The mast cell is the focus of the Mast Cell Biology Section (MCBS) research effort. This multifunctional inflammatory cell is involved in both innate and acquired immunity and plays a central role in the induction of allergic inflammation. An integrated program investigating mast cell biology includes studies into the growth and differentiation of mast cells, mast-cell signal transduction, and the products generated by mast cells that lead to disease. The MCBS program emphasizes basic research that may be translated into the clinic and from the clinic to the bench, where protocols include studies on the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis, physical urticarias and clonal mast cell disorders. Research efforts have contributed to the identification of mutations in mast cell disease, understanding signaling through KIT and the high affinity IgE receptor, and how alterations in the control of mast cell mediator production affect human disease.
First row left to right: Geethani Bandara, Annika Pfeiffer-Daniels, Andrea Luker, Ana Olivera, Melody Carter, Robin Eisch, Hyejeong Bolan
Dean D. Metcalfe, M.D., M.S.
Special Volunteer
Scientist Emeritus
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Specialty(s): Allergy and Immunology, Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
M.D., University of Tennessee
M.S., University of Michigan
Yun Bai, M.S.
Biologist
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
M.S., University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX
Languages Spoken: Chinese
Geethani Bandara, Ph.D.
Biologist
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
University of Pittsburgh
Languages Spoken: Sinhala
Hyejeong Bolan
Study Coordinator
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
University of Phoenix
Languages Spoken: Korean
Melody C. Carter, M.D.
Staff Clinician, Mast Cell Biology Section
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
M. D., Tulane University Medical School
B.S., Biology, Newcomb College, Tulane University
Robin Eisch
Study Coordinator
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Education:
B.S., Nursing
Guido Falduto, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow
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Education:
Ph.D., Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Hirsh D. Komarow, M.D.
Staff Clinician, Mast Cell Biology Section
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Specialty(s): Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
B. S., Tulane University
M.D., Sackler School of Medicine
Languages Spoken: Hebrew
Andrea Luker, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Ana Olivera, Ph.D.
Associate Scientist, Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Ph.D., Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
Languages Spoken: Spanish
Annika Pfeiffer-Daniels, Ph.D
Postdoctoral Fellow
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Education:
Ph.D., Genetics, Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
Languages Spoken: German
Linda Scott
Nurse Practitioner
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
MSN, Georgetown University
BSN, University of MD College Park
Yuzhi Yin, M.D., Ph.D.
Biologist
Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.
Education:
Beijing Medical University
Languages Spoken: Chinese
Former Research Group Members
Valerie Hox, M.D., Ph.D.- Assistant Professor Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques universitaires, Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium
Rosa Muñoz-Cano, M.D., Ph.D.- Pneumonology department, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Joseph M. Kulinski, Ph.D.- Regulatory Science Biologist, CBER, FDA
Araceli Tobio-Ageitos, Ph.D.- Assistant Professor, Pharmacology Department, Veterinary School, University of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain
Do-Kyun Kim, Ph.D.- Full Professor, Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea
Andrea Naranjo-Erazo, Ph.D.- OITE Research Ethics Training Coordinator, NIH