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Cynthia A. Leifer

Assistant Professor

Graduate Fields

Research Focus

  • Molecular mechanisms of action of toll-like receptors, TLRs

  • TLRs 3, 7, 8 and 9 as a unique tool to examine the role that receptor localization plays in the intracellular recognition of microorganisms

  • Identify cytoplasmic proteins that bind to these localization motifs and evaluate the role of these proteins in TLR9 signaling
  • Determine if TLRs 3, 7 and 8 are also retained in the ER and what the control mechanisms are for ER retention
  • Mutagenesis and binding studies to determine the ligand-binding domains of various nucleic acid recognizing TLRs

Educational Background

  • Ph.D., Weill Cornell Medical College
  • B.S., University of Maryland at College Park

Research Grants

  • TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 9: TRAFFICKING AND SIGNALING
  • ENHANCING IMMUNOTHERAPY THROUGH TOLL LIKE RECEPTORS