We are part of the Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology at Stanford University School of Medicine. Our lab is located in the brand new CCSR building, room 2215A. We are interested in autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), scleroderma, myositis, primary biliary chirosis (PBC), Sjögren's disease, insulin dependent diabetes (type I diabetes or IDDM), multiple sclerosis (MS) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). The Utz lab is comprised of approximately 12 scientists, including Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Assistants, Undergraduate Students and Graduate Students. The focus of our research centers on serum autoantibodies produced in a variety of autoimmune diseases. In addition to trying to better understand the pathogenic mechanisms involved in autoimmunity, we are interested in developing bench-to-bedside technologies, including diagnostics and therapeutics, for human autoimmune diseases.

The three major goals of our studies are:

(1) To understand the mechanisms by which highly-conserved, diverse molecules and complexes such as histones and splicing particles are targeted by T and B lymphocytes and to determine how an immune response directed against ubiquitous antigens leads to organ-specific autoimmune disease.

(2) To invent and validate novel technologies for high-throughput, multiplex proteomics. We are currently focusing on proteomics analysis of proteins and signaling molecules secreted by immune cells, including cytokines and autoantibodies.

(3) To take advantage of the information provided by autoantibody profiling methods to develop antigen-specific tolerizing therapies for common autoimmune diseases. We collaborate closely with the Stanford laboratory of Dr. Larry Steinman, the principle discoverer of DNA tolerizing technology. Our long-term goal is to develop patient-specific, individualized therapeutics.

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