Philana Lin, MD, MSc

Dr. Lin studies various aspects of the host protective immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the bacilli that cause tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is now the most common infectious cause of death worldwide and efforts to develop an effective vaccine and improve treatment regimens are ongoing. Using an animal model of human Mtb, Dr. Lin’s research is focused on the immunologic mechanisms that are responsible to control the infection both in the healthy host and in those with HIV infection (who are at greatest risk of severe disease).  Using large-scale in-vivo imaging and modern molecular genetic techniques, her lab is able to better understand the pathogenesis of disease in conjunction with the host immune response. Identifying biomarkers of disease severity, examining the impact of innate and early adaptive response in the airway and understanding the interaction between both HIV and Mtb during HIV-TB co-infected patients are also major interests in the lab. Her laboratory offers an ideal environment for training faculty in Immunology, Infectious Diseases, and Pulmonology.