Julie Magarian Blander, PhD

Overview

The Blander Laboratory studies the mechanisms by which the innate immune system detects and responds to perturbations in homeostasis at the molecular, cellular and organismal level. We study these responses in the context of infection, cell death, and malignant cellular transformation. Our experimental repertoire ranges from cell biology to state of the art in vivo immune models. Our goal is to gain a fundamental level of understanding that would allow the design of novel strategies to manipulate the immune response for therapeutic benefit.

For further information: https://robertsinstitute.weill.cornell.edu

Blander Lab Website: https://www.theblanderlab.org

Highlights

1
Nature immunology · 2022
SRSamie R Jaffrey JMJulie Magarian Blander
PMID: 35487985PMCID: PMC9106893DOISenior author116 citations
2
Nature immunology · 2025
KJKristel Joy Yee Mon JMJulie Magarian Blander
PMID: 39747433PMCID: PMC7618359DOISenior author2 citations
3
Nature immunology · 2021
STStephen Tung Yeung JMJulie Magarian Blander
PMID: 33790474PMCID: PMC8981674DOISenior author45 citations

Publications

85

Funding

32 View NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

10 grants

KP
Multidisciplinary Research Training in Gastroenterology and Hepatology
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2019–2030Training· 2 renewals
T32DK116970-06A1
KP
A novel T cell vaccine candidate: Leveraging antigen cross-presentation pathways to generate cross-reactive pan-Coronavirus specific CD8 T cells
Charles H. Revson Foundation Inc. · 2026–2029
26-34 (BWF 1058676)
Sub-PI
Toward LNP Vaccine Immune-Interception for Childhood Cancer Predisposition Syndromes
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation · 2025–2029 · via Hospital For Sick Children
HFSC 251126-01
MPI
Immunogenicity of lipid nanoparticles
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2024–2028 · via Cornell University - Ithaca
R01AI178125-02
KP
Innate sensing of inflammatory cell death in the intestinal epithelium
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2025–2028
CCFA 1455095
PI
Toll-like receptor control of endocytic antigen cross-presentation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2028
R01AI170832-04
PI
Mobilizing TAP-Independent CD8 T cells Through Non-Canonical Cross-Presentation
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2027
R01AI170897-04
MPI
CAP-IT Center for LNP RNA Immunoprevention
National Cancer Institute · 2022–2027
U54CA272688-01
PI
Distinct Adaptive Repair Responses to Cell Death Modes in the Intestinal Epithelium
Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2025–2027
KRF 20260059
PI
Distinct Adaptive Repair Responses to Cell Death Modes in the Intestinal Epithelium
Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2025–2026
KRF 20250291

Completed grants (22)

PI
Modulating XIAP for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD)
United States Israel Binational Science Foundation · 2022–2025
BSF 222059-03
PI
Modulating XIAP for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2025
R21AI178327-02
PI
Toll-like Receptor Control of MHC Class I Endocytosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2022–2024
R21AI159772-02
KP
Hypoxic incubator for physiological cell culture research
Office of the Director, NIH · 2022–2023
S10OD032317-01
Sub-PI
Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine Development Program
Cornell University - Ithaca · 2022–2022 · via Weill Cornell Medical College
CUI 222775-01
PI
Innate and Adaptive Immune Consequences of Necroptosis
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2020–2022
R21AI154294-02
PI
Role of Apoptosis in the Intestinal Epithelium During Homeostasis and Disease
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2017–2022
R01DK111862-04
PI
Non-Canonical Cross-Presentation in Dendritic Cells Upon TAP Blockade
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2016–2022
R01AI123284-02
PI
Microbial education of hematopoietic stem cells
Weill Cornell Medical College · 2021–2021
Seed Grant 211744
PI
Importing OP9 Cells
National Institutes of Health · 2018–2021Contract
NIH 191201-01
PI
Novel Vita-Vaccine Formula Combines Safety of Dead and Efficacy of Live Vaccines
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2017–2021
R01AI127658-02
PI
Investigators in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease Award
Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2016–2021
BWF/ 1009945.02
KP
Immune Consequences of Apoptotic Intestinal Epithelial Cell Sampling on Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2020–2020
CCFA 602723
PI
Sanofi Innovation Award
Sanofi S.A. · 2019–2019Contract
SUS 192320-01
PI
Dual Targeting of Toll-like and Nod-like Receptors in Tumor Immunotherapy
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society · 2016–2019
LLS 1328-15
PI
Dual Targeting of Toll-Like and Nod-Like Receptors in Cancer Immunotherapy
Daedalus Fund for Innovation (Weill Cornell) · 2018–2019
DFI 183292-01
PI
Request for femurs from FABP5 mice
President and Fellows of Harvard College · 2017–2018Contract
Sub-PI
Innate/Adaptive Immune Interactions in Gut Inflammation
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2017–2017 · via Mount Sinai School of Medicine
P01DK072201-10
PI
Control of protective immunity by innate pathways sensing bacterial viability
NIAID · 2012–2016 · via NIH RePORTER
R01AI095245-04
PI
The Regulatory Control Mechanisms of Cross-presentation by Toll-like Receptors
NIAID · 2008–2013 · via NIH RePORTER
R01AI073899-05
PI
Innate Immune Sensing of Microbial Viability
NIAID · 2009–2012 · via NIH RePORTER
R21AI080959-02
PI
The Regulatory Control Mechanisms of Cross-presentation by Toll-like Receptors
NIAID · 2007–2008 · via NIH RePORTER
R56AI073899-01

