Dr. Rusung Tan

Head, Immunity in Health & Disease Research Cluster

Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia
Head of Pathology, BC Women's & Children's Hospital

Dr. Rusung Tan is a pathologist, medical microbiologist and immunologist studying the function of immune cells, including cytotoxic T lymphocytes, natural killer and natural killer T cells in two diseases, type 1 diabetes and X-linked lymphoproliferative disease.

Dr. Tan's other research interests include clinical trials for travel medicine, performed in collaboration with the Travel Medicine & Vaccination Centre (TMVC), a private medical clinic for travellers to tropical and developing countries, and medical microbiology, virology and infection control.

Laboratory Members

• Xiaoxia Wang - Research assistant/Lab manager
• John Priatel - Research associate (MSFHR recipient)
• Huilian Qin - Research assistant
  
• Rashmi Gupta - Postdoctoral fellow (JDRF Fellow)
  
• Brian Chung - Graduate student (David Hardwick Studentship recipient)
  
• Lynn Huang - Graduate student
  
• Jason Hung - Graduate student

Selected Publications

1. X. Wang, A. Chu, PJ. Utz, J. Priatel and R. Tan. Natural killer cells from subjects with type 1 diabetes have defects in NKG2D-dependent function and signaling. Diabetes. 2011;60:857-866.

2. H. Qin, I-F. Lee, C. Panagiotopoulos, X. Wang, A. Chu, PJ. Utz, J. Priatel and R. Tan. Natural killer cells from subjects with type 1 diabetes have defects in NKG2D-dependent function and signaling. Diabetes. 2011;60:857-866. Taylor, R.R.

3. A. Marwaha, S. Crome, C. Panagiotopoulos, K. Berg, H. Qin, Q. Ouyang, L. Xu, J. Priatel, M. Levings and R. Tan. Cutting Edge: Increased IL-17 Secreting T Cells In Children With New-Onset Type 1 Diabetes. Journal of Immunology. 2010;185:3814-3818.

4. L. Allen, K. Hoefl, D. Zheng, B. Chung, F. Kozak, R. Tan and P. van den Elzen. Apolipoprotein mediated lipid antigen presentation in B cells provides a pathway for innate help by NKT cells. Blood. 2009;114:2411-6.

5. Q. Ouyang, N. Standifer, H. Qin, P. Gottlieb, C.B. Verchere, G. Nepom, R. Tan, and C. Panagiotopoulos. Recognition of HLA class I-restricted beta-cell epitopes in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes. 2006; 55:3068-3074

6. B. Chung, A. Aoukaty, J. Dutz, C. Terhorst and R. Tan. SLAM-associated protein controls NKT cells functions. Cutting Edge: Journal of Immunology. 2005; 174:3153.

7. C. Panagiotopoulos, H. Qin H, R. Tan and C.B. Verchere. Identification of a beta cell specific MHC class I restricted epitope in type 1 diabetes. Diabetes. 2003; 52:2647-2651.

8. A. Aoukaty and R. Tan. Association of the XLP gene product SAP/SH2D1A with 2B4, a natural killer cell activating molecule, is dependent on phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Journal of Biological Chemistry.2002;277:13331-7.

9. J. Trudeau, C. Kelly-Smith, C.B. Verchere, J. Dutz, J. Elliott, D. Finegood, P. Santamaria and R. Tan. Prediction of spontaneous autoimmune diabetes by quantification of autoreactive T cells in peripheral blood. Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2003; 111(2): 217–223.

10. J. Dutz, X. Wang, L. Benoit, A. Junker, D. De Sa and R. Tan. Lymphocytic vasculitis in X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Blood 2001; 97:95-100.

11. L. Benoit, X. Wang, J. Dutz and R. Tan. Defective natural killer cell activation in X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Cutting Edge: Journal of Immunology. 2000; 165-3549.