Averil Ma, MD
Rainin Distinguished Professorship in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, UCSF
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, UCSF
Rainin Distinguished Professorship in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, UCSF
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, UCSF
Our lab studies the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammation and cancer. Cellular responses to commensal microbes and other potential inflammatory factors (e.g., nucleic acids, damage associated proteins) are tightly regulated. We focus on intracellular proteins that regulate these cellular responses and prevent inflammation and cancer. We have focused upon a subset of ubiquitin regulating proteins, as these proteins: (1) prevent inflammatory diseases and cancer in human patients; (2) prevent inflammation in experimental mice; (3) restrict NFkB signaling and immune cell activation; (4) restrict inflammasome activation; (5) prevent multiple forms of cell death; and (6) preserve tissue integrity. Two potent regulators of ubiquitination are A20 and its binding partner, ABIN-1 (A20 Binding Inhibitor of NFkB). Ongoing studies utilize genetic engineering, signaling, and mass spectrometry techniques to unravel the mechanisms by which A20, ABIN-1 and related proteins regulate ubiquitin dependent signals and tissue homeostasis. We hope to utilize this information to develop novel approaches of preventing inflammatory diseases. Translational research in the laboratory seeks to convert insights from biochemical and mouse based biology toward the biology of human tissues. The lab is also studying human immune cells and intestinal epithelial cells in efforts to better characterize disease subtypes as well as to optimize treatments.
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, BA, 1980, Biochemistry
Columbia Medical School, New York, NY, MD, 1984, Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, Internal medicine resident, 1987
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY, Gastroenterology, 1990
Children’s Hospital, Immune Disease Institute, Boston, MA, Research Fellow/Instructor, 1996