Biography:

Dr. Sonja Schrepfer, M.D., PhD, a Professor of Surgery, established the Transplant and Stem Cell Immunobiology (TSI) Lab in Germany in 2009. In 2016, she became part of the Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, where she currently directs the TSI Lab. Additionally, she serves as a Scientific Founder and Senior Vice President (Head of the Hypoimmune Platform) at Sana Biotechnology, Inc.

Research Overview:

Dr. Schrepfer's research aims to understand the critical immunological barrier that presently precludes the successful application of cell-based regenerative therapy Her TSI Lab has made seminal contributions to the field, including the first description of the antigenicity of mitochondria in embryonic stem cells derived by somatic cell nucleus transfer (SCNT).

The lab has also discovered novel pathways involved in the development of vascular intimal hyperplasia.

Transplant immunology after heart and lung transplantation is another area the lab is exploring with particular focus on translational research and investigation of underlying mechanisms of acute and chronic graft rejection.

Biography:

Dr. Matthew Brown, PhD, completed his PhD in Cellular and Molecular Pathology with a minor in Clinical Investigation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the mentorship of William J. Burlingham. Following this, he undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the Morgridge Institute for Research/University of Wisconsin-Madison, working with James A. Thomson.

Research Overview:

The Brown Lab focuses on exploring the nexus of pluripotent stem cell (PSC) biology and immunology.  They are currently investigating the mechanisms underpinning the immune response to autologous and allogeneic PSC-derived cell therapies.  Using transplantation immunology and genomics-based strategies, in conjunction with humanized mouse models, our goals are to 1) improve traditional organ transplantation outcomes, 2) gain new insights into PSC biology and immunology, and 3) enable curative regenerative medicine therapies.