Research Objectives

The Rothenberg CURED Research Laboratory has several broad research areas and objectives, including:

Epigenetic Basis of Disease and Immunity

Genetic Basis of Allergic Disease

Immunopathogenesis of Allergic Inflammation

• Elucidating the cellular and molecular processes involved in allergic responses in the gastrointestinal tract and lung
• Developing models of allergic responses in vivo and in vitro
• Testing the importance of key molecules including chemokines, cytokines and adhesion molecules in immunity
• Stem cell involvement and exploitation

Impaired Barrier Function

Pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders

• Investigating the transcriptional programs, regulating molecules and signal transduction pathways responsible for eosinophil development and activation
• Translating bench discoveries into novel therapeutics that treat inflammatory diseases such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES)
• Identifying eosinophil subpopulations by single-cell RNA sequencing
• Determining the role of eosinophils in homeostasis and host responses

Precision and Predictive Medicine

• Conducting big data (genomics, proteonomics) analyses of allergic disease with a focus on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
• Translating research findings into improved diagnostics (Learn more)
• Using machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases

Proteases and Protease Inhibitors in Inflammation

• Investigating the role of proteases and protease inhibitors in immunity

Allergen mRNA Vaccines for Asthma and Food Allergy

• Collaborating with Nobel Laureate Drew Weismann (watch video describing collaboration)

Impact of Age on Immunity and Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)

Identifying Environmental Factors Involved in Allergic Disease

• Early life exposures including antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors

Initiation of Allergic Responses

• Elucidating IL-33 processing and nuclear function
• Investigating TSLP biology and targeting
• Characterizing role of in utero environment in postnatal immunity
• Role of amniotic fluid

Mast Cells in Allergic Disease

• Leveraging single-cell sequencing for mast cell studies
• Investigating mast cell subtypes
• Elucidating non-IgE-dependent cellular activation
• Developing therapeutic targeting of mast cells

Microbiome in Allergic Disease

• Investigating mechanism and usage of pro-biotics and pre-biotics
• Leveraging fecal transplantation
• Microbiome identity and function in esophagus and allergic immunity

Neuro-Immune Connections

• Role of neuroimmunity in eliciting type 2 immunity
• Bidirectional communication between nerves and immune system in the esophagus
• Neuroimmune mechanisms of pain in eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGID)

EGIDExpress Data Sharing

• Published datasets generated by the Rothenberg CURED Laboratory that can be viewed by families, clinicians and researchers on demand via EGIDExpress