Affiliate Scientist Division of Cellular & Molecular Biology Toronto General Research Institute (TGRI)
Keywords: signal transduction, cancer, SHP-1 phosphatase, Src kinase, transfusion medicine, HIV pathogenesis
Research Interests
Dr. Branch's current interests can be broken down into 4 main areas:
Signaling involving c-Src
Signaling in HIV/AIDS pathogenesis and disease resistance
Signaling abnormalities in the immune response following Rh immune prophylaxis and other IVIg prophylatic therapies
Mechanism of IVIG effect in autoimmune inflammatory diseases
More specifically, Dr. Branch is now working on the following:
The function of pp60c-src in hematopoietic cells and HIV infection
The role of signaling through the VPAC family of neuroendocrine receptors on HIV/AIDS infection and resistance to infection
The role of the glycolipid, Gb3, on HIV/AIDS pathogenesis by specific signaling mechanisms or by provision of lipid rafts for signaling pathways affecting HIV pathogenesis
Identification of novel treatments modalities for HIV/AIDS
The signaling pathways used by HIV for its entry and integration
The mechanism of IVIG treatment for autoimmune inflammatory diseases
The mechanism of anti-D immune prophylaxis and treatment of ITP