Our Research

We are a translational immunology lab investigating the immunopathogenesis of severe skin diseases including drug hypersensitivity reactions (ex. SJS/TEN, DRESS), reactions to anticancer therapies (immune check point inhibitors and targeted therapies) and graft versus host disease (GVHD). Our research spans bedside to bench and back again. We utilize prospectively and retrospectively collected human samples, clinical data, and novel humanized mouse models of disease (transgenic models, skin xenograft models, dirty mice). We employ innovative technologies including multi-spectral fluorescent staining and microscopy, high throughput TCR sequencing, transcriptomics (nanostring, single cell RNAseq, CITEseq), laser capture microscopy, advanced flow cytometry, and immunopeptidomics, alongside traditional immunology techniques (ELISA, ELISPOT, mixed lymphocyte reactions, cell culture, cell sorting, western blot, etc).

Current projects focus on interrogating the role of skin resident memory T cells in drug hypersensitivity reactions, immune-mediated mechanisms of epidermal cell death in SJS/TEN, and the role of host vs donor T cells in GVHD.

Our research aims to directly impact patient care. We also strive to perform high quality, rigorous science and to train the next generation of researchers.

Sherrie J. Divito, MD, PhD

Physician-Scientist
Assistant Professor

Harvard Medical School

Department of Dermatology

Brigham and Women’s Hospital

Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Dr. Divito obtained her MD, PhD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2011. She then completed internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Medicine, then Dermatology Residency at Harvard. She joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School in 2015 and serves as an attending physician in Dermatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Clinically she specializes in inpatient dermatology and oncodermatology. She concurrently runs a translational research laboratory focusing on severe drug reactions and GVHD.