Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, MD, PhD
Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles (Preferred Name)
img_Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles
PROFESSOR | Medicine, Clinical Immunology
PROFESSOR | Immunology & Immunotherapy
PROFESSOR | Pediatrics
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Specialties
Allergy and Immunology, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Research Topics
Allergy, Apoptosis/Cell Death, Autoimmunity, B Cells, Biodefense, Cellular Differentiation, Dendritic Cells, Immunology, Mucosal Immunology
Multi-Disciplinary Training Area
Immunology [IMM]
Human immunodeficiency diseases; mechanisms and treatments

In this laboratory, the area of investigation is human immunodeficiency diseases and immuno-reconstitution. This work has been supported by research grants from the Food and Drug Administration and the NIH, Division of Allergy Immunology and Transplantation, Child Health and Human Development and USIDNet. We are investigating B, T cell and dendritic cell immunity in a primary immunodeficiency disease, common variable immunodeficiency (CVID.) A recent theme is the investigation of B cell memory in this and other immune defects; CD27+B cells, and especially isotype switched B memory cells are deficient, which is related to lack of normal vaccine responses. How the development of B cell memory relies upon triggering of Toll like Receptors is under investigation, using methylated oligonucleotides containing CpG motifs. TLR9 function is abnormal in this immune defect a factor that leads to poor B cell proliferation, loss of cytokine production, lack of cell adhesion and defective B cell memory responses; plasmacytoid dendritic cells are also unable to respond normally to these or other TLR ligands. We are also particularly interested in the role of specific mutations in the TACI gene, either producing or influencing the CVID phenotype, and the role of related TNF family members in the abnormal immunity in B cell defects. Further studies using gene arrays in the investigation of human B cell defects are ongoing. While the phenotype of this disease is hypogammaglobulinemia, T cell and antigen processing defects result in anergy, defective co-stimulation, accelerated apoptosis and deficient cytokine production. We previously found that some of these T cell defects could be reversed by the administration of IL-2, allowing an opportunity to explore some of the mechanisms by which this cytokine activates and regulates human T cell immunity. Since T cell receptor co-stimulation is abnormal in CVID, a deficiency of intracellular signaling pathways could explain defective proliferation, anergy, cytokine deficiency, and premature apoptosis. We have investigated in what way the CD28 signaling other co stimulatory pathways differ from normal T cells, analyzing early signaling events, membrane reorganization, up-regulation of Bcl-xL, and the effects of receptor triggering on transcription and stabilization of cytokine mRNA. In other studies we have found markedly deficient production of IL-12 by monocycle derived dendritic cells, a deficit that could further lead to anergy. We have also investigated ICOS gene and its ligand, in CVID subjects, since mutation of ICOS in humans can lead to the CVID phenotype.

MD, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons

PhD, New York University

Internship, Internal Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center

Residency, Internal Medicine, New York University School of Medicine

Certifications

American Board of Internal Medicine

2024

Cullman Family Award for Excellence in Provider Communication

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, The Mount Sinai Hospital

2009

Best Doctors

New York Magazine

Publications

Selected Publications

Common Variable Immunodeficiency Clinical Manifestations Are Shaped by Presence and Type of Heterozygous NFKB1 Variants. Jie Yin, Kevin M. Hayes, Mei Sing Ong, Joseph P. Mizgerd, Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, Isabel Dominguez, Sara Barmettler, Jocelyn R. Farmer, Paul J. Maglione. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice

Disease diagnostics using machine learning of B cell and T cell receptor sequences. Maxim E. Zaslavsky, Erin Craig, Jackson K. Michuda, Nidhi Sehgal, Nikhil Ram-Mohan, Ji Yeun Lee, Khoa D. Nguyen, Ramona A. Hoh, Tho D. Pham, Katharina Röltgen, Brandon Lam, Ella S. Parsons, Susan R. Macwana, Wade DeJager, Elizabeth M. Drapeau, Krishna M. Roskin, Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, M. Anthony Moody, Barton F. Haynes, Jason D. Goldman, James R. Heath, R. Sharon Chinthrajah, Kari C. Nadeau, Benjamin A. Pinsky, Catherine A. Blish, Scott E. Hensley, Kent Jensen, Everett Meyer, Imelda Balboni, Paul J. Utz, Joan T. Merrill, Joel M. Guthridge, Judith A. James, Samuel Yang, Robert Tibshirani, Anshul Kundaje, Scott D. Boyd. Science

Gut IgA functionally interacts with systemic IgG to enhance antipneumococcal vaccine responses. Cindy Gutzeit, Emilie K. Grasset, Dean B. Matthews, Paul J. Maglione, Graham J. Britton, Haley Miller, Giuliana Magri, Lewis Tomalin, Matthew Stapylton, Pablo Canales-Herrerias, Musia Sominskaia, Mauricio Guzman, Marc Pybus, Sonia Tejedor Vaquero, Lin Radigan, Roser Tachó-Piñot, Andrea Martín Nalda, Marina García Prat, Monica Martinez Gallo, Romina Dieli-Crimi, José C. Clemente, Saurabh Mehandru, Mayte Suarez-Farinas, Jeremiah J. Faith, Charlotte Cunningham-Rundles, Andrea Cerutti. Science advances

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Physicians and scientists on the faculty of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai often interact with pharmaceutical, device, biotechnology companies, and other outside entities to improve patient care, develop new therapies and achieve scientific breakthroughs. In order to promote an ethical and transparent environment for conducting research, providing clinical care and teaching, Mount Sinai requires that salaried faculty inform the School of their outside financial relationships.

Below are financial relationships with industry reported by Dr. Cunningham-Rundles during 2024 and/or 2025. Please note that this information may differ from information posted on corporate sites due to timing or classification differences.

Consulting or Other Professional Services Examples include, but are not limited to, committee participation, data safety monitoring board (DSMB) membership

  • Otsuka America Pharmaceuticals
  • Grifols Inc.
  • Pharming Technologies B.V.

Mount Sinai's faculty policies relating to faculty collaboration with industry are posted on our website. Patients may wish to ask their physician about the activities they perform for companies.