Research
Find out how our lab is pushing the boundaries of discovery.
Areas of Ongoing Research
Obesogenic Diets and Immune Dysregulation
Nutritional Strategies in Cancer Prevention and Therapy
Food, Brain Metabolism, and Neurological Health
Research Overview
Our lab explores the powerful interface between dietary choices, lifestyle factors, and immune health, driven by the foundational idea that food acts as medicine—capable of profound biological effects that remain poorly understood mechanistically. By combining sophisticated mouse models, functional genomics, and cutting-edge sequencing technologies, we aim to decode how nutrition can promote health and prevent or treat disease.
Obesogenic Diets and Immune Dysregulation
Obesity is a chronic disease typically driven by consumption of diets high in fats and sugars—so-called obesogenic diets. While obesity itself is well-established as a state of immune dysregulation, our research uniquely explores the effects of transient exposure to these diets independently of obesity. We are uncovering how even short-term dietary shifts can lead to lasting, durable immune and metabolic consequences, shaping long-term health and disease trajectories.
Nutritional Strategies in Cancer Prevention and Therapy
Diet significantly influences cancer risk and outcomes, yet precise dietary guidelines for cancer prevention and treatment remain elusive. Our lab addresses fundamental questions:
- Which foods or dietary patterns robustly reduce cancer risk?
- Can specific diets potentiate immune responses during cancer immunotherapy?
- GLP-1R agonists are known to reduce cancer risk, yet their mechanisms remain unclear—can we uncover how these agents exert their anticancer effects?
We leverage innovative immunological models and detailed mechanistic analyses to identify dietary interventions that meaningfully modify cancer risk and treatment outcomes.
Food, Brain Metabolism, and Neurological Health
Metabolic pathways in the brain profoundly influence brain function and vulnerability to neurodegenerative disease, yet a clear cellular and mechanistic understanding remains incomplete. Our lab is dedicated to elucidating the interactions between dietary regimes, brain metabolism, and neurological health, focusing especially on glial cells. By defining how specific diets modulate brain cellular metabolism, we aim to reveal nutritional strategies to enhance cognitive resilience and reduce neurodegeneration.
Interested in joining the lab?
We’re always excited to connect with passionate and curious minds. Whether you’re a student, postdoc, or collaborator, we’d love to hear from you.
Get in touch today — and let’s explore what we can discover together!