Dr. Stuart Knechtle
Principal Investigator
William R. Kenan, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Surgery
Professor of Surgery
Adjunct Professor in the Department of Medicine
Contact Information
Dr. Jean Kwun
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor in Surgery
Associate Professor of Pathology
Contact Information

Overview

Data map of pre- and post-treatment research conducted by TIRTL
Data map of pre- and post-treatment research conducted by TIRTL

Our research program focuses on modulating the pre-formed alloimmune response to donor antigen in sensitized recipients. Advances in organ transplantation, B cell immunology, and hematologic malignancy research led me to expand my goals to include identifying strategies for both desensitization and treating AMR by targeting components of the post-transplant humoral immune response. In addition, we applied the knowledge gained by studying the alloimmune response to xenotransplantation, with the goal of improving long-term outcomes of kidney xenotransplantation by decreasing xeno-reactive antibodies as well as alleviating post-xenotransplant AMR.

The six primary research interests of TIRTL are,

  • Pre-clinical models for organ transplantation
  • Desensitization strategies – Preclinical/Clinical
  • Xenotransplantation
  • Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) treatment
  • Optimal immunosuppression
  • Tolerance

Lab Members

Current Lab Members

Shengli Song, PhD (Faculty)
Instructor of Surgery, 4/2022 - Present

Davide Schiliro, MD
Post-doctoral Fellow, 2023. 5 – Present

Daniel Schuster, MD (PGY3)
Research Resident and PhD candidate, 2023. 4 – Present

Alessandro Martinino, MD
Post-doctoral Fellow, 11/2023-Present

Nagham Bazzi, MD
Post-doctoral Fellow, 1/2024-Present

Matthew Tunbridge, MD
Post-doctoral Fellow, PhD candidate, 2023.8 - Present

Janghoon Yoon, BS
Project/Lab manager, 6/2015-Present

Rafaella Belloni, BS
Research Technician, 6/2022-Present

Angela Park, BS
Research Technician, 1/2023-Present

Emma Fatzaun, BS
Research Technician, 2023.8 - Present

Zhen Chen, BS, MMSc
Research Technician, 8/2023-Present

Ryan Spangler
Volunteer undergrad student (Duke University). 10/22-1/2023
Independent Study (Project Term: Spring 2023). 1/2023-5/2023

Kyo Won Lee, MD, PhD
Visiting Scholar (Samsung Medical Center, South Korea), 2023.8- Present

Min Jung Kim, MD, PhD
Visiting Scholar (Seoul Medical Center, South Korea), 2023.8 - Present

Allie Schwalb, BS (MS2)
Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 9/2023-Present
ASTS Presidential Student Mentor Grand Recipient

Meghan Hu, BS (MS2)
Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 10/2023-Present
2023 Bollinger Scholarship Recipient 

Kyo Won Lee, MD, PhD

  • Visiting Scholar (Samsung Medical Center, South Korea), 2023.8- 2024.7

Min Jung Kim, MD, PhD

  • Visiting Scholar (Seoul Medical Center, South Korea), 2023.8 – 2024.7

Joseph Ladowski, MD, PhD (PGY3)

  • Duke research Resident (DUMC), 2022.7-2024.6

Allie Schwalb, BS (MS2)

  • Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 2023.9-2024.6 (2023 ASTS Presidential Student Mentor Grant recipients)
     

Imran Anwar, MD (PGY4)

  • Duke Research Resident (DUMC), 2021.7-Present

Isabel DeLaura, BS (MS2)

  • Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 2021.9-Present (2022 ASTS Presidential Student Mentor Grant recipients)

Miriam Manook, MD, PhD

  • Visiting Research Resident (Kings College, UK), 9/2015-8/2016
  • Visiting Research Resident (Kings College, UK), 9/2019-8/2021
  • Currently at the University of Cambridge, UK

Danae Olaso, MD

  • Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 6/2019-8-2019 (2019 ASTS Presidential Student Mentor Grant recipients)
  • Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 10/2020-6/2021 (Bollinger Scholarship)
  • Currently at UC San Diego (General Surgery Resident) 

Robert Baldi, BS

  • Research Technician, 2021 - 2022

Yeeun Bae, BS

  • Research Technician, 2020-2021
  • Currently, PhD Student at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

Robin Schmitz, MD

  • Duke Research Resident (DUMC), 7/2018-6/2020
  • Currently at the University of Pittsburg (Fellow – Surgical Oncology)

Zachery Fitch, MD

  • Duke Research Resident (DUMC), 7/2018-6/2020

Ashley Choi, MD

  • Duke Medical Student (DUMC), 7/2018-4/2020
  • Currently at Stanford University, CA (Surgery resident)

