Kirsten Larson Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology Ph.D., 1996, Mayo Graduate School, Rochester, MN 2900 Queen Lane Philadelphia, PA 19129 Tel: 215-991-8378 Fax: 215-848-2271 Email: kirsten.larson@drexelmed.edu

Keywords:

Graduate and Medical Education

Research Interests

The focus of my basic science research career was the development of mouse models to study asthma and eosinophil function. I was involved in the cloning and characterization of the murine eosinophil-associated granule proteins, creating genetically-altered animals, and exploring how these modifications altered immune responses in models of asthma. I also studied the role of adhesion molecule interactions in the recruitment of eosinophils during allergic reactions. I continue to be interested in eosinophil biology and the role of basophils and mast cells in immune function.   

Presently, I am a full-time educator in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Drexel University College of Medicine. One of my primary responsibilities is serving as the course director of medical immunology and medical genetics in our medical school curricula. Drexel Med allows students to choose between two curricula: the Introductory Foundations in Medicine (IFM) and Program in Integrated Learning (PIL) curricula. IFM is an integrated, course-coordinated, pre-clinical curriculum that organizes its basic science content into modules based on signs and symptoms in the first-year and organ-systems in the second-year. In contrast, PIL is taught in a problem-based learning (PBL) format where students use clinical cases to develop learning issues and promote learning.

I am also involved in graduate student education where I teach in several courses. I also work with students in creating presentations and help them to find opportunities within the department to explore their interest in teaching.  Each year, I am heavily involved in Discovery Day and the Drexel University College of Medicine Research Day.  

My scholarly interests involve developing tools for the more efficient and effective delivery of basic science content. I have been involved in the development of novel self-studies and small group activities to complement, reinforce, integrate, and/or replace existing course materials. I also have been involved in developing PBL cases and team based learning activities (TBL).

I have also worked with faculty members from the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy and the Technology in Medical Education (TIME) group to develop a student peer feedback process. Our goals were to incorporate the basic sciences into the school’s professionalism curriculum and develop an evaluative tool that would complement existing teaching components. Using basic science laboratories and small group work, we have developed a peer evaluation process that has increased the discussion of professionalism and provided a tool to assess professional behavior, identify commendable behavior and allow for the early identification and remediation of deficiencies.  

Selected Publications

1. Larson, K. A., Horton, M. A., Madden, B. J., Gleich, G. J., Lee, N. A., and J. J. Lee. The identification and cloning of a murine major basic protein gene expressed in eosinophils. J. Immunol., 155(6): 3002-3012, 1995.
   
   
2. Horton, M.A., K.A. Larson, J.J. Lee, and N.A. Lee. Cloning of the murine eosinophil peroxidase gene (mEPO): characterization of a conserved subgroup of mammalian hematopoietic peroxidases. J. Leuk. Biol., 60: 285-94, 1996.
   
   
3. Larson, K.A., E.V. Olson, B.J. Madden, G.J. Gleich, N.A. Lee, and J.J. Lee. Two highly homologous ribonuclease genes expressed in mouse eosinophils identify a larger subgroup of the mammalian ribonuclease superfamily. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 93: 12370-5, 1996.
   
   
4. Lee, N.A., M.P. McGarry, K.A. Larson, M.A. Horton, A.B. Kristensen, and J.J. Lee. Expression of IL-5 in thymocytes/T cells leads to the development of a massive eosinophilia, extramedullary eosinophilopoiesis, and unique histopathologies. J. Immunol., 158: 1332-44, 1997.
   
   
5. Lee, J.J., M.P. McGarry, S.C. Farmer, K.L. Denzler, K.A. Larson, P.E. Carrigan, I.E. Brenneise, M.A. Horton, A. Haczku, E.W. Gelfand, G.D. Leikauf, and N.A. Lee. Interleukin-5 expression in the lung epithelium of transgenic mice leads to pulmonary changes pathognomonic of asthma. J. Exp. Med., 185: 2143-56, 1997.
   
   
6. Cieslewicz, G., A. Tomkinson, A. Adler, C. Duez, J. Schwarze, K. Takeda, K.A. Larson, J.J. Lee, C.G. Irvin, and E.W. Gelfand. The late, but not early, asthmatic response is dependent on IL-5 and correlates with eosinophil infiltration. J. Clin. Invest., 104: 301-8, 1999.
   
   
7. Strauss, E.C., K.A. Larson, I. Brenneise, C.S. Foster, G.R. Larsen, N.A. Lee, and J.J. Lee. Soluble P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 inhibits ocular inflammation in a murine model of allergy. Invest. Ophthalmol. & Vis. Sci., 40(7): 1336-42, 1999.
   
   
8. Macias, M.P., K. Welch, K.L. Denzler, K.A. Larson, N.A. Lee, and J.J. Lee. The Identification of a New Murine Eosinophil Major Basic Protein (mMBP) Gene: Cloning and Characterization of mMBP-2. J. Leuk. Biol., 67: 567-7, 2000.
   
   
9. Denzler, K.L., S.C. Farmer, J.R. Crosby, M. Borchers, G. Cieslewicz, K.A. Larson, S. Cormier-Regard, N.A. Lee, and J.J. Lee. Eosinophil major basic protein-1 does not contribute to allergen-induced airway pathologies in mouse models of asthma. J. Immunol., 165: 5509-17, 2000.
   
   
10. Cormier, S.A., K.A. Larson, S. Yuan, T.L. Mitchell, K. Lindenberger, P. Carrigan, N.A. Lee, and J.J. Lee. Mouse eosinophil-associated ribonucleases: a unique subfamily expressed during hematopoiesis. Mammal. Genome, 12: 352-61, 2001.
    
    
11. Tomkinson, A., G. Cieslewicz, C. Duez, K.A. Larson, J.J. Lee, and E.W. Gelfand. Temporal association between airway hyperresponsiveness and airway eosinophilia in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. Amer. J. Resp. & Crit. Care Med., 163: 721-30, 2001.

Recent Abstracts

1. Larson, K. A., Russo, D. M., Ferrier, D., Thompson-Kuzma, M. A., Rudnitski, G., and C. Puglia.  How Can Medical Genetics Be More Effectively Taught within a Problem Based Learning Curriculum? International Association of Science Medical Educators (IAMSE), Washington, D.C., July 19-22, 2003.


2. Larson, K. A., and D. M. Russo. Development and Use of Integrated Immunology Reviews.  Association of Microbiology and Immunology. Chairs-Educators Meeting, Myrtle Beach, N.C., May 1-5, 2004.


3. Larson, K. A., Ferrier, D., Kahn, S. B., and A. Vaidya. The 15-Year Evolution of a Medical Genetics Course – The Blending of Basic and Clinical Science Interests in an Integrated Preclinical Curriculum. IAMSE, New Orleans, La., July 11-13, 2004.


4. Larson, K. A., DePace, D. M., and J. D. Smith. Introducing Peer-Evaluation into the First-Year Curriculum to Promote Professionalism. NEGEA, Philadelphia, Pa., March 3-4, 2006.


5. Larson, K. A., DePace, D. M., Smith, J. D., and G. Zeiset. Promoting Professionalism through Peer-Feedback in Basic Science Courses. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Washington, D.C., November 2-7, 2007 (RIME submission).