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Blanca I. Restrepo, Ph.D. 1994, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio The University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston My laboratory is located in Brownsville, Texas, at the Regional Campus of the School of Public Health. |
Research Interests:
A unique aspect of my laboratory is the strength provided by our access to specimens from patients with tuberculosis. Our campus is located in Brownsville, less than one mile from the Mexico border. We have well established study sites in Mexico and in South Texas, where tuberculosis patients are identified and invited to participate by our research team. Detailed patient information is collected at the field, together with the patient specimens, proving a unique material for basic and applied research in our laboratory. Our tuberculosis research team is composed of scientists with diverse backgrounds, providing the students with excellent training in basic science, without ignoring the overall clinical context, as well as the challenges and rewards associated with carrying out research on patient specimens.
A major focus of our research is to understand the biological basis of the association between tuberculosis and diabetes. We have shown that diabetes complicates the clinical presentation of tuberculosis, and delays the patient’s response to therapy. We are using immunological and molecular approaches to study this association.
Depending on the student 's interests, a tutorial in my laboratory would provide experience using molecular biology and immunological techniques to address the biological questions addressed above. Students can also visit the field sites to become familiar with the setup associated with patient identification and invitation to participate in research.