About

Donna Bunch’s research focuses on dissecting the role of B cells and the autoantibodies they produce in autoimmune diseases affecting the kidney. She investigates the immune dysregulation that triggers production of pathogenic autoantibodies and how these autoantibodies interact with immune cells (B cells, neutrophils, monocytes and dendritic cells) to generate microparticles or cause the release of cytokines and other cellular factors that regulate the network of cells comprising the immune system. She is particularly interested in elucidating the mechanisms by which regulatory B cells help maintain immunological balance and promote disease remission.

Dr. Bunch’s goal is to translate what we know about disease pathogenesis into better clinical tools for predicting relapse or other disease complications such as thrombosis and better therapies for management of diseases affecting the kidney.