Pamela Hankey

Pamela Hankey is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at Pennsylvania State University, where she leads a research program focused on receptor tyrosine kinases, particularly the RON receptor, and their roles in inflammation, macrophage biology, and disease. Her work bridges immunology, metabolism, and cancer, with strong implications for liver disease and hematopoiesis.

Her research interests center on the molecular mechanisms of macrophage heterogeneity, stress erythropoiesis, and the protective roles of RON signaling in metabolic and inflammatory diseases. She investigates how receptor tyrosine kinases regulate immune cell function in vivo, especially in contexts of obesity, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and viral-induced leukemia. Her lab employs mouse models, primary cell isolation, and molecular signaling assays to dissect these pathways.

The publication record from 2012 to 2020 reveals a consistent focus on inflammation and immune regulation, particularly through the RON receptor. Her work spans liver disease, neuroinflammation, colitis, and hematopoietic stem cell dysfunction, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach across immunology, metabolism, and oncology.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Hankey has actively collaborated with numerous researchers and likely mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, though no formal list of advisees is provided. Her research has been supported by publications in high-impact journals such as Science Signaling, Frontiers in Immunology, and Journal of Immunology, indicating sustained funding and academic recognition. She is affiliated with PSU’s research infrastructure, including the Elsevier Pure profile system.

Her laboratory focuses on macrophage biology in inflammatory and metabolic diseases, utilizing models of diet-induced obesity, liver injury, and viral infection. The team investigates signaling pathways involving RON, Gab proteins, and SPI-C, aiming to uncover therapeutic targets for chronic inflammatory conditions.