Ellis Doan

Job Titles

• Professor of Biological Sciences
  Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
  Environmental Studies College of Arts and Sciences
  Biochemistry College of Arts and Sciences

Highlight

Dr. Doan's main research interests are in the area of macrophage activation. Macrophages are multifunctional leukocytes that constitute a major first line of defense against infection. Resting macrophages are phagocytic, but macrophages activated by both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli acquire a broad range of functions ranging from the release of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, cytokine secretion, upregulated phagocytosis, and the ability to participate in the activation of adaptive immune responses. During a typical immune response, the inflammation that results in part from macrophage activation is beneficial to the host as it promotes the recruitment of immunological mediators as well as the ultimate healing and repair of the infection or wound site. Dr. Doan is interested in the regulation of macrophage activation in response to well-characterized stimuli that result in inflammation, and currently has three ongoing projects in this area: (1) resveratrol-mediated attenuation of macrophage activation; (2) the role of lipid rafts in the regulation of macrophage-activating stimuli; (3) echinacea-mediated enhancement of macrophage responsiveness.

Started at Bethel

2004

Education

• Albion College - B.A. in Biology, 1995
• University of Wisconsin - Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 1999

Biography

Dr. Doan joined the biology department in 2004. Her training and primary interest is in cell and molecular biology. After receiving her doctorate in medical microbiology and immunology, Dr. Doan did post-doctoral research at National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, CO where she studied molecular events involved in the regulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor signaling by lipid rafts in macrophages.

Courses Taught

• BIO103 Human Biology
• BIO112 Introduction to Molecular and Cellular Biology
• BIO341 Cell Biology
• BIO399 Introduction to Research
• BIO499 Biology Seminar

Research interests

Dr. Doan's main research interests are in the area of macrophage activation. Macrophages are multifunctional leukocytes that constitute a major first line of defense against infection. Resting macrophages are phagocytic, but macrophages activated by both intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli acquire a broad range of functions ranging from the release of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, cytokine secretion, upregulated phagocytosis, and the ability to participate in the activation of adaptive immune responses. During a typical immune response, the inflammation that results in part from macrophage activation is beneficial to the host as it promotes the recruitment of immunological mediators as well as the ultimate healing and repair of the infection or wound site. Dr. Doan is interested in the regulation of macrophage activation in response to well-characterized stimuli that result in inflammation, and currently has three ongoing projects in this area: (1) resveratrol-mediated attenuation of macrophage activation; (2) the role of lipid rafts in the regulation of macrophage-activating stimuli; (3) echinacea-mediated enhancement of macrophage responsiveness.