Dr. Spergel focuses on translational research in IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated food allergy, examining novel clinical methods for desensitization and curing food allergy. His other main projects are to identify predictive factors for severity of reactions using molecular, physiologic, and clinical parameters.
Dr. Hill seeks to understand how the immune system contributes to the two most common chronic diseases of childhood: allergy and obesity. He uses clinical and epidemiological information to guide basic and translational research on the genetic, epigenetic, and immunologic basis of these important conditions.
Classic food allergies are mediated through immunoglobulin E and manifest as hives, vomiting, and anaphylaxis. Dr. Ruffner investigates the immune mechanisms of food allergy disorders which are not mediated through immunoglobulin E. In particular, the mechanisms of eosinophilic esophagitis and food-protein induced enterocolitis syndrome are of particular interest in Dr. Ruffner's laboratory.
Dr. Brown-Whitehorn is an attending physician with the Division of Allergy, the Center for Pediatric Eosinophilic Disorders, and the Integrative Health Program at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. Sullivan's research focuses on new and rare immunodeficiencies. She has a long-standing interest in one of the most common of the primary immunodeficiencies – chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. She also investigates common variable immunodeficiency, as well as the genetics and epigenetics of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Dr. Ren's primary research focus is to develop better methods to assess lung disease in infants and young children using advanced pulmonary function testing and imaging.
Dr. Jyonouchi, is an attending physician with the Division of Allergy and Immunology and the Center for Cornelia de Lange Syndrome and Related Diagnoses at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His research focuses on immunodeficiency in Cornelia de Lange syndrome and other genetic syndromes, and asthma.
Dr. Henrickson investigates the mechanisms of T cell dysfunction in monogenic primary immunodeficiency and chronic inflammatory disease, including asthma and obesity, and primary immunodeficiency.
Dr. Romberg investigates the regulatory mechanisms enabling our immune systems to fight infections without injuring ourselves. He is particularly interested in the immune system of patients with primary immunodeficiency who are susceptible to both life-threatening infections and autoimmune diseases. Greater insights into these rare diseases may enable rationale development of targeted therapies for more common diseases with an immunologic basis.
