Daniel Mueller

Daniel Mueller is a Professor of Medicine and Division Director of the Division of Rheumatic and Autoimmune Diseases at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He holds additional appointments as Faculty in the Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MICaB) Graduate Program and Preceptor for the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD).

Dr. Mueller's research centers on immune tolerance mechanisms in autoimmune disorders, with primary focus on rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. His laboratory investigates T cell anergy, regulatory T cell differentiation, and B cell autoantibody responses using molecular and cellular immunology approaches. Key interests include transcription factor regulation (BATF/BIM pathways), anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) specificity, and breakdown of peripheral tolerance in autoimmune conditions.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals consistent emphasis on T cell regulatory mechanisms and B cell autoimmunity in rheumatoid arthritis. The work demonstrates how BATF-mediated repression of BIM sustains tolerant T cells, while ACPA clones exhibit complex cross-reactivity patterns with both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. These findings highlight novel pathways for therapeutic intervention in autoimmune diseases.

As an educator, Dr. Mueller actively mentors graduate students through the MICaB Ph.D. program and MD/PhD candidates in the Medical Scientist Training Program, shaping future physician-scientists in immunology and rheumatology research.