Research on antimetabolites of nucleic acid purines led to drugs for the treatment of acute leukemia (6 - mercaptopurine and thioguanine), gout and hyperuricemia (allopurinol), and herpesvirus infections (acyclovir), and for the prevention
of organ transplant rejection (azathioprine).
She did her PhD research under the mentorship of Dr. William Baldwin at the Lerner Research Institute, where she studied the role of platelets and the complement system in
vascularized organ transplant rejection.
One kind of these immune cells, already thought to ease autoimmune disease and
organ transplant rejection (ScienceNOW, 22 July 2004,), now appears to prevent atherosclerosis in mice.
«
Organ transplant rejection may not be permanent: Organ transplant rejection in previously tolerant hosts does not lead to permanent immune memory, mouse study shows.»
The team were involved in lab work to produce new versions of rapamycin, a commercially successful natural compound produced by bacteria, used to prevent
organ transplant rejection and treat certain cancers.
Their work could one day benefit patients who suffer from inflammatory bowel disease or
organ transplant rejection.
Cyclosporin, sold as Atopica, is the same drug that people take to prevent
organ transplants rejection.
An effective long term treatment for atopy relies on cyclosporines, the medication that prevents
organ transplant rejections.