Postdoc
Dr. Scott W. Canna is a Board Certified Pediatric Rheumatologist specializing in autoinflammatory and immunodysregulatory syndromes, with a focus on Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) and Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). His research explores the intersections of hyper- and auto-inflammation, aiming to understand how high-penetrance mutations cause inflammatory diseases.
Dr. Canna's lab investigates the mechanisms behind HLH and MAS, which exemplify hyperinflammation. While HLH's pathogenesis involves defects in granule-mediated cytotoxicity, MAS appears to involve abnormal production and function of the inflammasome-activated cytokine IL-18.
By combining clinical insights from rheumatology and innate immunity with basic models of systemic inflammation, Dr. Canna's work aims to:
His research contributes to the broader understanding of inflammation as a core pathogenic mechanism in various diseases, with potential implications for developing targeted treatments in both autoinflammatory conditions and hyperinflammatory states like sepsis and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS).