Dr. Martha Jordan

Biography

Martha S. Jordan is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology Laboratory Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Richmond in 1994 and completed her Ph.D. in Immunology at the University of Pennsylvania in 2000. Her research expertise focuses on T cell signaling regulation and differentiation, particularly the mechanisms by which T cells integrate multiple signals from their environment. Dr. Jordan’s lab employs various in vivo model systems to study the distinct pathways and proteins that regulate T cell fates. Key areas of investigation include the activation of T cells and the resulting epigenetic modifications that affect long-term memory and differentiation processes. Additionally, her work explores the challenges T cells face in chronic viral infections and cancers, particularly regarding T cell exhaustion. Collaborating with Dr. Warren Pear, her research has identified the pseudokinase Trib1 as a significant negative regulator of T cell activation and aimed to define its role in T cell differentiation. Through her innovative approaches, Dr. Jordan is actively contributing to the understanding of T cell biology and its implications for immunotherapy.

Research Interests