Nicholas van Panhuys, PhD

Dr. van Panhuys completed his BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cell and Developmental Biology at Victoria University (New Zealand). Following this, completed the Honors program in Molecular Biosciences at Victoria University. Before being awarded Rex and Betty Coker Post Graduate Scholarship to conduct his PhD studies at the Malaghan Institute for Medical Research (New Zealand) where he investigated the role of IL4 and STAT6 in protective immunity and T helper 2 immune responses.

The main focus of the Laboratory on Immunoregulation is to explore the systems that promote inflammation and the opposing mechanisms that regulate and dampen inappropriate immune responses to promote homeostasis. Through studying the cellular and molecular pathways involved in the regulation of inflammation we seek to expand the knowledge of disease pathologies and better understand how the immune system can be harnessed to prevent and treat inflammatory immune diseases. The major area of interest of the Lab is in analyzing the cellular differentiation which controls the balance of cells in the immune system that are able to control disease by regulating inflammation and shutting down the responses which occur in allergic disease and type 2 diabetes. Whilst, at the same time trying to discern the molecular pathways which cause cells in certain individuals to escape from these regulatory controls which leads to the initiation of disease.

Dr. Meritxell Espino Guarch, PhD
Staff Scientist
Email: mespinoguarch (@) sidra.org