Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Host Defense
Respiratory viral infections have a profound impact on health and well being. Seasonal epidemics caused by respiratory viruses, such as RSV and influenza, have the greatest impact on young infants and older adults. However, mutations in respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2, can cause pandemics. Our research team seeks to define host immune responses that can protect against new and seasonal respiratory viruses.
The respiratory tract has a large surface area to maximize oxygen exchange and this interaction with the external environment leaves the airways vulnerable to infection from viruses and other microbes, and toxins. To protect against infection, the respiratory tract is lined with immune cells that mobilize to communicate the presence of pathogens or other molecules entering the lungs.
The intricate cellular communications that drive protection and clearance of pathogens or inflammation and tissue damage are influenced by age, genetics, underlying diseases and environmental factors. Our laboratory aims to understand these individual determinants of disease to provide more precise interventions for protection and preventions.
Our research program has developed novel assays to study the interface of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the respiratory tract and through in vitro modeling. We have discovered key activation signaling in dendritic cells that differs by age, and mechanisms that contribute to poor memory T cell development in the infant lung tissue.
Through these efforts we seek to identify vaccine platforms and immune modulating therapeutics responsive to individualized determinants to more precisely intervene and reduce the disease burden of respiratory viral infections.
Pediatric Translational Medicine
Through a dynamic partnership with the Department of Medicine's Translational Medicine Unit, the Department of Pediatrics has cultivated a robust platform to champion clinical and translational research tailored specifically for young patients. At the core of our mission is a commitment to bridging the gap between scientific breakthroughs and their real-world impact. By spearheading research initiatives and conducting pivotal clinical trials, our Translational Medicine Unit is dedicated to accelerating medical progress and enhancing healthcare outcomes for children.
Our objectives are diverse yet unified in purpose. We strive to translate the latest discoveries into tangible treatments and therapies that directly benefit pediatric patients. Through rigorous evaluation of novel therapeutic interventions in comprehensive clinical trials, we endeavor to push the boundaries of pediatric medicine.
Central to our endeavors is the pioneering Peds RECON study—an unprecedented undertaking poised to redefine our understanding of pediatric respiratory viral diseases and the intricate workings of the immune system. As the first prospective observational trial conducted in our advanced clinical space, Peds RECON represents a significant milestone in our institution's history and holds the potential to revolutionize pediatric healthcare on a global scale.
