Coleen A McNamara, MD

Professor of Medicine/Cardiovascular Division
Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics
Beirne B. Carter Endowed Professor of Immunology
Director, Carter Immunology Center

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CVRC LAB

Dr. McNamara leads a talented team of trainees and faculty advancing our understanding of the immune system in cardiovascular diseases (CVD).   Her laboratory utilizes innovative integrated approaches applying powerful new single-cell technologies and advanced bioinformatics for discovery and clinical translation.  Her lab has enjoyed 30 years of uninterrupted independent NIH research funding and 25 years of team science work through a multi-institutional Program Project Grant (PPG) studying the immune system in CVD.  More recently, her lab has teamed up with top scientists across the globe, through two Leducq Transatlantic Networks of Excellence (TNE), to discover the role of B lymphocytes, immune checkpoint regulation and genetic polymporphisms on CVD.   With recent support from the Provost and VPR, Dr. McNamara leads a team of multidisciplinary scientists at UVA to catalyze the clinical translation of novel discoveries to improve the outcome of human CVD through precision medicine.

A Machine Learning Model Utilizing a Novel SNP Shows Enhanced Prediction of Coronary Artery Disease Severity.

Identification of Human Immune Cell Subtypes Most Vulnerable to IL-1β-induced Inflammatory Signaling Using Mass Cytometry.

B-1b cells have unique functional traits compared to B-1a cells at homeostasis and in aged hyperlipidemic mice with atherosclerosis.

Chemokine Receptor Activation Enhances Memory B Cell Class Switching Linked to IgE Sensitization to Alpha Gal and Cardiovascular Disease.

B-1b cells possess unique bHLH-driven P62-dependent self-renewal and atheroprotection.