Our research
The major goal of the lab is to understand how vascular, immune and neuronal cells interact to maintain homeostasis in the somatosensory nervous system.
Currently there are several projects ongoing:
- Blood-nerve barrier macrophage heterogeneity
We have recently identified new subsets of macrophages residing at the blood-nerve barrier () with unexplored physiological functions. We are investigating the molecular and functional heterogeneity of these macrophages and developing new tools to target them.
- Blood-to-neuron signaling in the peripheral nervous system
The blood vessels supplying the peripheral nervous system form a selective barrier to protect nervous tissue from pathogens and neurotoxic molecules in the circulation. The blood-nerve barrier acts as a boundary between peripheral nerve axons and the bloodstream, preventing the transfer of potentially toxic molecules into the nervous system. However, some areas of the peripheral nervous system, such as the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), display vascular hyperpermeability () where blood proteins readily enter the nervous system in large quantities even during healthy conditions. We are exploring the physiological consequences of such blood-to-nervous tissue signaling.
- Targeting the blood-nerve barrier to prevent sensory neuron disease
Damage to or destruction of the cell body of sensory neurons, residing in dorsal root ganglia (DRG), can occur in a range of conditions leading to symptoms such as numbness, tingling, altered coordination and pain. We are exploring whether targeting cells at the blood-nerve barrier can be a strategy to treat such disorders.
- Spatiotemporal diversity of microglia
Microglia in the central nervous system depend on microenvironmental cues, such as the cytokine TGF-beta, to maintain tissue homeostasis and prevent the development of neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative disease (). We are exploring how such cues impact microglia function and how they are regulated across time (age) and space (brain region) ().