Impact of environmental agents on the incidence and severity of infectious, allergic and autoimmune diseases
Now, more than ever, we appreciate the impact of infectious diseases on our quality of life. With a strong focus on viral diseases, such as influenza viruses and coronaviruses, our research is defining how environmental factors influence host immune response, immune cell development, and the balance between host immune defenses and viral immune evasion mechanisms. Research projects in the lab include studying how the small molecules that bind the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) modulate the mature immune system, and how AHR regulates hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Other active research is defining how endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC), singly and in combination, modulate immune function, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and contaminants associated with gas extraction processes.