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Faculty Profile Last Modified Time: 12:09:35 PM Wed, 8 Apr 2020   Contact Information Robert Kirken Associated Profiles  Dean, College of Sciences, Professor, Biological Sciences, Director, Border Biomedical Research Center, UT El Paso   Chemistry and Computer Science Building, Room No.: 3.0218    rkirken@utep.edu     (915) 747-5536    Web Link    Drug Development, Immune Diseases, Jak/STAT Signaling, T Cells    Associated Profiles Research and Expertise Affiliations Appointments  Research and Expertise Research Interests   I have been working in the field of cytokine cell signaling, cancer and immunology for 25 years. Overall, the aim of my work is to characterize the cell signaling pathways for T-cell derived pathologies in order to have an impact on human health worldwide. The research within my group has focused particularly on the molecular mechanisms that drive T-cell mediated diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma, graft versus host disease and autoimmune disorders so that new diagnostics and therapeutic strategies to effectively treat these conditions can be developed. I have a long standing interest, expertise and motivation to successfully carry out the proposed work in this application due to the many years of acquired skills. My extensive research efforts and laboratory experience that has spanned positions at the National Cancer Institute, University of Texas Houston Health Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center to UTEP will support the aims of this proposal. My earlier research first characterized a tyrosine kinase responsible for promoting IL-2 and other gamma common cytokines that is now known as Jak3. I also demonstrated that two key substrates, Stat5a and Stat5b are responsible for promoting T-cell proliferation and cell survival. Additional studies from my group have provided the first evidence that inhibitors that disrupt Jak3 and Stat5a/b signaling can protect against graft versus host disease. While many groups have focused on tyrosine kinase cell signaling and phosphoregulation of intracellular messengers, we have identified several novel serine and threonine phosphor-acceptor sites that play functional roles in promoting cell signaling, gene transcription and cellular proliferation. Their respective kinases and phosphatases have also been mapped for cytokines that include IL2, IL4, IL7, IL9 and IL5.  Publications/Creative Works Click here to search for this faculty member's publications on PubMed.  Affiliations  Research Consortia John S. Dunn GCC for Chemical Genomics  Appointments Title Department / School Institution Dean College of Sciences UT El Paso

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