Aaron Alpar, Ph.D. (he/him)

Molecular Engineering Doctoral Researcher
Websites: Google Scholar | Aaron Alpar
Contact: atalpar@uchicago.edu

Aaron is a postdoctoral researcher passionate about modulating the immune system. Aaron received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin in 2017 with research into cell membrane dynamics and recycling in Dr. Jeanne Stachowiak's group. He then came to UChicago in 2017, and he successfully defended his thesis called "Cytokine Engineering to Modulate DC:Treg Dynamics and Therapeutic Applications Thereof," earning his Ph.D. in April of 2023.

The Hubbell lab focuses on developing biomaterials and immunotherapies to treat a range of diseases. Aaron's work in the Hubbell lab focuses on modulating the immune system through enhancing the Dendritic Cell compartment using engineered cytokines. Previous work involved recruiting and leveraging dendritic cells to the tumor microenvironment to generate immune reactions in cold tumors. More recently, his research has shifted focus to treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disorders through DC and Treg induction including: reduction of generation of anti-drug antibodies, regeneration and prevention of non-healing or chronically inflamed wounds, and prevention of autoimmunity in models of type 1 diabetes and allergy.

Aaron Alpar, Ph.D. (he/him)

Molecular Engineering Doctoral Researcher

Current Research