Researching Innate Immune Regulation
Our lab studies how the immune system mounts effective defenses against infection while avoiding excessive inflammation and tissue damage.
We focus on two central receptor families in the innate immune system: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and inflammasomes. When dysregulated, these receptors can cause severe childhood-onset autoinflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
A key aspect of proper TLR and inflammasome function is precisely coordinated protein trafficking, which ensures that receptors are correctly localized inside immune cells. Disruptions in these processes can alter immune signaling and cause disease. By exploring the subcellular environment in which these receptors operate, we aim to uncover new mechanisms that control their activity.
To address these questions, we combine super-resolution microscopy, genome editing, protein perturbation tools, and biochemical assays. We also work with patient samples and develop in-vitro cell systems and mouse models to study patient-derived mutations and their impact on immunity.
Our long-term goal is to connect nanoscale spatial phenomena to altered immune activity and disease paving the way for targeted therapies.
