Kay Lab

Jason Kay, PhD, is a cell biologist with extensive training in a wide variety of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including high-end microscopy. The focus of the Kay Lab is to increase our understanding of the cell biology of innate phagocytes in immune responses, including those that occur within the oral environment. Our studies focus on the mechanisms and maturation of phagocytosis as well as the resulting cross-talk with other cellular processes. This includes interest in understanding how interactions between phagocytes and oral microorganisms, including how these microorganisms, or inflammation in general, can alter the phagocytic process and other cellular immune responses. Our overall aim is to increase the understanding of the contributions of innate immune cells to both health and disease.

Our research is broadly centered around studying the cell biology and role of innate immune cells during immune homeostasis, tolerance and disease. We currently have two main research efforts. The first is to examine the cell biology of innate immune cells as well as oral microbe–host immune interactions during the etiology of chronic inflammatory diseases to better understand how immune interactions can change over time, or by inflammatory state.

Our second major focus is in studying the role of lipids, specifically phosphatidylserine and its derivatives, in normal cellular function, as well as in enabling immune tolerance towards antigens delivered orally.

• Michelle Panasiewicz, BS, research technician
• Edwin Ovalle, BS, PhD student
• Justine Kuno, BS, master's student
• Abi Shea, BS, master's/DDS student
• Lama Almalki, DMD, oral pathology/master's student

1. Innate immune cell plasticity in oral microbe survival and escalation of inflammation. Supported by NIH grants R03DE025062, R01DE028307, F31DE031962 and F31DE029400.
2. Lipid-mediated oral tolerance. A collaborative project with Sathy Balu-Iyer, Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo and Elizabeth Wohlfert, Microbiology and Immunology, University at Buffalo. Supported by NIH grant R01AI169296.

Location: 545 Biomedical Research Building
Laboratory Phone: 716-829-2073
Email: jasonkay@buffalo.edu