IIT Seminar | Professor Ann Ager

Professor Ann Ager of the School of Medicine at Cardiff University will be speaking at the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation Seminar Series on Thursday 20 February. The seminar will be held in Lecture Theatre 3 at the UCL Medical School Royal Free Campus.

All are welcome to attend. If you would like to meet the speaker after the seminar please contact the host.

About the speaker

The focus of the Ager lab is how leucocytes move around the body in order to protect against infection, fight cancer and contribute to neurodegeneratiion such as in Alzheimer's disease. This has resulted in a body of work studying the molecular basis of T lymphocyte-blood endothelial cell recognition which directs lymphocyte trafficking to organised lymphoid tissues and sites of infection and immunity.

A major focus has been the regulation of L-selectin expression on T lymphocytes and its impact  on physiological and pathological T cell trafficking via specialised high endothelial venule (HEV) blood vessels. Recent studies have revealed an essential role for L-selectin in the recruitment of killer T cells into flu-infected lungs for virus clearance (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-35373730). 

Current studies are exploring pharmacological and genetic approaches to boost L-selectin expression on  T lymphocytes to help killer T cells find and destroy viruses. We are also exploring whether manipulating L-selectin on cancer-killing T lymphocytes, such as CAR-T cells, increases their ability to seek out and destroy solid cancers.

Further information

• Academic profile: Professor Ann Ager
• School of Medicine, Cardiff University
• UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation (IIT)

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