People

Research Interest: Research in the Coffey laboratory focuses on the evolution, transmission dynamics, and disease for pathogenic mosquito-borne viruses to understand: (i) patterns of molecular evolution, (ii) viral genetic factors that promote epidemics, (iii) how intrahost genetic diversity generated by error-prone viral replication influences pathogenesis and transmissibility, and (iv) surveillance and vaccine approaches to improve detection and minimize disease.

Research Interests: My research is focused on the cell biology of immune cells, with a particular focus on neutrophil chemotaxis and degranulation. We use live-cell imaging, molecular biosensors, and optogenetic tools to study single-cell responses.

Research Interests: My research focuses on neuro-immune interactions at the blood-brain barrier (BBB) as a relevant contributor to neuroinflammation and consequent neurodegeneration. My long-term goal is to contribute to the identification of non-immunosuppressive and sex-specific therapeutic targets, specifically by elucidating 1) triggering factors of BBB dysfunction, 2) their role in neuropathogenesis and neuroinflammation, and 3) their association with sex-biased autoimmune disorders (e.g. multiple sclerosis).

Research Interests: Mucosal immunity against pathogens. Molecular Pathogenesis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus +1 HIV and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus +1 SIV Infections with Special Emphasis on Gastrointestinal Mucosal Lymphoid Tissue +1 GALT as a Major Target Organ of the Viral Infection, and as a Viral Reservoir. Repair and renewal of gut mucosal immune system during therapy.

Research Interests: Regenerative medicine, microbiome studies, clinical trials, and developing next-generation tools that can predict/assess response to IBD therapies.

Research Interests: We have long appreciated the role that neutrophils play as first responders of the immune system during microbial infections. New evidence is emerging on the transcriptomic and phenotypic diversity of this highly abundant circulating white blood cell. In the Diaz-Ochoa lab we combine classical immunological techniques with a systems approach to gain mechanistic insights on the contributions of neutrophil diversity in host responses to bacterial infections.

Research Interests: mechanisms by which the environment influences susceptibility to immune-mediated disease; identify the mechanisms by which AhR activation leads to divergent CD4+ T cell fates, and test the hypothesis that the interaction between diverse AhR ligands, the host immune system, and the microbiome influences susceptibility to type 1 diabetes.

Research Interests: My lab studies the development of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. We are interested in understanding the mechanisms of communication between the gut and brain, including the specific neuro, immune, and endocrine pathways involved.

Research Interests: Tissue function emerges from the synergy between resident cells and the extracellular matrix, which together provide key mechanical infrastructure and a reservoir of biological cues. With age, tissues experience functional decline, driven in part by changes in both the cells and the surrounding matrix. To understand what it means to age, and how we might prevent or even reverse aspects of the aging process, the Gilchrist Lab uses biomaterials and stem cells to engineer artificial tissues. These model systems allow us to uncover the biological mechanisms that guide cells toward ‘young’ or ‘aged’ states. Using mechanical and polymer modeling, we characterize the dynamic alterations to biological tissues and gels across a large range of stress, strain, and lifespans. Informed by these measurements, we design synthetic and naturally derived polymers, combine them with human induced pluripotent stem cells, and grow organoids, which are small, self-assembled constructs that recapitulate key functional, structural, and cellular features of native tissue. We are especially interested in aging of the blood and immune system, which undergo marked functional decline with age. During normal development, the bone marrow, which regulates the blood and immune stem cells, provides essential mechanical cues that regulate cellular activity. With age, however, the mechanics of the bone marrow are dramatically altered. By leveraging our in vitro tissue platforms, we study how these age-related changes in the bone marrow contribute to the decline of the blood and immune system. Through this work, we aim to advance the fields of stem cells, aging, and rejuvenation

Research Interests: My lab studies the olfactory neuroepithelium as an immune barrier and its involvement in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.