Overview
Dr. Batsuli is a member of the hemostasis and thrombosis clinical and research teams at Emory University and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. She is actively involved in international and national societies dedicated to advancing scientific investigation and clinical outcomes for individuals with disorders of hemostasis. This includes the Factor VIII, Factor IX, and Rare Coagulation Disorder Subcommittee of the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis Scientific and Standardization Committee.
Over the past 30 years, there have been remarkable advancements in therapies available for individuals with factor VIII (hemophilia A) and factor IX (hemophilia B) deficiencies. However, neutralizing antibodies against factors VIII and IX, known as inhibitors remains a complication of treatment that ultimately dictates therapeutic options and disease outcome. Dr. Batsuli’s primary research interest is focused on characterizing the interaction of factors VIII and IX with antigen presenting cells, specifically dendritic cells, to determine the immunologic mechanisms that result in inhibitor formation. Elucidating the underlying mechanisms that mediate the innate immune response to factor proteins will be critical for devising effective methods for inhibitor prevention and eradication.
The overall goal of our lab is to use the mechanistic knowledge gained from these studies to help develop therapies that utilize dendritic cell biology to alter factor presentation and induce tolergenic T cell responses to maintain the hemostatic efficacy of these critical proteins.
- Evaluating mechanisms of innate and adaptive immunity to factors VIII and IX
- Defining the role of von Willebrand factor and factor VIII glycosylation patterns on factor VIII recognition and antibody formation
- Characterizing the role of IgM antibodies, specifically IgMs directed against the C1 domain in factor VIII immunogenicity
- Utilization of the thrombin generation assay for quantifying hemostatic responses to factor products and non-factor products in hemophilia and rare bleeding disorders
Surinder (Sohni) Gill, MSc
Role: Lead Research Specialist
Email: s.p.gill1@emory.edu
Jasmine Ito, BSA
Role: Research Specialist
Education: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
Email: jasmine.ito@emory.edu
Elie York
Role: Undergraduate Student
Education: Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Email: elizabeth.york@emory.edu
Batsuli G, Zimowski KL, Tickle K, Cox C, Meeks SL, Sidonio RF. Immune tolerance induction in paediatric patients with haemophilia A and inhibitors on emicizumab prophylaxis. Haemophilia, 2019: 25:789-796
Batsuli G, Ito J, Mercer R, Baldwin WH, Cox C, Parker ET, Healey JF, Lollar P, Meeks SL. Anti-C1 domain antibodies that accelerate factor VIII clearance contribute to antibody pathogenicity in a murine hemophilia A model. J Thromb Haemost, 2018: 16:1779-1788
Meeks SL and Batsuli G. Hemophilia and Inhibitors: current treatment options and potential new therapeutic approaches. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program, 2016: 1:657-662
Batsuli G, Deng W, Healey JF, Parker ET, Baldwin WH, Cox C, Nguyen B, Kahle J, Königs C, Li R, Lollar P, Meeks SL. High-affinity, non-inhibitor pathogenic C1 domain antibodies are present in patients with hemophilia A and inhibitors. Blood, 2016: 128:2055-2067
Batsuli G, Meeks SL, Herzog RW, Lacroix-Desmazes S. Innovating immune tolerance induction for haemophilia. Haemophilia, 2016: Suppl 5:31-35
NHBLI 1K99HL150595-01 – 3/1/2020-2/28/2025
Utilizing Dendritic Cell Biology to Characterize the Innate Immune Response to Blood Coagulation Proteins
Goal: To characterize the role of dendritic cells in the innate immune response to factor VIII and factor IX and to evaluate the impact of factor/dendritic cell interactions on adaptive immune responses in hemophilia A and B.
Role: PI
Hemophilia of Georgia (HOG) Clinical Scientist Development Grant – 1/1/2019-12/31/2023
Evaluating the Interaction of Factor VIII and Von Willebrand Factor on Antigen Presentation in the Immune Response to Factor VIII
Goal: To evaluate the role of the interaction of factor VIII with von Willebrand factor on factor VIII recognition by antigen presenting cells and inhibitor development.
Role: PI
Aflac Pilot Grant – 9/1/2019-8/31/2020
Evaluating the Role of Asparagine-linked Glycans on Factor VIII Interaction with Dendritic Cells
Goal: To evaluate the role of asparagine (N)-linked glycans on factor VIII interaction with dendritic cells and factor VIII immunogenicity.
Role: PI
HOG Center for Bleeding and Clotting Disorders Hemostasis Research Award – 7/1/2019-6/30/2020
Evaluating the Role of N-linked Glycosylation on Factor VIII Biology and Immunogenicity
Goal: To evaluate the role of asparagine (N)-linked glycans on the biochemical properties and immunogenicity of factor VIII.
Role: PI