Diane F. Jelinek

Diane F. Jelinek, Ph.D., is a Professor of Immunology at Mayo Clinic, with appointments in the Department of Research (Division of Cellular Immunology) and the Department of Internal Medicine (Division of Hematology). She is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and leads a research laboratory focused on B cell and plasma cell biology and their roles in malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma (MM), and primary amyloidosis. She previously served as Dean of Research at Mayo Clinic in Arizona from 2015 to 2022 and holds the Gene and Mary Lou Kurtz Professorship in Multiple Myeloma Research.

Her research explores the molecular mechanisms of B cell survival, differentiation, and oncogenesis. Key areas include B cell receptor signaling, activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), toll-like receptors, cytokine receptors, and CD40 ligand interactions. Her lab uses next-generation sequencing to analyze antibody gene repertoires and studies metabolic reprogramming in premalignant plasma cell disorders like monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). She has characterized B cell antigen receptors in over 2,000 CLL patients and investigates gene expression profiles to understand disease heterogeneity.

The recent publications highlight a strong trend in genomic and molecular analysis of B cell cancers, particularly focusing on CLL and myeloma. Her work integrates clinical data with molecular profiling, emphasizing biomarker discovery, metabolic changes, and immune microenvironment dynamics. She is actively involved in translational research with implications for therapeutic targeting.

• Gene and Mary Lou Kurtz Professor of Multiple Myeloma Research (2008)

Diane F. Jelinek has led multiple NIH-funded research projects, including the Mayo Clinic Multiple Myeloma SPORE as a Co-Principal Investigator and several NCI-funded grants as Principal Investigator. Her lab has trained numerous researchers and collaborates extensively within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Program. She has not advised any named students in the provided text, but her leadership in large collaborative studies indicates significant mentorship roles.

Her laboratory is integral to the Immunology Research program at Mayo Clinic and contributes to the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center on Aging. The lab utilizes patient-derived tumor cells and established myeloma cell lines to study disease progression and therapeutic responses. She is actively engaged in both basic and clinical research teams focused on cancer immunology and hematologic malignancies.