regulate skin immune responses to bacterial infection.

Education and Training:

  • Fellowship, Immunology, University of Chicago (2001)
  • PhD, Molecular Biology, University of Texas (1996)
  • BA, Biology/Biochemistry, Rice University (1989)

Employment:

  • Professor, Biochemistry, State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2017-present)
  • Associate Professor, Biochemistry, SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2011-present)
  • Assistant Professor, Biochemistry, SUNY at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2001–2011)
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago (1999–2001)
  • Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the University of Chicago (1996–1999)
  • Graduate Student, Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston (1990–1996)

Awards and Honors:

  • Laboratory Travel Grant (2021)
  • Travel Grant to the International Congress of Immunology, Melbourne, Australia (2016)

Research Expertise:

  • Autoimmune Disease: Analysis of Autoantibody Levels Analysis of B and T cell Activation Analysis of B cell tolerance to self-antigen
  • B cell receptor signaling: Western blotting Immunoprecipitation Ca2+ mobilization
  • Skin Immune responses: T cell responses to bacterial infection
  • Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Mouse models of Squamous cell cancer Analysis of Skin phenotypes
  • Transgenic/Knockout Mice: Generation, breeding and analysis of transgenic and knockout mouse strains

Research Centers:

  • Witebsky Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology

UB 2020 Strategic Strengths:

  • Molecular Recognition in Biological Systems and Bioinformatics

Grants and Sponsored Research:

  • July 2022–June 2027
    Molecular mechanisms of skin immunity to Staphylococcal infection
    NIH
    Role: Co-Principal Investigator
    $527,503
  • July 2022–June 2024
    A novel model to investigate CD19 cooperation with BCR signaling
    NIH
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $198,803
  • December 2021–November 2022
    Ets1 and IL17RA Role in Skin Immunity
    P30 Project grant awarded to Mt. Sinai for pilot studies on dermatology
    Role: Principal Investigator
    $40,000
  • April 2016–March 2022
    Regulation and Consequences of Ets1 Downregulation in B Cells
    NIH
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • January 2016–December 2018
    Understanding the Pathway Regulated by the Lupus Susceptibility Gene Ets1
    Lupus Research Alliance
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • May 2010–April 2015
    Identification of Specific Roles for Ets-1 in B Cell Tolerance
    NIAID, NIH
    Role: Principal Investigator
  • April 2012–March 2014
    Functional Relationships Between the Lupus Susceptibility Loci Lyn and Ets1
    National Institutes of Health
    Role: Co-Investigator
  • August 2011–July 2013
    Functional Relationships Between the Lupus Susceptibility Loci Lyn and Ets1
    Alliance for Lupus Research
    Role: Co-Investigator

Journal Articles:

See all (36 more)

Professional Memberships:

  • American Society for Microbiology (2013–2014)
  • New York Academy of Sciences (2009–2010)
  • Developmental Genomics Research Focus Group (2009–2014)
  • Buffalo Collegium of Immunologists (2006–2014)
  • American Association of Immunologists; Major American Immunology Society (2002–present)

Presentations:

  • "Roles of Ets1 and IL17RA in regulating skin immune responses to Staphylococcus aureus infection" UB Department of Microbiology, Witebsky Center (2021)
  • "Ets1 – a Human Lupus-Susceptibility Gene that Regulates B Cell Function" Roswell Park Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Retreat (2019)

Service Activities:

  • Reviewer, Clinical and Translational Medicine; Reviewer (2021–present)
  • NIH, Cellular and Molecular Immunology A Study Section; Reviewer (2021)
  • NIH, Special Emphasis Panel for F07 Immunology Fellowships and AREA Grants; Reviewer (2021)
  • Journal of Immunology; Reviewer (2021–present)
  • Frontiers in Immunology; Reviewer (2021–present)
  • Immunological Investigations; Reviewer (2021–present)
  • NIH, Immunity and Host Defense Study Section; Reviewer (2020)
  • NIH, Special Emphasis Panel for F07 Immunology Fellowships and AREA Grants; Reviewer (2020)
  • NIH, Special Emphasis Panel, ZRG1 IMM-T(02)M; Reviewer (2019)
  • NIH, Hypersensitivity, Autoimmunity and Immune-Mediated Diseases Study Section; Reviewer (2019)
  • NIH, Autoimmunity Centers of Excellence U19 Review Panel; Reviewer (2019)
  • NIH, Cellular and Molecular Immunology B Study Section; ad-hoc Reviewer (2019)
  • PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PPBS) Admissions Committee; Member (2018–present)
  • Associate Editor, Frontiers in Immunology; Reviewer (2017–present)
  • Associate Editor, Journal of Immunology; Editor (2014–2017)
  • Immunological Investigations; Editorial Board (2010–present)
  • IACUC Committee For Roswell Park IACUC; Member (2008–2011)
  • Careers Roundtable Discussion Leader AAI Annual meeting in 2007; Contributor (2007)
  • Organizing Committee Buffalo Immunology Conference; Chair (2005–2014)
  • Buffalo Immunology Conference Organizing Committee; Member (2004–2005)
  • Faculty Council Alternate Alternate to faculty Council; Committee Member (2004–2006)
  • Buffalo Immunology Conference -2004; Co-Chair (2004)
  • Buffalo Immunology Conference Organizing Committee; Co-Chair (2003)
  • Medical Student Training Program (MSTP) admissions Committee; Member (2003–2004)
  • Member Search Committee for Department of Biology Faculty Search To select and interview candidates for faculty search in the Biology Department; Member (2003–2004)

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Contact Information

Room 5124
955 Main St
Buffalo, New York 14203
Phone: (716) 881-7995
Fax: (716) 829-2725
leesinha@buffalo.edu