Paul Schroder, MD, PhD

  • Duke Research Resident (DUMC), 7/2017-6/2019
  • Currently at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (Transplant Fellow)

Kyle Freischlag, MD

  • 2nd year Medical Student (DUMC), 9/2016-6/2018
  • Currently at the University of Iowa (Surgery resident)

Brian Ezekian, MD

  • Duke Research Resident (DUMC), 7/2016-6/2018
  • Currently at the University of Toronto (Transplant Fellow)

Jae Berm Park, MD, PhD

Christopher Burghuber, MD

  • Visiting Research Resident (Medical University of Vienna, Austria), 6/2013-5/2015
  • Currently, Vascular Surgeon at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria

Eugenia Page, MD

Andrew Page, MD

Silke V. Niederhaus, MD

Wasim Dar, MD, PhD

Andrea Proneth, MD

  • Visiting Medical Student from University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, 2004-2005

Beate Exner, MD

  • Visiting Resident from University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany, 2004-2005

Drew Roenneburg, PA-C

  • Laboratory histologist, 2003 – 2007
  • Currently at SSM Health, Madison, WI

Turan Kanmaz, MD

Debora Bloom, PhD

  • Post-doc Fellow (University of Wisconsin-Madison), 2002-2007
  • Currently at Covance (Scientific Specialist)

Zen Davis, PhD

  • Research associate (University of Wisconsin-Madison), 2002 - 2007
  • Retired

Huaizhong Hu, PhD

Ping Feng, PhD

  • Post-doc Fellow (University of Wisconsin-Madison), 2001-2003
  • Currently, Chief Medical Officer at Medbanks Network Technology, Shanghai, China

Yinching Dong, BS

  • Lab Technician, ~2007
  • Presumed Retired

Jacqueline Schultz, BS

  • Lab Technician/histologist, ~2003
  • Retired

John Fechner, MS

  • Lab manager, ~2007
  • Currently at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Edward Geissler, PhD

  • PhD Student
  • Currently, Professor of Experimental Surgery, University of Regensburg, Germany

Yuan Zhai, PhD

  • PhD Student, 1992-1998
  • Currently, Professor at Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina

Ryan Spangler – Volunteer undergrad student (Duke University). 2022.10-2023.1; Independent Study (Project Term: Spring 2023). 2023.1-2023. 5

Simon Keating - Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2023-8/2023

Ryan Spangler - Summer Research Intern (Duke University), 6/2023-8/2023

Joshua Sun – Summer Research Intern (Baylor University), 6/2022-8/2022

Jenny Hong – Summer high school student intern (NC math and science), 7/2019

Eunseo Maeng - Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2019-8/2019

Tochi Anioke - Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2019-8/2019

Yeeun Bae – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2018-8/2018

Yewoo Lee – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2018-8/2018

Joshua Cochran – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2017-8/2017

Kayla Kroning – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2017-8/2017

Verna Caufman – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2016-9/2016

Evelyn Braum – Summer Research Intern (Wake Forest U), 6/2016-9/2016

David Parr – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2015-9/2015

John (Janghoon) Yoon – Summer Research Intern (Gordon College), 6/2014-8/2014

Hyunjin Song – Junior (Emory U), Laboratory research, currently a medical student at medical college of Georgia, 2013-2014

Dongwon Kim – Junior/Senior (Emory U), Laboratory research, Independent study (highest honor) 2010-2012

Funded Projects and Publications

View Dr. Knechtle's funded projects and publications on his Duke Surgery profile.

View Dr. Kwun's funded projects and publications on his Duke Surgery profile.

 

