IMMUNOLOGY
The Root of the Problem continued
“ By studying rare pediatric immune diseases , we actually can apply knowledge that enlightens a very unique rare disease to benefit a group of disorders that , at the symptom level , manifest similarly .”
ELENA HSIEH , MD
Dr . Hsieh ’ s work also expands beyond pediatrics . She is currently the only immunologist in a $ 2 million National Institutes of Health consortium study ( spatial transcriptomic and proteomic mapping of kidney disease ) looking at chronic kidney disease . The grant brings together dozens of organizations across the country for a multidisciplinary , team-science approach to research .
“ It ’ s the idea that if an immunologist works with an engineer , biostatistician , physicist and nephrologist , bringing all your different backgrounds and brains together , then you ’ ll actually develop a novel angle to solve a problem that we ’ ve had for a really long time ,” Dr . Hsieh says about this research approach . The Anschutz Medical Campus ’ specialty for the study is tissue analysis using single-cell multiparametric proteomics and transcriptomic approaches . With Dr . Hsieh ’ s expertise , she ultimately hopes to develop an atlas of the normal immune cells in the kidney , so it will be easier to spot dysfunction and identify drugs to alter outcomes .
Because these types of conditions are so rare , it ’ s a necessity for immunologists to share research and knowledge to support each other and provide the best care for their patients . That ’ s why collaboration in immunology work spans beyond just the U . S . and extends around the world . staring you in the face , and you didn ’ t realize it . When you have the opportunity to pause and rethink a case , those with an unusual presentation or those not responding to therapies the way that you thought they should — this is when we tend to find some of our most intriguing and challenging patients .” •
1 . Collins , Cathleen et al . “ Economic burden of congenital athymia in the United States for patients receiving supportive care during the first 3 years of life .” Journal of medical economics vol . 24,1 ( 2021 ): 962-971 . doi : 10.1080 / 136 96998.2021.1962129 .
CULLEN DUTMER , MD
Medical Director , Clinical Immunology , Children ’ s Hospital Colorado
Associate professor , Pediatrics – Allergy / Immunology , University of Colorado School of Medicine
ELENA HSIEH , MD
Immunologist , Allergy and Immunology Center , Children ’ s Hospital Colorado
Associate professor , Pediatrics – Immunology and Microbiology , University of Colorado School of Medicine
“ You become a de facto expert ,” Dr . Dutmer says . “ Nobody knows these diseases are out there until you describe them , and once you describe the disease , you start getting notified about potential new cases .”
He adds , “ Even though we think about individual inborn errors of immunity as being exceptionally rare , collectively they ’ re more common than you might think . These patients almost always are
6 | CHILDREN ’ S HOSPITAL COLORADO