Sara E Hamilton Hart

Sara E Hamilton Hart is an Associate Professor in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the University of Minnesota, with leadership roles in Microbiology and Cancer Immunology. Her research focuses on immune responses to pathogens, vaccine development, and aging-related immune dysregulation.

• Key Affiliations: University of Minnesota, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, NIH National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Research Interests: Dr. Hart's work spans immunology, microbiology, and vaccinology. She investigates:

• Therapeutic applications of IL-15 in malaria vaccines
• Immune responses in preclinical mouse models, including 'dirty' mice
• Senescent cell effects on pathogen control
• Fetal immune system development influenced by maternal microbial exposure
• CRISPR/Cas9-based NK cell engineering for enhanced immunity

Recent Publications: Her 15 most recent articles show a focus on T/B cell responses in malaria, NK cell dysfunction, immune aging, and vaccine strategies using cytokine modulation. Key themes include IL-15's role in antibody production, KLRG1+ T cell plasticity, and maternal-fetal immune interactions.

Labs & Collaborations: Dr. Hart leads research at the Center for Immunology and collaborates with NIH-funded teams on Plasmodium and SARS-CoV-2 studies. Her projects often involve translational approaches bridging basic immunology and clinical applications.