Esma S. Yolcu is Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Director of Imaging Facility at the Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, and member of James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. After receiving her Ph.D. from University of Ankara, Turkey, she joined the Institute for Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Louisville to pursue her postdoctoral training followed by promotion to a faculty position in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Her research focuses on the modulation of the immune system for the treatment of autoimmunity and graft rejection. Her work has been funded by various federal and nonfederal funding agencies, including NIH, American Heart Association, and American Diabetes Association. She is the recipient of several awards, member of various national and international societies, serves on Editorial Board of two scientific journals, and published over 67 peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, and review articles in high ranking journals, such as Immunity, Circulation, and Journal of Immunology.