People

Tracey L. Papenfuss

DVM, MS, PhD, Diplomate ACVP (Anatomic Pathology)

Adjunct Assistant Professor

Contact

tracey.papenfuss@crl.com Veterinary Medicine Academic Building
1900 Coffey Road
Columbus, OH 43210
Map Link

Department

Veterinary Biosciences

Dr. Tracey Papenfuss DVM, PhD (Immunology), DACVP is a board-certified toxicologic pathologist and PhD immunologist experienced in nonclinical drug development (discovery through safety assessment) with a specific expertise in immunology, pathology and evaluation of discovery and safety assessment studies of immune-impacting and novel immunotherapies. As both an immunologist and veterinary pathologist, Dr. Papenfuss integrates complicated data sets and collaborates with scientific colleagues to provide a thorough assessment of how novel therapies impact the immune system in preclinical drug development.  Dr. Papenfuss has more than 20 years of specialized experience both directing an immunopathology and early discovery immunotherapeutics laboratory at The Ohio State University using a variety of animal models of autoimmunity, immuno-oncology and infectious diseases and as a toxicological pathologist in the preclinical drug development industry. She currently serves as Senior Pathologist and Immune Service Lead at StageBio where she evaluates non-GLP and GLP investigational and safety assessment studies, performs peer reviews, and provides specialty scientific guidance to clients on pathology and immune-related considerations for efficacy and safety studies. She previously served as a toxicologic pathologist in discovery and safety assessment at Charles River Laboratories. 

As a current adjunct faculty member, Dr. Papenfuss supports the training of anatomic pathology residents and serves as a consultant to industry in early discovery and preclinical safety in drug development and engages with students, faculty and academic units interested in establishing effective partnerships and collaborations between industry and the University. Dr. Papenfuss has deep expertise in immunology and pathology which she leverages to promote biomedical research and promotes scientific engagement and consultation across teams to optimize science, operations, business growth, and policy. Dr. Papenfuss is an active member and holds leadership positions in numerous scientific organizations in toxicology, pathology and immunology (e.g. STP, ACVP, SOT, ACT, IATP and HESI-ITC), has over 50 publications and book chapters and has given numerous presentations both nationally and internationally on immunology, pathology, immunotoxicology, and comparative and translational biomedical sciences.

 

 

Professional Training and Experience

  • Adjunct Assistant Professor (present), The Ohio State University
  • Senior Pathologist and Immune System Lead, StageBio
  • Fellow, International Academy of Toxicologic Pathology (FIATP)
  • Veterinary Pathologist II, Charles River Laboratories
  • Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Pathologists (DACVP)
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow (Immunology), The Ohio State University
  • PhD (Immunology), The Ohio State University
  • MS, University of Minnesota
  • DVM, University of Minnesota

Research and Professional Interests

  • Toxicologic and Experimental Pathology
  • Immunotoxicology and Immunopathology
  • Immunotherapeutics and Immune-Modulation
  • Translational Medicine

Dr. Tracey Papenfuss DVM, PhD (Immunology), DACVP is a board-certified toxicologic pathologist and PhD immunologist experienced in nonclinical drug development (discovery through safety assessment) with a specific expertise in immunology, pathology and evaluation of discovery and safety assessment studies of immune-impacting and novel immunotherapies. As both an immunologist and veterinary pathologist, Dr. Papenfuss integrates complicated data sets and collaborates with scientific colleagues to provide a thorough assessment of how novel therapies impact the immune system in preclinical drug development.  

Dr. Papenfuss has more than 20 years of specialized experience both directing an immunopathology and early discovery immunotherapeutics laboratory at The Ohio State University using a variety of animal models of autoimmunity, immuno-oncology and infectious diseases and as a toxicological pathologist in the preclinical drug development industry. She currently serves as Senior Pathologist and Immune Service Lead at StageBio where she evaluates non-GLP and GLP investigational and safety assessment studies, performs peer reviews, and provides specialty scientific guidance to clients on pathology and immune-related considerations for efficacy and safety studies. She previously served as a toxicologic pathologist in discovery and safety assessment at Charles River Laboratories. As a current adjunct faculty member, Dr. Papenfuss supports the training of anatomic pathology residents and serves as a consultant to industry in early discovery and preclinical safety in drug development and engages with students, faculty and academic units interested in establishing effective partnerships and collaborations between industry and the University.