Honors & distinctions

1

Searle Scholars Program · Searle Scholars Program · 2007

Clinical research

2

Active

1 study

PI
Recurrent Neoantigen LNP-RNA Vaccination for Lynch Syndrome Colorectal Cancer Immunoprevention
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · OPEN TO ACCRUAL (as of 2025)

Completed & closed trials (1)

PI
A T cell Biomarker for Protective COVID-19 Immunity
Weill Medical College of Cornell University · CLOSED TO ACCRUAL (as of 2022)

Available technologies

2 View full WCM portfolio ↗

Bacterial RNAs As Vaccine Adjuvants
IssuedPMID 29548673 PMID 21602824
8328
Inflammasome Agonists for Vaccine and Immunotherapy
PCT filedPoC Data
8473

News mentions

8 View all WCM news ↗

Scientists Uncover How the Intestine Balances Cell Growth and Maintenance
April 22, 2026
A new preclinical study from Weill Cornell Medicine found that the protein caspase-5 (CASP5), long thought to be a foot soldier in the body’s defense against bacterial infection, does not actually help clear invaders the way its close cousin caspase-4 (CASP4) does.
Immune Complex Shaves Stem Cells to Protect against Cancer
January 13, 2025
A group of immune proteins called the inflammasome can help prevent blood stem cells from becoming malignant by removing certain receptors from their surfaces and blocking cancer gene activity, according to a preclinical study by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.
Prestigious Awards Recognize Weill Cornell Faculty and Students
June 1, 2021
Weill Cornell Medicine faculty members were honored with awards for their exemplary achievements in medical research, education and care at the institution’s virtual commencement ceremony on May 20.
A "Plan B" for Defense Points Toward Better Vaccines
April 23, 2021
Cells can use a backup mechanism to alert the immune system to viral infections when their normal responses are inhibited, according to new research by scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Awards and Honors Across Weill Cornell Medicine - April 22, 2021
April 22, 2021
Awards, honors, prizes and achievements for the month of April.

Show 3 more mentions

Mission Possible: Weill Cornell Medicine Launches an Unprecedented Research Effort in the Battle Against COVID-19
March 2, 2021
Soon after the first case of COVID-19 was reported in New York City last March, a group of about 10 physician-scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine met to discuss a pressing issue: there were no known treatments for severe cases of the disease.
Study Recruiting 1,000 Healthcare Workers to Investigate Underlying Factors Driving COVID-19 Outcomes
October 6, 2020
A study by investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian aims to answer one of COVID-19’s biggest mysteries: why do some people become severely ill, while others have no symptoms?
COVID-19 Research Grants Support Weill Cornell Medicine Investigators
September 11, 2020
Weill Cornell Medicine has awarded eight grants of $100,000 each to faculty for a variety of research projects on COVID-19, funded by the institution’s Board of Overseers and additional donors. The grants will support studies aimed at understanding fundamental aspects of the disease, the body’s immune response and social determinants of health that affect COVID-19 outcomes.

Mentoring

11 All publications with mentees →

1 PhD student · 10 Postdocs

PhD · 1

JR
John Ralls
Pharmacology (PhD) · Class of 2025

Overview

Highlights

Publications

Funding

Active

Honors & distinctions

Clinical research

Active

Available technologies

News mentions

Mentoring

PhD · 1

Postdoc · 10