University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus · Microbiology & ImmunologyImmunity and Tumor Microenvironment Lab
Dario Aa Vignali · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Research Focus
Dr. Dario Aa Vignali's lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on understanding the complex mechanisms that regulate immunity, particularly in cancer and autoimmune diseases. They study proteins like LAG3 that inhibit T cell activity, exploring how these proteins can be targeted to improve cancer immunotherapy and manage autoimmune disorders. Their research aims to discover new ways to enhance immune responses against tumors while minimizing harmful effects on healthy cells.
LAG3T cell tolerancecancer immunotherapyregulatory T cellstumor microenvironment
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the mechanisms by which LAG3 inhibits T cell function.
AIM 02Explore the role of regulatory T cells in the tumor microenvironment.
AIM 03Identify new inhibitory mechanisms utilized by Tregs in cancer.
AIM 04Develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting LAG3 and Tregs.
AIM 05Enhance understanding of immune regulation in chronic viral infections.
Skills the Lab Values
ImmunohistochemistryFlow cytometryMouse modelsCell cultureMolecular cloningBiophysical analysisWestern blotProtein assaysCytokine analysisMicroscopy
Output against the department
Publications448top 6% of dept.31st of 486
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations52ktop 4% of dept.21st of 486
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.