Alexander J. Szalai, PhD

The overarching goal of my research is to understand the biological role of C-reactive protein (CRP) in maintenance of health and propagation of disease. Diseases of interest include: systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, septic arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular disease, and microbial infection. We use a multi-faceted approach that entails studies of CRP biology in transgenic and knockout mice, bolstered by translational studies with human cells and DNA in vitro aimed at revealing CRP genetic and phenotypic associations with disease. Our latest work is geared towards development of CRP lowering drugs, understanding the role of CRP in cardiometabolic disease, and deciphering the contribution of CRP to cerebral malaria. Ligand-bound CRP activates the complement system and binds to Fcg receptors; therefore we also study these two effector pathways.