Katherine E. Bline, MD associate professor, pediatrics, Ohio State College of Medicine and critical care medicine physician at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, has been awarded a 2026-2027 Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Malawi for her study titled “Reversing Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Immunosuppression in Pediatric M. Tuberculosis.”
From January - June 2027, Dr. Bline will continue her partnership with the Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Programme (MLW) in Malawi, where she will spend six months teaching and advancing research focused on the immune response to pediatric tuberculosis. Over the past 18 months, she has worked closely with MLW experts to develop this important project.
“Tuberculosis is a disease that affects over 1 million children across the globe and is a major cause of mortality in children less than 5 years old. My Fulbright project will investigate cellular mechanisms driving disease severity and immune dysfunction in children with tuberculosis. Specifically, we are trying to understand if myeloid-derived suppressor cells are viable targets for new TB therapies to reverse harmful immune suppression. Our findings could also inform risk stratification tools and novel biomarkers for TB diagnosis or treatment response,” explained Bline.
“My goal for our research project is to better understand the mechanisms by which myeloid-derived suppressor cells suppress the immune response in children with TB to see if we can help their own immune system fight the infection better. I am excited to learn from the research teams in Blantyre- strengthening my existing collaborations and developing new ones. Through teaching and mentoring, I hope to provide students with practical approaches and skills in translational research,” noted Bline.
Bline’s family will accompany her to Malawi. She’s looking forward to becoming part of the community, learning about Malawian culture and exploring the country with her husband and three children.
Bline is also principal investigator in the Center for Microbe and Immunity Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute.
Fulbright
The Fulbright Scholar Program is administered by the Institute of International Education and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.
For more information about the Fulbright Scholar Program contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser. View a complete list of Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program recipients.