Research team
Expertise
My research expertise lies at the intersection of innate immunity, epithelial cell biology, and host-pathogen interactions, with a particular focus on inflammasome signaling pathways. My work centers on understanding how barrier epithelial cells—particularly keratinocytes—sense and respond to pathogenic threats through inflammasome activation. During my PhD, I investigated the distinct regulatory mechanisms of two key inflammasome sensors, human NLRP1 and NLRP3, in skin epithelial cells.This work highlighted the tissue-specific control of inflammasome pathways and how barrier cells balance immune vigilance with tolerance to daily environmental exposure. Prior to my PhD, I worked as a research assistant on bat immunology, exploring how bats—natural viral reservoirs—tolerate high viral loads without overt inflammation. I was involved in characterizing the NLRP3 inflammasome in bat immune cells and used both in vitro and in vivo approaches, including a “bat-tized” mouse model, to assess viral pathogenesis and immune regulation. My current research interests continue to evolve around inflammasome biology, epithelial immunology, and host-pathogen interactions, with a growing focus on applying this knowledge to understand tissue-specific immunity and develop targeted immunotherapies.