What We Do
Defining the cellular partners of neuroimmune interactions
We recently developed a new microfluidic platform called FIND-seq for the biomarker-defined capture of rare, transcriptionally or genetically defined cell subsets in complex tissues, which we applied to the study of autoimmunity and HIV. We are now applying FIND-seq to study other disorders and tissues implicated by altered neuroimmune plasticity.
Performing barcoded cell-cell interactomics at high throughput in CNS circuits
Identification of the pathways controlling cell-cell communication in the CNS is a challenge, particularly for transient interactions among cells. We develop new methods, such as RABID-seq, to map and perturb the regulation of cellular circuits in health and disease.
Deciphering the molecular mechanisms of neuroimmune cross-talk in behavior
We use a combination of tools including cell type-specific genetic perturbations, spatial transcriptomics, genomics, deep learning, in vivo imaging, and actuator technologies combined with classic behavioral and immunologic paradigms to study the role of the immune system in tuning neural circuit function.
Targeting gut-brain axes that control neuroimmune cross-talk in health and disease
We have defined new roles for the host commensal flora in tuning the activity of astrocytes via licensing of peripheral immune cells that circulate to the CNS via the meninges. We target gut-brain axes to understand how environmental factors such as diet, pollutants, and stress tune cellular responses in the CNS.
