Research
During pathogenic challenge immune cells dramatically reprogram their expressed genes and differentiate into cell types that clear infections and provide long lasting protection from future encounters. Our lab studies the epigenetic and genetic processes that regulate the molecular programming of immune cells and provide mechanisms to maintain new cell fates. Using a combination of traditional genetics, molecular and cellular biology, and sophisticated next-gen sequencing assays, we study the dynamic epigenetic processes that regulate immune system function. Currently, our projects use mouse models to understand how B cells differentiate into antibody secreting plasma cells and memory B cells following both T cell independent and dependent stimuli. These projects are coupled to human autoimmunity studies aiming to identify epigenetic and genetic factors that contribute to autoimmune diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).