Research Interests
Nutrition is a foundational determinant of immune health, directly shaping how the body defends against disease and regulates inflammation. Our laboratory is dedicated to uncovering how nutrition and metabolism influence immune cell development and function, with a special focus on asthma and allergy. By targeting the metabolism of various immune cells through specific dietary components — such as micronutrients and amino acids — we investigate how tailored nutritional interventions can shape immune responses. Our research spans a range of immune cell types, with particular expertise in innate lymphoid cells (especially ILC2s) and granulocytes, allowing us to uncover cell-specific metabolic pathways that can be strategically targeted to improve immune balance and respiratory health. The following key areas are investigated in the lab:
Iron and ILC2-mediated asthma
We have shown that iron supports multiple metabolic processes in ILC2s, enabling their activation and cytokine production. Central to this is the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, which plays a critical role in fueling immune cell function through iron-dependent pathways like OXPHOS. Because iron is also vital for systemic functions like oxygen transport, our focus is on developing strategies to modulate iron availability specifically within ILC2s, but without disrupting overall iron homeostasis. By precisely targeting iron uptake and mitochondrial metabolism in ILC2s, we aim to reduce airway inflammation and improve asthma outcomes while preserving essential iron-dependent processes in the rest of the body.
ILC2 ligand-receptor pathways
Our laboratory is focused on identifying novel modulators of ILC2 function that influence their activation and immune responses. We are particularly interested in molecules and pathways that, like certain key ligand-receptor interactions involved in immune regulation, can modulate ILC2 activity without broadly affecting other cell types. We are especially interested in molecules and pathways such as specific cytokines, chemicals, or co-stimulatory molecules. By exploring how these modulators impact ILC2 metabolism, signaling, and cytokine production, we aim to uncover new mechanisms that could be targeted to control allergic inflammation and improve respiratory health.
ILC2 nutrient-driven pathways
We are interested in identifying dietary factors that modulate the function of ILC2s. Building on our discovery that iron and calcium are crucial for ILC2 activation and metabolic function, we are now expanding our efforts to explore a broader range of nutrients — including amino acids, minerals, and other dietary components — that may serve as novel regulators of ILC2 responses. Using cutting-edge immunology tools — including high-parameter flow cytometry, metabolomics, transcriptomics, and mitochondrial functional assays — alongside advanced ex vivo models and targeted dietary interventions, we aim to dissect how specific nutrients shape ILC2 activation and lung pathology.
Nutrition & lung inflammation
Beyond focusing on ILC2-driven inflammation, our research also explores the role of other key immune cells such as T cells and neutrophils in lung inflammation. Neutrophilic asthma and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are characterized by excessive neutrophil accumulation, which contributes to airway damage and inflammation. Neutrophils have a particularly high demand for nutrients such as iron, more so than any other immune cell, to sustain their rapid activation and function. We aim to understand how nutrients influence these diverse immune populations and their metabolic pathways, ultimately seeking new nutritional strategies to modulate neutrophilic and T cell–driven lung inflammation and improve respiratory outcomes.