Research Interests
Dr. Kilpatrick is a cell biologist/immunologist with a long-standing interest in inflammatory processes involved in host tissue damage. A major focus of her research is investigating molecular mechanisms regulating proinflammatory signaling in the innate immune system, particularly the role of neutrophils in vascular inflammation and the development of organ injury in sepsis. An important effort of her work is the regulation of leukocyte: endothelial interaction and the control of leukocyte migration.
Current work in the laboratory is focused in two areas: 1) Identification of distinct immune cell phenotypes in sepsis patients. Dr. Kilpatrick is studying the impact of different neutrophil phenotypes in sepsis and the mechanism by which different functional neutrophil phenotypes impacts neutrophil:endothelial interaction, vascular barrier permeability, and neutrophil trafficking into critical organs. These ex vivo studies use organ-on-chip assays, clinical data, proteomics, and in silico modeling to provide mechanistic insight into the impact of different neutrophil phenotypes on cell activation, proteomic signatures, barrier permeability, neutrophil trafficking, and importantly, response to therapeutics to outline a roadmap for differential treatment of patients with specific neutrophil phenotypes, leading to precision medicine. 2) Translational Research: Role of Protein Kinase C-delta (PKCĪ“) in the development of sepsis. Dr. Kilpatrick uses a rodent model of sepsis and organ-on-chip assays to test novel sepsis therapeutics. Current studies are investigating whether the use of anti-PKCĪ“ therapy in this sepsis model can provide lung protection without compromising pathogen clearance, prevent sepsis-induced multiple organ failure, and improve survival.
Education, Training & Credentials
- Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- PhD, Biochemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- BA, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA
Memberships
- American Physiological Society
- Society for Leukocyte Biology
- Shock Society