Derya Unutmaz

Derya Unutmaz is a researcher working with The Jackson Laboratory.

The Jackson Laboratory's research primarily focuses on decoding the differentiation, activation and regulation of human T cells for optimal immune responses to infectious diseases and their perturbations during chronic diseases or aging. We have contributed to the understanding of how T cell subsets are disrupted during human diseases, especially during HIV infection. Our lab has made several seminal discoveries about the diversity and mechanisms of immune suppression mediated by regulatory T cells and effect or functions of human Th17 cell subsets.

Background
The Turkish-born Unutmaz earned his M.D. at Marmara University Medical School in Istanbul. He completed postdoctoral appointments in the immunology department of Novartis in Basel, Switzerland; the Immunobiology Research Institute of Novartis and Chiron Corporation in Siena, Italy; and the Skirball Institute of New York University.

He joined the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine faculty in 1999 as assistant professor of microbiology and immunology, rising to associate professor. In 2006 he moved to the New York University School of Medicine as an associate professor of microbiology, later adding appointments to the departments of medicine and pathology. Before he joined The Jackson Laboratory, he worked at the New York University School of Medicine in Manhattan, where he was professor of microbiology, pathology and medicine.

The author of 81 research papers, Unutmaz has contributed to seven awarded and pending patents.

Research Background
Derya Unutmaz has done extensive work in studying the molecular mechanisms of T cells and their involvement in HIV infection and other chronic inflammatory diseases in humans.

“My research has focused on understanding what HIV ‘knows’ about the immune system and how HIV infection leads to disease. We are now using the knowledge we acquired from studying HIV to other chronic inflammatory disorders and to understand the aging of the immune system. JAX will be an ideal institution to continue our studies at the genomics level and translate them for clinical use.”

His laboratory’s discoveries include the role of cytokines (proteins produced by immune cells) in making CD4+ T cells more vulnerable to HIV infection; and how HIV preferentially infects and perturbs human T cell subsets, including NKT, regulatory T (Tregs) and IL-17-secreting (Th17) cells.

ME/CFS Research
In June of 2016, Unutmaz received five years of funding — totaling $3,281,515 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases — to find better ways to diagnose and treat ME/CFS. Unumatz will screen blood samples for potential immunological biomarkers of the disease, and using the results to develop better diagnostic tools and personalized treatments. His work will focus on Long non-coding RNA.