Kim R. Simpfendorfer PhD
Assistant Professor, Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics, Institute of Molecular Medicine, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New YorkKim R. Simpfendorfer, PhD, is an assistant professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Her lab is located in the Robert S. Boas Center for Genomics and Human Genetics, headed by professor Peter K. Gregersen. She has more than 15 years of experience in biomedical research and currently holds a Mentored Research Scientist Career Development Award (K01 award) from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
Her research focuses on understanding how genetics drives autoimmune disease development at the cellular level to better understand how disease can be prevented or treated therapeutically. Kim’s research program is currently investigating the autoimmune risk gene DNASE1L3. Genetic deficiency of DNASE1L3 results in a mendelian form of lupus and common variation at the DNASE1L3 locus is associated with risk for systemic sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and autoimmune thyroid disease.
Kim is also an assistant professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine at The Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and The Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine at Northwell Health.