Program Faculty

My laboratory is pursuing diverse projects whose central theme is defining the causes and consequences of neuroinflammation. My research program focuses on the intrinsic immune activities of neural-lineage cells, including neurons and astrocytes. The CNS has long been considered an “immune privileged” site, shielded from the activities of peripheral immune cells and incapable of mounting significant immune reactions to pathogens. While this understanding of immunity in the CNS has evolved considerably in recent years, the field of neuroimmunology maintains a heavy focus on the activities of leukocytes (such as microglia) as the central mediators of neuroinflammation. Our work seeks to provide much needed attention to the intrinsic innate immune activities of neurons and astrocytes, and in doing so define their contributions to immune homeostasis, pathogen clearance, and immunopathology during neurologic disease states.