Faculty

Research Interests: The Urbano Lab studies host-microbe interactions that involve the actin cytoskeleton. Immune signals such as IFN-g activate host cells to fight infection by stimulating expression of cellular defenses that include actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Our lab aims to characterize the functions of these ABPs in the context of the immune response to learn how actin-based immunity impacts microbial pathogenesis and pathogen clearance. One area of active research involves the role of ABPs in microbial actin-based motility and cell-to-cell dissemination (Listeria, Shigella, Burkholderia, etc.). Additionally, ABPs are important components of the host cell adhesion and motility machinery. Here we aim to understand how immune activation modifies the mechanical properties of cells to mobilize to sites of infection, capture and eliminate microbes.

Research Interests: Research Interests: Our research group is dedicated to the engineering of immune cells using biocompatible nanomaterials. One of our primary objectives is to amplify the efficacy of current cancer immunotherapies by enabling real-time, non-invasive, and continuous tracking of these engineered immune cells in vivo. Within the framework of cell-based immunotherapy, we strive to provide comprehensive insights into the location and functionality of immune cells in clinically relevant settings.

Research Interests: Dr. Brostoff's research focuses on host-pathogen interactions and studying the immune response to viral disease and vaccination, primarily for feline coronavirus. She is interested in understanding the immune response to natural disease and finding ways to leverage this to improve the safety and efficacy of vaccines. She is additionally developing novel point of care diagnostic tests for both infectious disease and cancer.

The Savage lab studies interactions between pathogens, the microbiota, and host. In particular, I currently focus on how the microbiota promotes a heathy colonocyte immunometabolism and how this interaction is altered during disease, putting the host at risk of infection with pathogens and pathobionts. My overall research goal is to understand the basis behind these host-microbiota interactions during health so that host health can be supported with therapeutics during microbial disruption to prevent a loss of colonization resistance.

Research Interests: I direct the Cell & Gene Therapy program at UC Davis. Our team develops and manufactures Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)- T lymphocytes for clinical use. We have a translational laboratory for the research, an immune deficient mouse vivarium to test human gene-modified cellular products for the FDA, and a Good Manufacturing Practice Facility to produce lentiviral vectors, transduce and expand the patient cells for use in clinical trials.

Research Interests: Retroviral pathogenesis and vaccine development; AIDS vaccine development; Tumor immunology

Research interests: the immunomodulatory effects of foods, food components, food-and gut microbiome-derived molecules, and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. We are particularly interested in the interactions between diet and the gut-brain axis, including intestinally-derived HDL particles and their cargo such as carotenoids, and their relationship with innate immune cells involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

Research Interests: The Gong lab focuses on understanding the innate immune capacity of the olfactory neuroepithelium. The constant exposure of environmental pathogens and the direct neuronal connections with the brain make the olfactory mucosa a critical site for viral invasion into the CNS. The lab uses a wide range of techniques, from mouse genetics, tissue culture, molecular and genomic approaches, to investigate pathogen-olfactory mucosa interactions.

Research Interest: arthropod-borne virus ecology and evolution with a goal of understanding how arboviruses persist via continuous cycling, how they invade new areas, and how they cross-species to cause human and veterinary disease.

Research Interests: XJ Wang Lab studies a) Role of immune-microenvironment in cancer progression and metastasis; b) Mechanisms of immune evasion of cancer and cancer immunotherapy; c) mechanisms of inflammatory skin diseases, chronic inflammation affecting wound healing and tissue remodeling; d) therapeutic interventions in chronic wounds, radiation toxicities, inflammatory disease and fibrosis in oral cavity and skin.