Kathleen Gilbert, PhD
Associate Professor, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Professor of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences/College of Medicine
Phone: (501) 364-4587

Dr. Gilbert’s research interests include autoimmune disease and regulation of the immune system cell types that mediate autoimmune disease. To support her investigation of possible environmental triggers in immune disease, Dr. Gilbert has received two grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study the link between toxicant exposure and autoimmune disease. Her work has shown that exposure to certain toxicants, including trichloroethylene and trichloroacetaldehyde, at levels similar to those encountered in the workplace accelerated the development of lupus as well as a liver-specific autoimmune disease. Dr. Gilbert is also examining the cellular mechanism by which toxicants may alter the immune responses such that it attacks the host instead of performing properly. In addition to investigating the causes of autoimmune diseases, Dr. Gilbert, in association with the UAMS School of Pharmacy, is also testing methods to stop the immune system from mediating this process. This examination includes drugs called histone deacetylase inhibitors which stop a certain chemical process required for cell division thus stopping the autoimmune disease process. She is also testing histone deacetylase inhibitors for their ability to stop insulin-dependent diabetes and whether these drugs can be used to inhibit organ rejection. Dr. Gilbert is using proteomics to examine the mechanisms by which histone deacetylase inhibitors inhibit immune system cell division.

To find publications by Kathleen Gilbert, please visit Pubmed Central, a National Institutes of Health-operated site for electronic distribution of life sciences research reports.