Dr. Papenfuss has deep expertise in immunology and pathology which she leverages to promote biomedical research and promotes scientific engagement and consultation across teams to optimize science, operations, business growth, and policy. Dr. Papenfuss is an active member and holds leadership positions in numerous scientific organizations in toxicology, pathology and immunology (e.g. STP, ACVP, SOT, ACT, IATP and HESI-ITC), has over 50 publications and book chapters and has given numerous presentations both nationally and internationally on immunology, pathology, immunotoxicology, and comparative and translational biomedical sciences.

Publications

Selected Publications

(from 55)

Papenfuss TL, Moghe, AP, Himmel LE, Goyos, Weinstock, D. (2025) Immunotoxicology from a Pathology Perspective A Continuing Education Course presented at the annual STP Meeting in Baltimore MD, held June 16-19, 2024. Toxicol Pathol (EPub 2025, March 31. doi: 10.1177/01926233251328970)

Kwak-Kim J, Maier CC, Villano, CM, Bowman CJ, Brennan F, Stanislaus D, Hillegas A, Krayer J, Prell RA, Papenfuss TL, Cauvin A, Gamse J, Dahlman A, Enright B, Leshin L, Rao GK, Helms W, Fuller CL, Yang X (2025). Assessing the Impact and Risk of Immunomodulatory Compounds on Pregnancy. J. Reprod Immunol  Feb 16;169:104453; doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2025.104453 

Papenfuss TL, Himmel L, Kuper CF, Mohanan S, Harleman J, Elmore SA. (2024) Toxicologic Pathology Forum: Considerations Regarding Determination of Adversity for Immunopathology Findings in Nonclinical Toxicology Studies with Immune-Modulating Therapeutics. Toxicol Pathol 51(4): 205-215.

Varikuti S, Verma C, Holcomb E, Jha BK, Viana A, Maryala R, Lamenza F, McElwain BK, Doni NY, Papenfuss T, Oghumu S, Gannavaram S, Nakhasi HL, Satoskar AR. (2021) MicroRNA-21 Deficiency Promotes the Early Th1 Immune Response and Resistance toward Visceral Leishmaniasis. Journal of Immunology, Sep; 207(5):1322-1332.Lanigan LG, Hildreth BE, Dirksen WP, Simmons JK, Martin CK, WErbeck JL, Thudi NK, Papenfuss TL, Boyaka PN, Toribio RE, Ward JM, Weilbaecher KN, Rosol TJ. In vivo tumorigenesis, osteolytic sarcomas, and tumorigenic cell lines from transgenic mice expressing the human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax viral oncogene. Am. J. Pathol. 2021 Nov 9; S0002-9440(20)30495-8.

Varikuti S, Natarajan G, Volpedo G, Singh B, Hamza O, Messick GV, Guerau-de-Arellano M, Papenfuss TL, Oghumu S, Satoskar AR. (2019) MicroRNA 155 Contributes to Host Immunity against Leishmania donovani but Is Not Essential for Resolution of Infection. Infect Immun. Jul 23;87(8):e0037-19.

Varikuti S, Volpedo G, Saljoughian N, Hamza OM, Halsey G, Ryan NM, Sedmak BE, Seidler GR, Papenfuss TL, Oghumu S, Satoskar AR. (2019) The Potent ITK/BTK Inhibitor Ibrutinib Is Effective for the Treatment of Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania donovani. J Infect Dis. Jan 29;219(4):599-608.

Markowitz J, Wang J, Vangundy Z, You J, Yildiz V, Yu L, Foote IP, Branson OE, Stiff AR, Brooks TR, Biesiadecki B, Olencki T, Tridandapani S, Freitas MA, Papenfuss T, Phelps MA, Carson WE 3rd. (2017) Nitric oxide mediated inhibition of antigen presentation from DCs to CD4(+) T cells in cancer and measurement of STAT1 nitration. Sci Rep. Nov 13;7(1):15424.

