Research Vision:

Clinical translation of a novel strategy developed in preclinical studies to induce immune tolerance in human cells and solid organ transplant recipients that facilitates avoidance of immunosuppression. In-depth analysis of the primate immunobiology using single cell transcriptome/epigenetic profiling, spatial transcriptomics and immunometabolomic analysis that promotes efficient and rapid bench to bedside transfer of immunotherapeutics.

Research Areas:

• Transplantation

• Immune tolerance

• Primate immunobiology

Research Publications:

1. Singh A, Ramachandran S, Graham ML, Daneshmandi S, Heller D, Suarez-Pinzon WL, Balamurugan AN, Ansite JD, Wilhelm JJ, Yang A, Zhang Y, Palani NP, Abrahante JE, Burlak C, Miller SD, Luo X, Hering BJ. Long-term tolerance of islet allografts in nonhuman primates induced by apoptotic donor leukocytes. Nat Commun. 2019 Aug 2;10(1):3495. doi: 10.1038/s41467-019-11338-y. PMID: 31375697; PMCID: PMC6677762.

2. Hocum Stone L, Oppler SH, Nugent JL, Gresch S, Hering BJ, Murtaugh MP, Hegstad-Davies RL, Ramachandran S, Graham ML. Serum cytokine profiles in healthy nonhuman primates are blunted by sedation and demonstrate sexual dimorphism as detected by a validated multiplex immunoassay. Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 27;11(1):2340. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-81953-7. PMID: 33504894; PMCID: PMC7840937.

3. Xiao X, Guo P, Shiota C, Zhang T, Coudriet GM, Fischbach S, Prasadan K, Fusco J, Ramachandran S, Witkowski P, Piganelli JD, Gittes GK. Endogenous Reprogramming of Alpha Cells into Beta Cells, Induced by Viral Gene Therapy, Reverses Autoimmune Diabetes. Cell Stem Cell. 2018 Jan 4;22(1):78-90.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2017.11.020. PMID: 29304344; PMCID: PMC5757249.

4. Fukami N, Ramachandran S, Saini D, Walter M, Chapman W, Patterson GA, Mohanakumar T. Antibodies to MHC class I induce autoimmunity: role in the pathogenesis of chronic rejection. J Immunol. 2009 Jan 1;182(1):309-18. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.182.1.309. PMID: 19109162; PMCID: PMC2802821.

5. Goers TA, Ramachandran S, Aloush A, Trulock E, Patterson GA, Mohanakumar T. De novo production of K-alpha1 tubulin-specific antibodies: role in chronic lung allograft rejection. J Immunol. 2008 Apr 1;180(7):4487-94. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.180.7.4487. PMID: 18354170; PMCID: PMC2796833.