Richard R. Kew, PhD, Associate Professor

Richard R. Kew, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology
Basic Science Tower, Level 9
Stony Brook Medicine
Stony Brook, NY 11794-8691

Tel: (631) 444-3941
Fax: (631) 444-3424
Email: Richard.Kew@stonybrookmedicine.edu

Research Summary:
Dr. Kew’s lab is interested in how components of the innate immune system contribute to the pathology of tissue injury. A major focus is to determine how plasma and cell-derived cofactors regulate chemotactic signals that direct leukocytes from the blood to sites of inflammation. Several experimental approaches (biochemical, cellular, molecular and proteomic) are being utilized to investigate the mechanisms by which a ubiquitous albumin-like plasma protein, the vitamin D binding protein (DBP), regulates leukocyte migration to activated complement peptide C5a. Aberrant and/or excessive activation of complement, with subsequent generation of C5a, has been strongly associated with the pathogenesis of several inflammatory disorders. C5a is one of the most potent and physiologically important chemotactic factors. Understanding how this activity is regulated will have major physiological significance and may facilitate the design of therapeutics that can modulate excessive tissue recruitment of leukocytes from the blood.

Peer Reviewed Publications: