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Maria Ciofani is an Associate Professor of Integrative Immunobiology at the Duke Cancer Institute. Her research focuses on transcriptional regulation and the role of proinflammatory lymphocytes, specifically IL-17-expressing CD4 T helper (Th17) cells, which are crucial to the intestinal immune response. Her work aims to understand how these cells contribute to the immune system's ability to protect against bacterial and fungal infections while maintaining intestinal homeostasis. Dysregulated Th17 cell function can lead to tissue inflammation and autoimmune diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. Her research combines genome-wide analyses of transcription factor occupancy, chromatin structure, and transcriptional output with gene-deficiency models in mice to dissect the roles of key transcriptional regulators in proinflammatory T cell function. Currently, she is looking for students and postdoctoral fellows to join her team.
Duke Cancer Institute • Durham, NC
Focused on Integrative Immunobiology and transcriptional regulation of Th17 cells.
Duke University School of Medicine • Durham, NC
Research in cell biology pertaining to immunology.
Duke University School of Medicine • Durham, NC
Study of molecular genetics in relation to microbiology.
Duke Cancer Institute • Durham, NC
Collaborative research as part of the Duke Cancer Institute.
Department of Biomedical Engineering (MS program)