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. Each year, I am heavily involved in Discovery Day, the Drexel University College of Medicine Research Day.
I am involved in an ongoing project with faculty members from the Department of Neurobiology, the Department of Medicine, and Anatomy and the Technology in Medical Education (TIME) group. We have developed 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. Presently, we are incorporating this process in our clinical small groups.
Selected Research Publications: (See all Kirsten Larson's publications in PubMed.)
"Abraham Flexner: The Value of Foundation Sciences in Medical Education."
Knoop F.C, Biel A, and K.A Larson
JIAMSE, 20: 284-287, 2010.
"Temporal association between airway hyperresponsiveness and airway eosinophilia in ovalbumin-sensitized mice. "
Tomkinson A, Cieslewicz G, Duez C, Larson K.A, Lee J.J, and E.W. Gelfand.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine., 163: 721-730, 2001.
"Mouse eosinophil-associated ribonucleases: a unique subfamily expressed during hematopoiesis."
Cormier S.A, Larson K.A, Yuan S, Mitchell T.L, Lindenberger K, Carrigan P, Lee N.A, and J.J Lee.
Mammal. Genome, 12: 352-361, 2001.
"Eosinophil major basic protein-1 does not contribute to allergen-induced airway pathologies in mouse models of asthma."
Denzler K.L, Farmer S.C, Crosby J.R, Borchers M, Cieslewicz G, Larson K.A, Cormier-Regard S, Lee N. A, and J.J Lee
The Journal of Immunology, 165: 5509-5517, 2000.
"Maci The Identification of a New Murine Eosinophil Major Basic Protein (mMBP) Gene: Cloning and Characterization of mMBP-2."
as M.P, Welch K, Denzler K.L, Larson K.A, Lee N.A, and J.J Lee.
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 67: 567-577, 2000.
"Soluble P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 inhibits ocular inflammation in a murine model of allergy."
Strauss E. C, Larson K.A, Brenneise I, Foster C.S, Larsen G.R, Lee N.A, and J.J Lee
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 40(7): 1336-42, 1999.
"The late, but not early, asthmatic response is dependent on IL-5 and correlates with eosinophil infiltration."
Cieslewicz G, Tomkinson A, Adler A, Duez C, Schwarze J, Takeda K, Larson K.A, Lee, J.J, Irvin C.G, and E.W Gelfand
The Journal of Clinical Investigation., 104: 301-308, 1999.
"Interleukin-5 expression in the lung epithelium of transgenic mice leads to pulmonary changes pathognomonic of asthma."
Lee J.J, McGarry M.P, Farmer S.C, Denzler K.L, Larson K.A, Carrigan P.E, Brenneise I.E, Horton M.A, Haczku A, Gelfand E.W, Leikauf G.D, and N.A Lee.
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, 185: 2143-2156, 1997.
"Expression of IL-5 in thymocytes/T cells leads to the development of a massive eosinophilia, extramedullary eosinophilopoiesis, and unique histopathologies."
Lee N.A, McGarry M.P, Larson K.A, Horton M.A, Kristensen A.B, and J.J Lee.
The Journal of Immunology., 158: 1332-1344, 1997.
"Two highly homologous ribonuclease genes expressed in mouse eosinophils identify a larger subgroup of the mammalian ribonuclease superfamily. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences."
Larson K.A, Olson E.V, Madden B.J, Gleich G.J, Lee N.A, and J.J Lee.
Acad. Sci. USA., 93: 12370-12375, 1996.
"Cloning of the murine eosinophil peroxidase gene (mEPO): characterization of a conserved subgroup of mammalian hematopoietic peroxidases."
Horton M.A, Larson K.A, Lee J.J, and N.A Lee.
Journal of Leukocyte Biology, 60: 285-294, 1996.
"The identification and cloning of a murine major basic protein gene expressed in eosinophils."
Larson K.A, Horton M.A, Madden B.J, Gleich G.J, Lee N.A, and J.J Lee.
The Journal of Immunology, 155(6): 3002-3012, 1995.
Recent Abstracts:
Faculty and Administrator Preferences in the Use, Collection, and Distribution of Medical Student Feedback.
Landau B.J, Russo D.M, Ziring D.J, Larson K.A, Campos D.A, Rabuck C.L, and B.A Schindler.
IME submission, AAMC. Washington, D.C., November 5-10, 2010.
Empowering Medical Students At All Levels in the Curriculum To Report Their Perceptions of Unethical / Unprofessional Behavior and Adverse Effects on Patient Safety.
Schindler B.A, Rabuck C.L, Larson K.A, Russo D.R, Campos D.A, and B.J Landau.
IME submission, AAMC. Boston, MA. November 6-11, 2009.
Promoting Professionalism through Basic Science Courses and Peer-Feedback.
Larson K.A, DePace D.M, Smith J.D. and G Zeiset.
IAMSE, July 25-29, 2008.
Promoting Professionalism through Peer-Feedback in Basic Science Courses.
Larson K.A, DePace D.M, Smith J.D. and G Zeiset.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Washington, DC, November 2-7, 2007 (RIME).
Use Of Year 1 Laboratory and Small Group Courses to Promote Professionalism through Student Peer-Feedback.
Larson K.A, Smith J.D, and D.M DePace.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Seattle, WA, October 27 – November 1, 2006 (Innovations in Medical Education (IME) submission).
The 15-Year Evolution of a Medical Genetics Course – The Blending of Basic and Clinical Science Interests in an Integrated Preclinical Curriculum.
Larson K.A, Ferrier D, Kahn S.B, and A Vaidya.
IAMSE, July 11-13, 2004.
Development and Use of Integrated Immunology Reviews.
Larson K.A, and D.M Russo.
Association of Microbiology and Immunology. Chairs-Educators Meeting, Myrtle Beach, NC, May 1-5, 2004.
How Can Medical Genetics Be More Effectively Taught within a Problem Based Learning Curriculum?
Larson K.A, Russo D.M, Ferrier D, Thompson-Kuzma M.A, Rudnitski G, and C Puglia.
IAMSE, Washington, DC, July 19-22, 2003.
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