University of Chicago · BiologyKee Immunology Lab
Barbara L. Kee · Chicago, Illinois
Research Focus
Dr. Barbara Kee's lab studies natural killer (NK) cells, which are crucial for our body’s defense against viral infections and cancer. The group focuses on understanding the role of a specific protein called BATF in regulating NK cell behavior during infections and tumor responses. By exploring how NK cells can be enhanced or altered, the lab aims to develop potential therapies that can leverage NK cells to better fight diseases like tumors and viral infections.
natural killer cellsBATFimmune responsetumor immunityviral infectionscytokine signalingtranscription factorscancer immunotherapydendritic cells
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of BATF in NK cell maturation and anti-tumor immunity.
AIM 02Characterize the impact of BATF expression on NK cell responses to viral infections.
AIM 03Analyze BATF target genes and their functional outputs in NK cells.
AIM 04Explore the mechanisms controlling NK cell survival and proliferation under different conditions.
AIM 05Develop strategies for therapeutic modulation of NK cells in disease contexts.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureflow cytometrycytokine assaystranscription factor analysismouse modelsgene expression profilingchromatin accessibility assayshistone modification analysisviral infection models
Output against the department
Publications156top 43% of dept.445th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations6.5kbottom 46% of dept.557th of 1,033
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.