Research

Metabolites reprogramming immune cells inside the tissue; microbes talking to immune cells across the epithelial barrier; immune cells signaling to neurons at the lung airways.

A recurring motif across my research experiences is the intricate crosstalk between different cellular players (one of the players being the ever versatile immune cells) within the spatial constraints of an organ and how this plays out during health and disease. I aim to uncover these cellular communication pathways one by one to reveal new ways of understanding the human body that may ultimately lead to novel therapeutic approaches.

See my full list of publications here.

A Niche for Gut Macrophages. Macrophages, depicted as flowering lily pads, require the support of innate lymphoid cells (green) and energy provided by a diverse microbiome (yellow) to bloom.

Artwork conceived by yours truly, designed by Carolina de Amat Herbozo. Featured on the cover of Science Immunology, vol. 8 issue 86, August 2023.

Neuroimmune communication across mucosal organs in shaping the brain

Immune challenges (e.g. infections, autoimmunity) can have dire consequences on brain health.

The immune system and the nervous system are, arguably, the only two information systems that span the entire body. Crosstalk between immune cells and neurons maintain homeostasis across organs, sometimes across distal sites. Memory is a key feature of these systems.

With the growing risk of future pandemics, I believe it is critical to understand how this neuroimmune communication can go awry during disease. My current postdoctoral research investigates how immune challenges from infections and allergies in mucosal organs can shape function and memory of the brain.