James G. Cripps, Ph.D.

Education:James G. Cripps, Ph.D.  

B.S. Cum Laude, Chemistry, University Honors Scholar, University of Louisville, 2006
Ph.D., Microbiology & Immunology, Dartmouth Medical School, 2011
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cancer, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 2014

Current Positions: 

Laboratory Research Manager, Brown Cancer Center
Associate Member, Brown Cancer Center 

Contact Information: 

Dunbar CAR T-cell Facility
119E/Baxter I Building
University of Louisville
580 South Preston Street
Louisville, KY 40202

Email: 

Research Description: 

My research interests are two-fold:  I am beginning to work on a collaboration with Kavitha Yaddanapudi focused on CAR-T therapies in solid tumors such as melanoma.  This work will utilize some novel methodologies to successfully target solid cancer and alter or counter the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment.  My other work is based on my decade of experience as a professional firefighter and explores the role of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) and Ultra-Fine Particulate Matter (UFPM) exposure in occupational cancer development in firefighters.  Specifically, how this exposure impairs immune surveillance leading to tumor escape and growth.  I plan to look at individual and populations of T cells and immune responses of firefighers post exposure.  I also plan on developing a spontaneous occurring mouse model by PAH and UFPM exposure to further interrogate potential treatment targets and mechanisms.

Literature Cited: 

  1.  Rodriguez DA, Weinlich R, Brown S, Guy C, Fitzgerald P, Dillon CP, Oberst A, Quarato G, Low J, Cripps JG, Chen T, Green DR.  Characterization of RIPK3-mediated phosphorylation of the activation loop of MLKL during necroptosis.  Cell Death & Differentiation 2016 Jan;23(1):76-88.  doi: 10.1038/cdd.2015.70.  Epub 2015 May 29.  PMID: 26024392.  PMCID: PMC4815980.
  2. Dillon CP, Weinlich R, Rodriguez DA, Cripps JG, Quarato G, Gurung P, Verbist KC, Brewer TL, Llambi F, Gong YN, Janke LJ, Kelliher MA, Kanneganti TD, Green DR.  RIPK1 blocks early postnatal lethality mediated by caspase-8 and RIPK3.  Cell 2014 May 22;157(5):1189-202.  doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.04.018.  Epub 2014 May 8.  PMID: 24813850.  PMCID: PMC4068710.
  3. Cripps JG, Celaj S, Burdick M, Strieter RM, Gorham JD.  Liver inflammation in a mouse model of Th1 hepatitis despite the absence of invariant NKT cells or the Th1 chemokine receptors CXCR3 and CCR5.  LaboratoryInvestigation 2012 Oct;92(10):1461-71.  doi: 10.1038/labinvest.2012.104.  Epub 2012 Aug 20.  PMID: 22906987.  PMCID: PMC3460069.
  4. Cripps JG, Gorham JD.  MDSC in autoimmunity.  InternationalImmunopharmacology 2011 Jul;11(7):789-93.  doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2011.01.026.  Epub 2011 Feb 21.  PMID: 21310255.  PMCID: PMC3109222.
  5. Cripps JG, Wang J, Maria A, Blumenthal I, Gorham JD.  Type 1 T helper cells induce the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the inflamed Tgfb1 knockout mouse liver.  Hepatology 2010 Oct;52(4):1350-9.  doi: 10.1002/hep.23841.  PMID: 20803559.  PMCID: PMC2947571.
  6. Milks MW, Cripps JG, Lin H, Wang J, Robinson RT, Sargent JL, Whitfield ML, Gorham JD.  The role of Ifng in alterations in liver gene expression in a mouse model of fulminant autoimmune hepatitis.  LiverInternational 2009 Oct;29(9):1307-15.  doi: 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2009.02028.x.  Epub 2009 Apr 16.  PMID: 19490417.  PMCID: PMC3038248.
  7. Robinson RT, Wang J, Cripps JG, Milks MW, English KA, Pearson TA, Gorham JD.  End-organ damage in a mouse model of fulminant liver inflammation requires CD4+ T cell production of IFN-gamma but is independent of Fas.  Journal of Immunology 2009 Mar 1;182(5):3278-84.  doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0803417.  PMID: 19234226.  PMCID: PMC2764282.
  8. Crespo FA, Sun X, Cripps JG, Fernandez-Botran R.  The immunoregulatory effects of gangliosides involve immune deviation favoring type-2 T cell responses.  Journal of Leukocyte Biology 2006 Mar;79(3):586-95.  doi: 10.1189/jlb.0705395.  Epub 2006 Jan 13.  PMID: 16415169.
  9. Cripps JG, Crespo FA, Romanovskis P, Spatola AF, Fernández-Botrán R.  Modulation of acute inflammation by targeting glycosaminoglycan-cytokine interactions.  InternationalImmunopharmacology 2005 Oct;5(11):1622-32.  doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2005.04.010. PMID: 16039552.