Dr. Popescu has a solid academic background in immunology, cancer, virology and transplantation, and a keen interest in research and clinical trials. She has a great interest for immunology and translational science, as well for new drug discovery and technology. Also a keen interest in evaluating potential new targets in proof of concept studies, the pre-clinical/clinical stage of drug development and clinical biomarker research and development.
- BS, Biology-Chemistry, CA Rosetti School, Bucharest, Romania, 1985
- MS, Chemistry Engineering, Polytechnic University, Bucharest, Romania, 1992
- PhD, University of Bucharest Chemistry Dept, 2000
- Postdoc, Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, 1997
- PhD Visiting Research Fellowship, Immunology/Cancer, University of Pittsburgh, 1997
- Postdoc, Transplant, University of Pittsburgh Transplantation Institute, 2006
- Postdoctoral Research Associate-Immunology/Transplant, University of Pittsburgh, 2006
Education & Training
Popescu, I, Pipeling, MR, Shah, PD, Orens, JB, McDyer, JF. T-bet:Eomes Balance, Effector Function and Proliferation of CMV-specific CD8+ T-cells during Primary Infection Differentiates the Capacity for Durable Immune Control. J Immunol. 2014; 193: 5709-5722.
Popescu, I, Drummond, MB, Gama, L, Merlo, CA, Astemborski, J, Brown, RH, Wise, RA, Clements, JE, Kirk, GD, McDyer, JF. Activation-Induced Cell Death Drives Profound Lung CD4+ T Cell Depletion in HIV-associated Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2014; Oct 1;190(7): 744-55.
Lendermon, EA, Dodd-o, JM, Coon, T, Miller, HL, Ganguly, S, Popescu, I, O'Donnell, C, Cardenes, N, Levine, M, Rojas, M, Weathington, NM, Zhao, Y, McDyer, JF. CD8+IL-17+ T Cells Mediate Neutrophilic Airway Obliteration in T-bet deficient Mouse Lung Allograft Recipients. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2014; Oct: 6.
Wiesmayr, S, Webber, SA, Macedo, C, Popescu, I, Smith, L, Luce, J, Metes, D. Decreased NKp46 and NKG2D and elevated PD-1 are associated with altered NK-cell function in pediatric transplant patients with PTLD. Eur J Immunol. 2011; Nov 22: doi:10.1002/eju.201141832.
Macedo, C, Webber, SA, Donnenberg, A, Popescu, I, Hua, Y, Green, M, Rowe, D, Smith, L, Brooks, M, Metes, D. EBV-specific CD8+ T cells from pediatric thoracic transplant patients carrying chronic high EBV loads display contrasting features: activated phenotype and exhausted function. Journal of Immunology. 2011; May 15; 186(10): 5854-62.
Macedo, C, Zeevi, A, Bentlejewski, C, Popescu, I, Green, M, Rowe, D, Smith, L, Webber, S, Metes, D. The impact of EBV load on T cell immunity in pediatric thoracic transplant recipients. Transplantation. 2009; Jul 15; 88(1): 123-8.
Macedo, C, Orkis, EA, Popescu, I, Elinoff, BD, Zeevi, A, Shapiro, R, Lakkis, FG, Metes, D. Contribution of naïve and memory T cell populations to the normal human alloimmune response. American Journal of Transplantation. 2009; Sep;9(9): 2057-66.
