Morgan Sutton

Morgan Sutton’s passion for biomedical research began at a young age when she became fascinated with understanding host-pathogen interactions. She participated in research throughout high school and while earning her undergraduate degree that focused on regenerative medicine-based therapies to treat pediatric lung disease.

Sutton earned her bachelor’s degree with honors in biology in 2019 from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Her interest in translational research, particularly in immunology and infectious disease, has been a driving force for her pursuit of a PhD from the St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

She currently works in the lab of Stephen Gottschalk, MD, Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, where she works on CAR T cell immunotherapy.

“Research and its translation into medicine is the forefront of knowledge, creativity and discovery,” she says. “Here at St. Jude, the tremendous contributions to biomedical research have revolutionized patient care.”

Hometown: Chesterland, Ohio

Publications

Van Heeckeren AM, Sutton MT, Fletcher DR, Hodges CA, Caplan AI, Bonfield TL. Enhancing Cystic Fibrosis Immune Regulation. Front Pharmacol. 2021 May 13;12:573065. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.573065. PMID: 34054509; PMCID: PMC8155373.

Bonfield TL, Sutton MT, Fletcher DR, Folz MA, Ragavapuram V, Somoza RA, Caplan AI. Donor-defined mesenchymal stem cell antimicrobial potency against nontuberculous mycobacterium. Stem Cells Transl Med. 2021 May 4. doi: 10.1002/sctm.20-0521. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33943038. 

Auster L, Sutton M, Gwin M, Nitkin C, Van Heeckeren R, Fletcher D, Bonfield T. Optimization of in vitro Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare growth assays for therapeutic development.  Microorganisms. 2019.

Sutton MT, Kaur S, Brown KS, Skiles ML, Folz MA, Caplan AI, Bonfield TL Anti-Inflammatory Therapeutic Development and Optimization of Umbilical Cord Tissue Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells. J Stem Cell Research and Therapy. 2018.

Peppers BP, Jhaveri D, Van Heeckeren R, Fletcher D,  Sutton M, Hostoffer RW, Bonfield T. Stratification of peanut allergic murine model into anaphylaxis severity risk groups using thermography. J of Immunological Methods. 2018.

Sutton MT, Fletcher D, Episalla N, Auster L, Folz M, Roy R, Van Heeckeren R, Lennon DP, Caplan AI, Bonfield TL Mesenchymal Stem Cell Soluble Mediators and Cystic Fibrosis. J. Stem Cell Research and Therapy.  2017.

Thomas RG,  Rivera Reyes B, Gaston B, Rivera Acosta NB, Bederman I., Smith L, Sutton M, Wang B, Hunt J, Bonfield T. Conjugation of nitrated acetaminophen to Der p1 amplifies peripheral blood monocyte response to Der p1.  PLosOne. 2017.

Sutton MT, Fletcher D, Ghosh SK, Weinberg A, Van Heeckeren R, Kaur S, Hijaz A, Reese J, Lazarus J, Lennon DP, Caplan AI, Bonfield TL. Antimicrobial Properties of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Therapeutic Potential for Cystic Fibrosis Infection and Treatment.  Stem Cells Int. 2016:5303048 2016..

Sutton MT, Bonfield TL. Stem Cells: Innovations in Clinical Applications.  Stem Cells International. 2014:516278, 2014..