Kevin Kane
Medical Microbiology & Immunology
University of Alberta
Canada
Biography
Professor, Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Immunology Member of the ImmuNet Council Member Li Ka-shing Institute of Virology
Research Interest
The main research focus of my laboratory is to understand how CTL and NK cells recognize tumor cells or virally infected cells to destroy them and offer resistance to these challenges. Killer cell recognition appears to involve many complex receptor-ligand interactions between the killer cell and tumor cell surfaces. We take many complementary approaches in our research to study the function of killer cell receptors to determine the structural requirements and functional consequences of receptor engagement. A primary focus has been delineating the function of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins, the central players in CTL and NK cell regulation. Our goal is to develop sufficient understanding of killer lymphocyte regulation to enhance mobilization of effective innate immunity and rationally design vaccines to stimulate adaptive T cell immunity to counter viral infections and cancer.
