this is global health

Seeing the Light
Despite our age-old fascination with sex differences, one topic rarely comes up in such
discussions: immune responses to infection. Dionne p. robinson’s research may soon
change this.
robinson is investigating how estradiol, a hormone primarily secreted by the ovaries,
can help female mice fend off the influenza virus. she spends hours poring over lung
samples from her mice—gauging how the presence of inflammation-related proteins and
cells correlates with estradiol levels.
the new space has given robinson a new neighbor: a molecular virology lab. it’s a
great resource for relevant findings and ideas, as well as equipment. “anytime we need
to borrow something, they’re right there,” says robinson. she often borrows automatic
pipettes, while the neighbors stop by to use a plate-washer, which helps researchers avoid
erroneous results caused by hand washing.
but best of all, says robinson, are the windows. as she sits at her desk writing one
final paper before completing her doctoral degree, she says, “it’s really nice to have some
natural light coming in.”
Dionne p. robinson
6th-year phD candidate, Molecular
Microbiology and immunology (MMi)
pi: sabra l. klein, phD
Johns hopkins public health / spring 2013 29