Cornell University · Microbiology & ImmunologyThe NK Memory Lab
Colleen M. Lau · Ithaca, New York
Research Focus
Dr. Colleen M. Lau's lab at Cornell University studies the immune system, focusing on a group of cells called natural killer (NK) cells. These cells are unique because they can develop memory, allowing them to respond better to infections over time. The lab investigates how NK cells remember past infections at a molecular level, particularly through changes in the way their DNA is organized and modified. This research aims to develop better strategies for cell-based immunotherapies to treat diseases by enhancing NK cell memory and function.
Natural Killer CellsImmune MemoryEpigeneticsVaccinesImmunotherapyTrained ImmunityInnate ImmunityChromatinDNA MethylationCytokines
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate how NK cells retain immune memory through epigenetic changes.
AIM 02Dissect the differences between antigen-specific and trained immunity in NK cells.
AIM 03Identify key regulatory elements that influence NK cell memory traits.
AIM 04Explore the roles of transcription factors in NK cell memory responses.
AIM 05Develop strategies to enhance NK cell-based immunotherapies.
Skills the Lab Values
Chromatin Accessibility AnalysisDNA Methylation ProfilingCell CultureFlow CytometryMolecular CloningAnimal ModelsBioinformaticsRNA SequencingCytokine MeasurementWestern Blot
Output against the department
Publications54bottom 13% of dept.419th of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.8kbottom 18% of dept.397th of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.