Achievement

Van Luu became an IGERT-LifeChips fellow in 2010. Since then, he has made noteworthy advances in his research. He has discovered a biomarker for activated B cells and certain types of lymphomas. The molecule, recently named BAAM (B cell associated activation marker), is a new member of the tetraspanin family that was selected by the microarray database of gene expression in over 100 different human tissues and cell types. This bioinformatics approach that utilizes a database was able to screen for unique genes that are highly restricted in B cells. Van confirmed the expression on a protein level using western blotting and validated the transcription using RT-­‐qPCR. The molecule was also found in certain activated types of B cell lymphomas and showed high expression in Hodgkin lymphoma. This new biomarker can be used in antibody targeted therapy for these lymphomas. Van has filed a provisional patent for this new treatment and will soon plan to publish in Journal of Immunology.