Adin CA, VanGundy ZC, Papenfuss TL, Xu F, Ghanem M, Lakey J, Hadley GA. (2017) Physiologic doses of bilirubin contribute to tolerance of islet transplants by suppressing the innate immune response. Cell Transplant. Jul 7 26(1): 11-21.

Rosas LE, Elgamal OA, Mo X, Phelps MA, Schmittgen TD, Papenfuss TL. (2016) In vitro immunotoxicity assessment of culture-derived extracellular vesicles in human monocytes. J Immunotoxicol. Sep;13(5):652-65.

Friedenberg SG, Strange HR, Guillaumin J, VanGundy ZC, Crouser ED, Papenfuss TL. (2016) Effect of disrupted mitochondria as a source of damage-associated molecular patterns on the production of tumor necrosis factor α by splenocytes from dogs. Am J Vet Res. Jun;77(6):604-12.

Collier MA, Peine KJ, Gautam S, Oghumu S, Varikuti S, Borteh H, Papenfuss TL, Sataoskar AR, Bachelder EM, Ainslie KM. (2016) Host-mediated Leishmania donovani treatment using AR-12 encapsulated in acetalated dextran microparticles. Int J Pharm. Feb 29;499(1-2):186-94.

Gupta G, Peine KJ, Abdelhamid D, Snider H, Shelton AB, Rao L, Kotha SR, Huntsman A, Varikuti S, Oghumu S, Naman CB, Pan L, Parinandi NL, Papenfuss TL, Kinghorn AD, Bachelder EM, Ainslie KM, Fuchs JR, Satoskar AR. (2015) A Novel Sterol Isolated from a Plant Used by Mayan Traditional Healers Is Effective in Treatment of Visceral Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania donovani. ACS Infect Dis. Oct 9;1(10):497-506.

VanGundy Z, Baker JD, Taylor CL, White AM, Muth D, Papenfuss TL. (2014) Continuous retinoic acid induces the differentiation of mature regulatory monocytes but fails to induce regulatory dendritic cells. BMC Immunology 15(1), 8.

VanGundy ZC, Markowitz J, Baker JD, Strange HR, Papenfuss TL. (2014) In vitro model system to generate breast cancer MDSCs and study immune cell interactions in immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice. J Cancer Biol Res 2(1), 1017.

Manickam C, Dwivedi V, Patterson R, Papenfuss T. Renukaradhya G.J. (2013) Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus induces pronounced immune modulatory responses at mucosal tissues in the parental vaccine strain VR2332 infected pig. Vet Microbiol 162(1), 68-77.

Markowitz J, Wesolowski R, Papenfuss T, Brooks TR, Carson WE.3rd (2013) Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells in Breast Cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 140(1), 13-21.

Peine KJ, Bachelder EM, Vangundy Z, Papenfuss T, Brackman DJ, Gallovi MD, Schully K, Pesce J, Keane-Myers A, Ainslie, KM.  (2013) Efficient Delivery of the TLR-Agonists Poly I:C and CpG to Macrophages by Acetalated Dextran Microparticles Mol Pharmaceutics 10(8), 2849-2857.

Peine KJ, Gupta G, Brackman DJ, Papenfuss TL, Ainslie KM, Satoskar AR. Bachelder E.M. (2013) Liposomal resiquimod for the treatment of Leishmania donovani infection. J. Anitmicrob Chemother 69(1), 168-175.

Julian MW, Shao G, Bao S, Knoell DL, Papenfuss TL, Crouser ED. (2012) Mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) serves as a danger signal by augmenting plasmacytoid dendritic cell responses to DNA. J Immunol 189(1), 433-443.

Park J, Kogure T, Nuovo GJ, Jian J, He L, Kim JH, Phelps MA, Papenfuss TL, Croce CM, Patel T, Schmittgen TD. (2012) Silencing of miR-221 with anti-microRNA oligonucleotides is an effective therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Res 71(24), 7608-7616.

Sherger M, Kisseberth W, London C, Olivo-Marston S, Papenfuss TL. (2012) Identification of myeloid derived suppressor cells in the peripheral blood of tumor bearing dogs. BMC Vet Res 8(1), 209

Wasserman J, Diese L, VanGundy Z, Singh A, London C, Carson WE, Papenfuss TL. (2012) Suppression of canine myeloid cells by soluble factors from cultured canine tumor cells Vet. Immunol. Immunopathol 145(1-2), 420-430.

