Khor Lab

Introduction

The Khor lab is interested in understanding novel pathways that regulate tolerance and inflammation, with the goal of developing novel precision therapies. A major focus of the lab is understanding the mechanistic basis of immune dysregulation in people with Down syndrome.

This work is revealing new fundamental lessons about the pathoimmunology of aging and autoimmunity in people both with and without Down syndrome. Our work is already pointing to new targets for precision therapies and highlighting novel approaches to identify unifying themes across different diseases.

We take a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach that brings together genetics, chemistry, computational, and clinical collaborators to highlight disease-relevant biology. Work in the lab is grounded on observation in human cohorts, which is then mechanistically interrogated using ex vivo, in vitro and animal model approaches. The Khor lab is a high-mentoring environment where trainees take creative, rigorous, and multidisciplinary approaches to clinically relevant problems.

Bernard Khor
Assistant Member

Bernard Khor, MD, PhD

Associate Member; Principal Investigator, Khor Lab; Associate Medical Director, Bloodworks Northwest; Affiliant Assistant Professor, University of Washington
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Lab Members

Amber Leonard

Amber Leonard, PhD

Post Doctoral Research Associate, Khor Lab
Matt Malueg

Matt Malueg

Research Technician, Khor Lab

Research Projects

Khor Research Project Preview - Understanding DYRK1A

Understanding how DYRK1A regulates T cell biology

This study aims to identify the mechanisms engaged by DYRK1A, a novel regulator of Th17 differentiation
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Khor Research Project Preview - Autoimmunity in DS

Dissecting the mechanisms driving autoimmunity in people with Down syndrome

This study aims to understand how and why risk of autoimmunity is increased in people with Down syndrome.
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Khor Research Project Preview - Immune Aging in DS

Aging and Down syndrome: The immune system and beyond

This study aims to understand how and why immune aging is altered in people with Down syndrome.
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Related Stories

Blog Main Image - EDITORIAL Ayman Drums
December 14, 2022

Participants like Ayman Make Research Possible

Ayman, 23, enjoys playing the drums and working at MOD Pizza — he was even in one of MOD’s TV commercials. He loves Pepper, his schnoodle (schnauzer-poodle).

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Blog Main Image - Researcher Woman Pipetting Samples Blue
December 14, 2022

$3.5 Million to Study Down Syndrome and the Immune System

What goes wrong in the immune system that causes autoimmune disease or limits its ability to fight infections? That’s the question Bernard Khor, MD, PhD, started with 12 years ago. His search for answers led him somewhere unexpected: to people with Down syndrome. 

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Blog Main Frannie Bars Editorial
February 10, 2022

Research Fuels Change: One Family’s Motivation to Participate

Becky Ronan has seen firsthand how research has impacted life for people with Down syndrome. When her older brother Kevin was born with Down syndrome in 1967, her parents were advised not to bring him home. “Most people with Down syndrome were put in institutions,” Becky says.

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News

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Science in Seattle: BRI Awarded $3.4M NIH R01 Grant to Continue Studying Why Immune Responses are Altered in Those with Down Syndrome

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Down syndrome ages the immune system: Condition alters T cells, which act as if the person is up to 18 years older (Portugese)

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News Main Image - Lumind IDSC Down Syndrome Foundation

LuMind IDSC Foundation features Dr. Khor’s studies on Down syndrome and immune system aging.