Assistant Professor, Mansfield University

Education

• Research mentor: Gregory L. Beatty, MD, PhD; University of Pennsylvania

Courses Taught:

• BIO-220/221 – Microbiology; Course Instructor; Drexel University; Philadelphia, PA

• BIO-426 – Immunology; Lecturer in “MHC Complex” and “Autoimmunity”; Drexel University; Philadelphia, PA

• BIO-420 – Virology; Lecturer in “Herpesviruses” and “Hepatitis Viruses”; Drexel University; Philadelphia, PA

• Graduate Immunology; Lecturer in “B Cell Development”, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Research Topic: Tumor stroma of pancreatic cancer

My research interest focuses on understanding the biology of the fibrotic tumor stroma in pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is a rapidly progressing, incurable disease that has demonstrated unusual resistance to standard therapies including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation. The current understanding is that the dense tumor stroma fosters tumor cell growth and survival by creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment, and it protects tumor cells by acting as barrier to therapeutic drug delivery. Understanding the relationship between the fibrotic tumor stroma, tumor cell growth, and the inhibition of drug delivery is essential for the development of novel treatment therapies. Specifically, my research is dedicated to investigating the use of immunotherapy to facilitate the degradation of key components of the tumor stroma. My goal is determine which tumor stroma proteins contribute to this therapeutic barrier and to develop therapies that specifically degrade those proteins, allowing for more effective therapeutic delivery. My interest in the fibrotic tumor stroma stems from my graduate work on the pathogenesis of skin fibrosis, and I strive to continue my work on fibrosis as an independent investigator.

Publications

Journal Publications 

• Beatty, G.L., R. Winograd, R.A. Evans, K.B. Long, S.L. Luque, J.W. Lee, C. Clendenin,  W.L. Gladney, D.M. Knoblock, P.D. Guirnalda, and R.H. Vonderheide. 2015. “Productive T cell immunity against pancreatic carcinoma in mice is regulated by Ly6C^low F4/80⁺ extratumoral macrophages.” Gastroenterology. Jul;149(1):201-10.

• Long, K.B., Z. Li, C.M. Burgwin, S.G. Choe, V. Martyanov, S. Sassi-Gaha, J. Earl, R. Eutsey, A. Ahmed, G.D. Ehrlich, C.M. Artlett, M. Whitfield, and E.P. Blankenhorn. 2015. “The Tsk2/+ fibrotic phenotype is due to a gain-of-function mutation in the PIIINP segment of the Col3a1 gene.” J Invest Dermatol. Mar;135(3):718-27.

• Long, K.B., C.M. Artlett and E.P. Blankenhorn. 2014. “Tight Skin 2 Mice exhibit a novel time line of events leading to increased extracellular matrix deposition and dermal fibrosis.” Matrix Biol. Matrix Biol. Sep;38:91-100.

• Long, K.B., C.M. Burgwin, R.B. Huneke, C.M. Artlett and E.P. Blankenhorn. 2014. “Tight Skin 2 mice exhibit delayed wound healing caused by increased elastic fibers in fibrotic skin.” Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). Sep 1;3(9):573-581

Reviews:

• Long, K.B. and G.L. Beatty. 2013. “Harnessing the antitumor potential of macrophages for cancer immunotherapy.” Oncoimmunology. Dec 1;2(12): e26860.

Contact info:

Kristen B. Long, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Department of Medicine
Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania
Smilow Translational Research Center
8^th Floor, Room 8-171
3400 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104 

E-mail: krislong@mail.med.upenn.edu