Jaime-Ramirez AC, Mundy-Bosse B, Kondadasula S, Jones NB, Roda JM, Mani A, Parihar R, Karpa V, Papenfuss TL, LaPerle KM, Biller E, Lehman A, Chaudhury AR, Jarjoura D, Burry RW, Carson WE 3rd. (2011) Interleukin-12 enhances the antitumor actions of trastuzumab via NK cell IFN-ϒ production. J Immunol 186(6), 3401-3409.

Papenfuss TL, Powell ND, McClain MA, Bedarf A, Singh A, Gienapp IE, Shawler T, Whitacre CC. (2011) Estriol generates activated tolerogenic DCs in vivo that protect against autoimmunity. J Immunol 186(6), 3346-3355.

Papenfuss TL, Kithcart AP, Powell ND, McClain MA, Gienapp IE, Shawler TM, Whitacre CC. (2007) Disease-modifying capability of murine Flt3-ligand DCs in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J Leuko Biol 82(6), 1510-8.

Papenfuss TL, Thrash JC, Danielson PE, Foye PE, Hillbrush BS, Sutcliffe JG, Whitacre CC, Carson MJ. (2007) Induction of Golli-MBP expression in CNS macrophages during acute LPS- induced CNS inflammation and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Sci World J 2(7), 112-20.

Papenfuss TL, Rogers CJ, Gienapp I, Yurrita M, McClain M, Damico N, Valo J, Song F, Whitacre CC. (2004) Sex differences in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in multiple murine strains. J Neuroimmunol 150(1-2), 59-69.

Selected Book Chapters

(From 13)

Papenfuss TL, Schaudien D, Amuzie C, Mohanan S. (2025) The Immune System in Toxicologic Pathology in Haschek and Rousseaux's Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, 5th Edition, Principles and Practice of Toxicologic Pathology; Haschek W, Rousseaux C, Wallig M, Bolon B; Eds.; Academic Press pp 437-503.

Price SA, McDorman K, Chan C, Rojko J, Raymond JT, Brown D, Li N, Satterwhite C, Papenfuss T, Morrison J. (2022) Special Techniques in Toxicologic Pathology in Haschek and Rousseaux's Handbook of Toxicologic Pathology, 4th Edition, Volume 1- Principles and Practice of Toxicologic Pathology; Haschek W, Rousseaux C, Wallig M, Bolon B; Eds.; Academic Press, pp 335-393.

Papenfuss TL, Rebelatto MC, Bolon B. (2019) Pathology of the Lymphoid System. In: Toxicologic Pathology for Non-Pathologists; Steinbach T.J., Patrick D.J., Cosenza M.E., Eds., Humana Press, pp. 335-395.

Papenfuss TL. (2017) Flow cytometry and immunophenotyping in drug development in Immunopathology in toxicology and drug development. In: Immunopathology in Toxicology and Drug Development; Parker, G.A., Ed.; Springer International Publishing, Vol 2, pp. 343-369.

Parker G, Papenfuss TL. (2017) General Immunobiology. In Immunopathology in Toxicology and Drug Development; Parker, G.A., Ed.; Springer International Publishing, Vol 2, pp. 1-93

Figuieredo J, Mattix M, Papenfuss T. (2016)  Hematopoietic System. In Atlas of Histology of the Juvenile Rat; Parker, G.A., Ed.; Elsevier, San Diego, CA, pp. 349-42147.

Parker G, Papenfuss T. (2016) Immune System. In Atlas of Histology of the Juvenile Rat; Parker, G.A., Ed.; Elsevier, San Diego, CA,  pp. 293-347.

Papenfuss TL. (2010) Monocytes and dendritic cells production and distribution In: Weiss D, Wardrop KJ (eds). Schalm’s Veterinary Hematology 6th edition; Weiss D.; Wardrop K.J.; Eds.; Oxford, Wiley- Blackwell

Papenfuss TL, Whitacre CC. (2009) Sex hormones, pregnancy and immune function In Hormones, Brain and Behavior, Pfaff, D.W. Ed.; Elsevier: Oxford