Caroline C. Whitacre, Ph.D.

Professor
Department of Molecular Virology, Immunology, and Medical Genetics

Contact Information
260 Meiling Hall
370 W. 9th Avenue
Columbus, OH  43210
PHONE: (614) 292-2595
FAX: (614) 292-4499
E-MAIL: whitacre.3@osu.edu

Link to NLM PubMed publications list for Caroline C. Whitacre (last 10 years)

Research Area:

Immune tolerance, CNS autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, animal models for the study of multiple sclerosis, gender differences in autoimmune disease, neuroendocrine-immune interactions, immune effects in spinal cord injury.

Current Research:

The laboratory uses cellular and molecular approaches to devise therapeutic regimens for multiple sclerosis focusing on the animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The primary focus of research is to understand the mechanisms underlying disease suppression following the oral administration of antigen (oral tolerance). In addition, this laboratory studies gender differences in autoimmune diseases, specifically differences in the immune response to explain why women tend to get autoimmune diseases more often than men, yet men often exhibit a more rapidly progressive course of disease. Areas under active investigation include the effects of stress and CNS trauma on the immune system.

Techniques:

• Molecular and cellular approaches to devise therapeutic regimens for multiple sclerosis focusing on the animal model, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).