Home Department: undeclared
Mentor: PJ Utz (Medicine - Immunology & Rheumatology)

“Characterization of Thyroperoxidase-Reactive B Cells with Spheromer Technology"

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (AITD), including Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, affects millions in the United States, yet its mechanisms remain poorly understood. These conditions arise when autoreactive T and B cells recognize the thyroid autoantigen thyroperoxidase (TPO) as foreign. Hemali’s project leverages the innovative spheromer technology—peptide-MHC multimers staining platform developed by the Utz lab—to identify and study TPO-specific B cells. By mastering the production and purification of TPO-specific spheromers and analyzing previously collected blood samples from 50 endocrine clinic patients, Hemali’s research aims to reveal key insights into autoreactive B cell behavior and potential immunotherapy strategies to mitigate AITD progression.