Justin Spanier
,
Credentials
PhD
Bio
Administrator Info
Name: Rheumatology
Email: rheumdiv@umn.edu
Mail: 3-240 WMBB
2101 6th St SE
Minneapolis MN 55414
Summary
Dr. Spanier received his BS degree in Cell Biology ('03) and MS degree in Biology ('06) from the University of Minnesota Duluth. While in Duluth Dr. Spanier's research was focused on nutrient transporters in endothelial cells within the blood-brain barrier. Dr. Spanier then moved to the University of Wisconsin Madison where he received a PhD in Biochemistry in 2012. It was in Madison that Dr. Spanier developed his skills in immunology and a passion for understanding autoimmune disease, where his research focused on how vitamin D influences the immune system in context of Multiple Sclerosis. In 2013 Dr. Spanier joined the laboratory of Dr. Brian Fife at the University of Minnesota Center for Immunology. It was here that he began building molecular tools, called peptide: MHCII tetramers, to understand antigen-specific responses in both people and mice with autoimmune diabetes. Dr. Spanier's current research program is focused on understanding autoimmune CD4 T cell responses in type 1 diabetes, and the engineering of monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antigen receptors for the restoration of immune tolerance.
Research Summary
- Clinical Immunology
- Autoimmune Diabetes
- peptide:MHCII tetramers
- vitamin D
- monoclonal antibodies
- Chimeric Antigen Receptors
Teaching Summary
Biochemical Methods Seminar; Topics in Medical Biochemistry ; Advanced Molecular Biology Laboratory; Developmental Biology Laboratory; General Biology Laboratory