SUMMARY
Elizabeth A. Jacobsen, Ph.D., is a researcher with expertise in eosinophils and mouse models of inflammation. Dr. Jacobsen was a mentee and colleague of the late Mayo Clinic researcher James J. Lee, Ph.D.
Dr. Jacobsen has identified eosinophils as immune cells that can be differentially activated to induce responses of other immune cells such as T cells, dendritic cells, alveolar macrophages, and group 2 innate lymphoid cells. Much of Dr. Jacobsen's earlier work is in mouse models of allergic asthma. This work has expanded to include other lung inflammatory disorders. Dr. Jacobsen collaborates extensively to understand eosinophil biology in a range of physiological and disease mechanisms.
Focus areas
- Classification of eosinophil immune subtypes and their contributions to disease activities. The factors that regulate specific eosinophil phenotypes remain to be identified. These cells are now known to have roles in cancer, infection, transplant, and other conditions that go beyond the type 2 environment of allergy.
- Eosinophils as a biomarker of tissue eosinophilia in allergies. Dr. Jacobsen and clinical collaborators detect eosinophil infiltration into tissues using eosinophil-specific biomarkers of allergic disease.
- Eosinophil interactions with other immune cells in lung disease. Dr. Jacobsen's research has shown that eosinophils have a reciprocal role with other immune cells such as group 2 innate lymphoid cells, T cells, and other myeloid cells.
- Role of eosinophils in lung transplantation and lung injury. With expert colleagues, Dr. Jacobsen studies eosinophil function in lung transplantation and lung injury.
Significance to patient care
Dr. Jacobsen studies a type of white blood cell called eosinophils to learn how these cells help control immune responses in diseases. Scientists are discovering that eosinophils do more than just cause damage; they also play important roles in the immune system.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved new medicines that target eosinophils, so it's important to understand how these cells help regulate the immune system and affect health.