CHOP and PENN are located on contiguous campuses. These two closely linked institutions have one of the largest contingent of investigators working in hemostasis and thrombosis in the country. Specific opportunities relevant to the current effort include:
Immunomics training including immunoproteomic approaches (e.g. immunoglobin LC-MS/MS) and immunogenomic approaches (e.g. next generation sequencing and phage display technology).
Flow cytometry training with the PENN flow cytometry core, which is an internationally recognized facility that provides numerous educational opportunities, including both hands on and small group instruction.
Collaboration with Dr. Zuben Sauna of the Food and Drug Administration to provide computational immunology training.
Structural biology training including hands on opportunities in x-ray crystallography, small angle X-ray scattering, and cryo electron microscopy.
Biochemistry training in the design, expression, purification, and biochemical characterization of recombinant FVIII and other factor variants.
The Wells Center for Pediatric Research at Indiana University has an exceptional track record in hematological research. Within this program, specific training opportunities include murine models of hemophilia; innate immune mechanisms; cellular immunology/mechanism of T helper cell response to factor VIII (using transgenics, flow cytometry, lymphocyte transfer, and various in vitro assays); in vivo models of antigen-specific immune responses; and in vivo imaging technologies (such as intravital microscopy). Drs. Mark Kaplan, Moanaro Biswas, and Amelia Linnemann will closely work with Dr. Herzog to provide training in lymphocyte and antigen presentation assays and in imaging/intravital microscopy.
The Queen’s University Clinical and Molecular Research Group is a longstanding collection of clinicians and biomedical scientists with a common interest in the pathogenesis and management of inherited bleeding disorders. The research conducted by the group spans methodologies from basic molecular and cell biology to human population studies. Of particular relevance to the current initiative, the Queen’s group has significant expertise in the utility of animal model-based studies with on-site access to large dog and mouse colonies of hemophilia. These models are now being used for the current investigations with the incorporation of gnotobiotic facilities to manipulate and maintain microbial environments. State-of-the art molecular and cell biology, microscopy and imaging, and flow cytometry infrastructures are available to facilitate these studies.