Dr. Dispenza’s laboratory focuses on allergies and IgE-mediated allergic reactions including anaphylaxis.  Overall goals of the lab include understanding the mechanisms driving anaphylaxis severity and phenotypes, discovering new biomarkers for the accurate diagnosis of anaphylaxis, and developing novel strategies for the prevention of IgE-mediated reactions.  One major project focuses on the prevention of anaphylaxis, for which there are no known reliable preventative therapies.  They found that small molecule inhibitors of the enzyme Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), which is a key component of the IgE signaling pathway, completely suppress IgE-mediated human mast cell and basophil activation and significantly protect against death from severe anaphylaxis in humanized mice.  Further, in an investigator-initiated clinical trial, they demonstrated in an investigator-initiated trial that treatment with just 2 days of the oral BTK inhibitor acalabrutinib completely prevents clinical reactivity from eating peanut in the majority of peanut-allergic adults and markedly increases the tolerance level of the remainder.  These exciting data suggest that a long sought-after preventative therapy for anaphylaxis may finally be within reach.

The research in the Sarbjit Saini Laboratory focuses on IgE receptor biology and IgE receptor-mediated activation of blood basophils and mast cells. We have examined the role of IgE receptor expression and activation in allergic airways disease, anaphylaxis and chronic urticaria. Our research has been supported by the NIH, American Lung Association and the AAAAI. Our current research interests have focused mechanisms of diease in allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis and also translational studies in chronic idiopathic urticaria.