Derya Unutmaz, M.D.
Professor
Researches the mechanisms of human T cell differentiation, activation and regulation in the contexts of normal immune response, diseases and aging.
Our research primarily focuses on decoding the differentiation, activation and regulation of human T cells for optimal immune responses to infectious diseases and their perturbations during chronic diseases or aging. We have contributed to the understanding of how T cell subsets are disrupted during human diseases, especially during HIV infection. Our lab has made several seminal discoveries about the diversity and mechanisms of immune suppression mediated by regulatory T cells and effect or functions of human Th17 cell subsets.
Education and experience
Education
1996-1999
Postdoctoral fellow, immunology
Howard Hughes Medical and Skirball Institute, New York University, New York, NY
Adv: Dan Littman, M.D., Ph.D.
1993-1996
Postdoctoral fellow, immunology
Immunobiology Research Institute, Novartis and Chiron Corp., Siena, Italy
Adv: Sergio Abrignani, M.D., Ph.D.
1991-1993
Postdoctoral fellow, immunology
Immunology department, Novartis, Basel, Switzerland
Adv: Sergio Abrignani, M.D., Ph.D., and Antonio Lanzavecchia, M.D.
1991
M.D.
Marmara University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey
Experience
2014-
Professor
The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT
2013-2014
Professor of Microbiology, Pathology and Medicine New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
2010-2013
Associate Professor of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
2008-2013
Associate Professor of Pathology
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
2006-2013
Associate Professor of Microbiology
New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
2005-2006
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
1999-2005
Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Vanderbilt University
School of Medicine, Nashville, TN
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Research HighlightFebruary 08, 2023Identifying the functional mechanisms of ME/CFS
Derya Unutmaz and Julia Oh are helping to remove the obstacles for diagnosing Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). -
Featured ArticleOctober 13, 2022Retraining the immune system to fight against cancer
With a new tactic in immunotherapy, Derya Unutmaz and his team has successfully engineered an atypical type of immune cell, the human mucosal-associated T cell, with the capabilities to overcome challenges in standard CAR-T cell treatment. -
Research HighlightJuly 28, 2020Novel antibody tests reveal complexity of the immune response to SARS-CoV-2
JAX Professor Derya Unutmaz, M.D., led an effort to develop an assay that determines how well anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies are able to neutralize binding with ACE-2, the human receptor for the coronavirus. -
Research HighlightMay 15, 2020A needle in a haystack: Finding how a genetic variant increases the risk of autoimmune diseases
More than 98% of the genome doesn’t code for proteins, but recent findings show that many non-coding sequences play important roles in health and disease.
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Research HighlightNovember 10, 2022Arming the immune system against SARS-Cov-2
Derya Unutmaz and his team have capitalized on cancer immunotherapy techniques to develop potential variant-proof treatments for COVID-19. -
Research HighlightFebruary 01, 2021
Novel antibody tests reveal complexity of immune response to covid-19
The interaction of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus causing the global COVID-19 pandemic, and the human immune system has been the focus of intensive research. -
Search MagazineJune 16, 2020COVID-19 and its aftermath in children
Connecticut Children’s is partnering with The Jackson Laboratory for virus testing and research into a post-viral immune syndrome. -
Search MagazineFebruary 26, 2019Solving the mystery of chronic fatigue syndrome
A collaborative JAX research center led by Derya Unutmaz is diving deep into the biology of ME/CFS patients to find a root cause of the disease, which may lie in their own immune systems.