Lab Activities

2024 DTC Tiramisu contest winner – Rafaela Belloni
2024 DTC Tiramisu contest winner – Rafaela Belloni 
Group of people in conference room
2024 DTC Tiramisu contest (July 2024)
Group of people at karoake bar
2024 TIRTL Karaoke night (July 2024)
2024 Duke Transplantation Center Group Photo
2024 Duke Transplantation Center Group Photo
Three people taking a selfie in a restaurant
2024 TIRTL reunion: YeEun visiting TIRTL from VT (July 2024)
2024.TIRTL lunch for celebrating Miriam’s Translational Medicine paper (2024. 6)
2024 TIRTL lunch for celebrating Miriam’s Translational Medicine paper (June 2024)
2024.TIRTL lunch for celebrating Miriam’s Translational Medicine paper (2024. 5)
2024 TIRTL lunch for celebrating Miriam’s Translational Medicine paper (May 2024)
Group of runners on lawn
2024 TIRTL 5K at AIDS run (May 2024)
2024 Lab renovation/relocation (2024. 5)
2024 Lab renovation/relocation (May 2024)
Group of people at 8th Surgery Symposium (2024. 4)
2024 The 8th Surgery Symposium (April 2024)
Group of people waiting for solar eclipse
2024 The solar eclipse in NC (April 2024)
Group of people celebrating a birthday
2024 Davide’s Birthday (March 2024)
Group of people at dinner
2024 Lab dinner (Jang’s lost bet; March 2024)
TIRTL lab group at lunch
2024 Lab Weekend Lunch (March 2024)
2024 Division of Surgical Sciences, Team presentation (2024. 2)
2024 Division of Surgical Sciences, Team presentation (February 2024)
TIRTL Lab group at breakfast
2024 Lab Breakfast at Elmo's Diner (Jan. 2024)
TIRTL Group at Nikos
2023 Year End Lab Dinner at Nikos
Duke Transplant Center group Cookie Contest
2023 Duke Transplant Center cookie contest
Judges: Drs. Hartwig, Jackson, Kirk, Kwun, and Luo
Winner: Isaac Alderete (Duke DEVOL Lab)
TIRTL Lab group Thanksgiving lunch
2023 TIRTL Thanksgiving lunc at Szechuan Mansion Hotpot
TIRTL lab party
2023 TIRTL Lab party (Nov. 2023)
TIRTL Group at IXA meeting
2023 International Xenotransplantation Association (IXA) meeting in San Diego, CA (Oct. 2023)
TIRTL group at NIH NHPCSG committee meeting
2023 NIH NHPCSG steering committee meeting (Oct. 2023)
TIRTL STARC group luncheon
2023 TIRTL - STARC/DLAR appreciation luncheon (Sept. 2023)
2023 DTC outing at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (July 2023)
2023 DTC outing at Durham Bulls Athletic Park (July 2023)
2023 ATC (San Diego) – TIRTL reunion (June 2023)
2023 ATC (San Diego) – TIRTL reunion (June 2023)
2023 TIRTL lunch for celebrating Miriam’s Science Advances paper (May 2023)
2023 TIRTL lunch for celebrating Miriam’s Science Advances paper (May 2023)
2023 ITS (International Transplantation Science) Meeting at Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (April 2023)
2023 ITS (International Transplantation Science) Meeting at Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (April 2023)
2023 Duke Surgery Research Day – Imran received the best basic science award (April 2023).
2023 Duke Surgery Research Day – Imran received the best basic science award (April 2023).
2023 TIRTL dinner at Dr. Knechtle’s (April 2023)
2023 TIRTL dinner at Dr. Knechtle’s (April 2023)
2023 Blue Devil Day (Undergrad Research) – Ryan Spangler presented his work.
2023 Blue Devil Day (Undergrad Research) – Ryan Spangler presented his work.
2023 Angela’s birthday~ (March 2023)
2023 Angela’s birthday~ (March 2023)
TRTL Lab Lunch
2023 Lab lunch…. without PIs  (January 2023)
TRTLE 2023
2023 year starting joint lab dinner (January 2023)
2022 Duke Transplantation Center Group Photo
2022 Duke Transplantation Center Group Photo
TIRTL Group
2022 Year-end lab dinner (December 2022)
TIRTL Group
2022 ATC TIRTL dinner
TIRTL Group
2022 Duke Night at ATC (Boston, June 2022)
TIRTL Group
2022 Lab cookie contest
TIRTL Group
2022 TILTL-eGenesis dinner
TIRTL Group
2022 Summer Lab lunch/dinner
TIRTL Group
2021 Surgery year-ending party (December 2021)
Group in hallway with farewell cake for Miriam (2021. 7)
Farewell cake for Miriam (July 2021)
Group of people at a baseball game
2021 Summer Lab outing (July 2021)
Group of people in front of a tree
2021 Summer Lab party (June 2021)
Group of people at 2021 Summer Lab party (2021.6)
2021 Lab dinner (Washington DC, April 2021)
People at table for 2021 Lab dinner (Virginia, 2021. 4)
TIRTL Group
2021 Lab outing (Washington DC, April 2021)
TIRTL Group
2021 Summer Lab party (June, 2021)
TIRTL Group
2021 Farewell dinner for Denae

Contact

Transplant Immune Regulation & Tolerance Lab (TIRTL) at Duke University

Jean Kwun, DMV, PhD
404-775-7406

jean.kwun@duke.edu

207 Research Dr, Jones 365
Duke University, NC 27710