Our group studies the mechanisms of brain injury caused by infection and inflammation within the central nervous system, also known as encephalitis. Encephalitis affects over 1 million people globally every year, causing devastating consequences to brain function. Our research utilizes cell culture and mouse models to explore the cell types and signals that make up the neuro-immune interface, from neurons and glia to T cells and macrophages. The pathogens we focus on primarily are the neurotropic flaviviruses, which include West Nile virus and Zika virus. These viruses are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause infections even in healthy hosts that can lead to severe encephalitis and even death (in the case of West Nile virus) or abnormalities of fetal brain development (in the case of Zika virus). A primary feature of our research is the use of neural stem cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (IPSCs). This system allows us to combine targeted genetic manipulations with assays of neuronal function to dissect how immune signals disrupt brain circuits down to the level of specific cell types and signaling pathways. The long term goal of our research is to identify targets that can be used to protect neurologic function during viral infection.
Our lab is strongly committed to teaching and mentorship, with the goal of increasing the number and impact of underrepresented minorities and women in biomedical research and improving equity in medicine.