The Office for Research is grateful for the time and effort of our podium speakers, keynote presenter, and poster presenters!

Keynote Presenter

Laurence Morel, PhD

Professor and Department Chair; Zachry Foundation Distinguished Chair in Microbiology and Immunology
Personal Statement:
Dr. Morel’s research program investigates the mechanisms of lupus pathogenesis using mouse models as well as patient samples, with a focus on CD4 T cells and B cells. The long-term goal of her research is to identify genes or pathways responsible for lupus susceptibility, to characterize their contribution to autoimmune immunopathology, and to translate these findings into therapeutic targets. The most recent work has explored recent work on the genetic, cellular, metabolic and microbial determinants of follicular helper T cell expansion and regulatory T cell impairment in lupus.

Dr. Morel obtained her PhD in Neurosciences from the University of Aix-Marseille (France). She trained as a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Ward Wakeland at the University of Florida in immunogenetics, where she started to work on the genetic basis of lupus in mouse models. She was appointed with a faculty position in the department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine at UF in 1999, where she was a tenured professor and the Vice Chair for Research and Academic Affairs until 2022. She recently became the Chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics at UT Health San Antonio in Texas.

Special Thank You to our Podium Speakers!