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). My lab’s mission is to perform high quality, rigorous science that directly improves patient care. As such, 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 clonal repertoire and immunopeptidomics in drug hypersensitivity reactions, development of a diagnostic test to prevent reactions and to identify causative drug when reactions do occur, and to understand the role of microbiome and infection in drug hypersensitivity reactions.  

Dr. Divito obtained her MD, PhD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2011 graduating cum laude and AOA. 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 with subspecialization in drug reactions.

Her PhD in Immunology focused on mechanisms of T cell activation in transplantation, then her Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital specialized in Cutaneous Immunology with a focus on performing highly translational research. She has received nearly a decade of independent NIH funding as well as institutional and foundational support for her research efforts. She has received numerous regional, national and international awards such as the American Academy of Dermatology Young Investigator Award, the NIH Early Independence Award, and was named a Future Leader by the European Society for Dermatological Research.