معرفی
Elizabeth M. Gardner serves as Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. Previously, she held academic positions at Drexel University including Assistant Professor of Bioscience and Biotechnology (2002-2007) and Director of the Flow Cytometry Core (2005-2007), and research roles at MCP Hahnemann University School of Medicine.
Her educational background includes a PhD from The Medical College of Pennsylvania (1994) and a BS from Chesnut Hill College (1987).
Dr. Gardner's research centers on Nutritional Immunology with a focus on age-related immune decline, particularly in influenza responses. She investigates natural killer (NK) cell dysfunction in aging, caloric restriction effects on immune recovery, and nutritional interventions like antioxidants and nutraceuticals to enhance vaccine efficacy and viral defense. Her work bridges animal models and human studies to address public health challenges in elderly populations.
Analysis of her 2010-2013 publications reveals consistent exploration of NK cell biology in influenza infection under nutritional stress. Key findings demonstrate caloric restriction's detrimental impact on NK cell function during influenza, reversible through refeeding, and AHCC's potential as a vaccine adjuvant. Her research establishes critical links between nutritional status, immune competence, and infection outcomes.
As Director of Graduate Studies, Dr. Gardner oversees academic programs and mentors students. She has secured research funding, including a 2010 grant to investigate age-related immune responses to flu virus, as highlighted in university publications.
Her laboratory utilizes mouse models to study lung-level immune responses to influenza, specializing in flow cytometry analysis of NK cell phenotypes and functions. Collaborations with immunology and nutrition scientists support her interdisciplinary approach to understanding nutritional impacts on viral immunity.
