Dr. Branch’s research focuses mainly in the area of immunotherapy and transfusion medicine: A major area of his research is related to the mechanism of action and replacement of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) used in patients having autoimmune/inflammatory diseases.
In this work, Dr. Branch utilizes both in vitro and in vivo methods. He uses an in vitro assay of monocyte, M1 and M2 macrophage phagocytosis to investigate interactions of antibody-opsonized red blood cells and ability of possible IVIG replacements to inhibit phagocytosis compared to IVIG. Using mouse models of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) he examines the mechanism of amelioration of these conditions by IVIG and potential replacements. His research into the mechanism of IVIG amelioration of ITP has challenged current models and revealed a potential universal mechanism of action involving IVIG-induced production of interleukin-11 (IL-11).