معرفی
Dr. Karla Rodgers is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Her research focuses on understanding mechanisms regulating V(D)J recombination and its role in adaptive immunity. She holds a PhD from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, and has prior research experience at Yale University.
Her research interests include:
- Molecular basis of antigen receptor gene diversification
- RAG1/RAG2 protein complex regulation
- DNA repair mechanisms during lymphocyte development
- Genetic defects causing immunodeficiency
Her lab uses advanced techniques such as high-throughput recombination assays to study recombination signal sequence (RSS) specificity and investigates nuclear dynamics of RAG proteins under DNA damage conditions. Current lab personnel include graduate students Justin Harris and Cooper McKinney, and research technician John Ngo.
Notable research directions include:
- Quantitative analysis of RSS sequence determinants
- DDR pathway interactions with V(D)J recombination
- Risk assessment of off-target RAG activity in leukemogenesis
Dr. Rodgers has maintained an NIH-funded research program for over 15 years, with publications in leading journals such as Nucleic Acids Research and Immunobiology. Her work bridges basic immunology with clinical implications for immunodeficiency and cancer.
