Research

T cells are critical to protect humans from infections and cancers. New immunotherapies targeed at reinvigorating or redirecting T cells are being used to treat patients with cancers, and being studied to treat viral infectins and autoimmune disease. However, these therapies do not work for all patients. The overall goal of our research program is to identify novel molecular mechanisms that direct  T cell function and fate decisions with the ultimate goal of targeting these pathways to better treat human disease.  We use a variety of immunological, biochemical and bioinformatic approaches to answer these questions.

Protein Homeostasis pathways

Several projects in the lab are focused on how pathways that help maintain protein homeostasis, such as the unfolded protein response anad endoplasmic reticulum associated degradation pathways, regulate T cells in both the naive and activated states. 

Epigenetic pathways

To understand how epigenetic modifiers regulate normal T lymphocytes, we specifically focus on the methylcytosine dioxygenase TET2 in directing normal T cell fate decisions during immune responses and in the setting of T cell redirecting therapies.