Dr. Steven Kunkel is the Endowed Professor of Pathology Research, Head of the Immunology Program, and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the University of Michigan Medical School. He received his PhD at the University of Kansas in microbiology and did his post-doctoral training at the University of Connecticut Health Science Center. His areas of research have centered on assessing molecular mechanisms of lung inflammation by investigating cytokine directed cell-to-cell communication circuits. A significant amount of this work helped to launch and define the field of chemokine biology. In addition, he has been involved in assessing epigenetic regulation of immune cell phenotypes, which dictate the expression pattern of inflammatory mediators. His studies in cytokine and chemokine biology are internationally recognized and have provided a more clear understanding of how these proteins are regulated and participate in the initiation, maintenance, and resolution of acute and chronic lung diseases. He has co-authored 600 peer reviewed manuscripts, has an H-Index of greater than 100, possesses 14 patents, and has maintained continuous funding of major National Institute of Health grants for over 3 decades. In 2012 he was one of the founding participants of Opsidio; a startup biotechnology company launched out of the University of Michigan. In his current administrative role, as the Senior Associate Dean for Research in the Medical School, he oversees both basic and clinical research in the Medical School. He has served on numerous National Institute of Health peer review study sections, organized a variety of international conferences on inflammation (organized Gordon and Keystone Conferences), is an associate editor for various professional scientific journals, and is a past recipient of an NIH MERIT Award. In addition, he is the former chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors for the NIAID-NIH, a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

 My areas of research have centered on assessing molecular mechanisms of lung inflammation by investigating cytokine directed cell-to-cell communication circuits. A significant amount of this work helped to launch and define the field of chemokine biology. In addition, I have been involved in assessing epigenetic regulation of immune cell phenotypes, which dictate the expression pattern of inflammatory mediators. Our epigenetic studies have centered on investigating mechanisms of chromatin modifications that result in active transcription or silencing of various inflammatory mediators. In particular we have shown that a particular methyltransferase MLL sets an activating histone methylation mark (H3K4 me3) to transcribe specific mediators of inflammation, including gamma interferon in mycobacterial antigen stimulated T cells. Furthermore, we have identified a suppressive mark set by another methyltransferase, setdb2 (H3K9me3), that is induced by interferon beta and controls a number of downstream inflammatory mediators. Beta-interfon induced Setdb2 has a number of pathophysiologic consequences, such as in secondary bacteria infections caused by H1N1 influenza. My studies in cytokine and chemokine biology are internationally recognized and have provided a more clear understanding of how these proteins are regulated and participate in the initiation, maintenance, and resolution of acute and chronic lung diseases. My research group has provided evidence for specific cytokine phenotypes that dictate the progression of particular chronic diseases, such as the participation of Th2 cytokines in fibrosis and asthma. Collectively our studies have uncovered a number of specific mechanisms of disease that may serve as therapeutic targets to control acute and chronic inflammation. I have had significant interactions/collaborations with multiple faculty of the preceptor list including: Drs. Cierpicki, Grembecka, Dou, Lukacs and Maillard. I have published with each of these investigators and hold Co-PIs or Co-I on currently active NIH grants with Drs. Dou and Lukacs, respectively. I have mentored a variety of undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows; serving as the primary mentor for 6 PhD students and serving as a member of dozens of PhD dissertation committees.