1972-Blum, Janice
Faculty

Janice S. Blum, PhD

Dean, University Graduate School

Address
MS 420
635 Barnhill Drive

Indianapolis, IN
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Titles & Appointments

  • Dean, University Graduate School
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education, IUPUI
  • Chancellor's Professor, IUPUI
  • Professor of Microbiology & Immunology
  • Dean, Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis
  • Associate Vice Chancellor for Graduate Education, Indiana University
  • Chancellor's Professor
  • Professor Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine
  • Adjunct Associate Dean, Purdue University Graduate School
  • Education
    1984 PhD Duke University
    1979 BS Pennsylvania State University
  • Research

    Dr. Blum's research has focused on immune responsiveness in humans and its role in protective immunity to tumors and pathogens as well as predisposition to autoimmune disease.  She has a long-standing interest in promoting the advancement of research and encouraging students to engage in research opportunities.  Dr. Blum has served as a director and mentor for multiple NIH-funded training programs which supported undergraduate students, post-baccalaureate fellows, graduate and medical students, as well as postdoctoral fellows.

    In the laboratory, Dr. Blum has focused on understanding how protein antigens are processed for recognition by the immune system, and the events which regulate immune responses to foreign and self proteins.  Studies by Dr. Blum's group applied cell biology and molecular approaches to examine the pathways guiding protein antigen trafficking, antigen processing and the selection of epitopes for presentation by MHC molecules. Discoveries by the Blum laboratory include work demonstrating the importance a novel thiol reductase GILT and NADPH oxidase MHC-restricted immune recognition, and a role for heat shock proteins and lysosomal membrane proteins in immune recognition by MHC class II molecules.  Studies by the Blum laboratory also have demonstrated endosomal recycling and autophagy are important pathways guiding immune responses.   Dr. Blum and her colleagues have examined how immune deficiency as well as hyper-responsiveness are regulated by these pathways.  These investigators have implications in terms of developing more efficient vaccine reagents specific for pathogens as well as tumors.  Studies by the Blum laboratory also strongly support a role for these pathways in regulating immune responses to autoantigens linked to the development of arthritis and diabetes in humans. Information from these studies has been applied identify new biomarkers for autoimmunity and inflammation, to design and test novel vaccines for promoting immunity to pathogens and tumors, and identify new targets for gene therapy to control immune responsiveness.

  • Awards
    Org: Indiana University Purdue Univesity at Indianapolis
    Desc: Outstanding Woman Leader - Faculty Award
    Scope: Campus
    Date: 2017-03-01
    Org: Indiana University School of Medicine - Department of Microbiology and Immunology
    Desc: Randy S. Rosenthal Graduate Student Advocacy Award
    Scope: Department
    Date: 2013-04-01
    Org: Indiana University Purdue Univesity at Indianapolis, Department Microbiology and Immunology
    Desc: Most Supportive Faculty
    Scope: Campus
    Date: 2012-06-01
    Org: Indiana University School of Medicine - Department of Microbiology and Immunology
    Desc: Randy S. Rosenthal Graduate Student Advocacy Award
    Scope: Department
    Date: 2011-04-01
    Org: Indiana University Purdue Univesity at Indianapolis, Department Microbiology and Immunology
    Desc: Most Supportive Faculty
    Scope: Campus
    Date: 2010-06-01
    Org: Indiana University School of Medicine
    Desc: Trustee Teaching Award
    Scope: School
    Date: 2008-05-01
    Org: Alliance of Distinguished and Titled Professors, Indiana University
    Desc:
    Scope: University
    Date: 2008-04-01
    Org: Indiana University Purdue Univesity at Indianapolis
    Desc: Chancellor's Professor
    Scope: Campus
    Date: 2008-04-01
    Org: Indiana University School of Medicine - Department of Microbiology and Immunology
    Desc: Randy S. Rosenthal Graduate Student Advocacy Award
    Scope: Department
    Date: 2008-04-01
    Org: Indiana University School of Medicine - Department of Microbiology and Immunology
    Desc: Randy S. Rosenthal Graduate Student Advocacy Award
    Scope: Department
    Date: 2005-04-01
    Org: University of Oklahoma
    Desc: Juneann Murphy Award for Excellence in Research and Mentoring
    Scope: International
    Date:

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