The vision of the lab is to further understand the pathogenesis of autoimmunity of the central nervous system through basic science and translational research.

The focus of the Obata Lab is to study how environmental signals (e.g., microbiota, diet, day/night cycles) shape intestinal neural circuits and immune cell networks. A variety of experimental techniques are used, including state-of-the-art imaging technologies, viral tracing of gut innervation, in vivo and ex vivo physiological assays, gnotobiotic systems and multi-omics technologies. The Obata lab is also interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of inter-organ communication, including the Gut-Brain axis.

Our research revolves around using state-of-the-art bioinformatics and biostatistics approaches to study the implications of tumor immunology for tumorigenesis, metastasis, prognosis, and treatment response in a variety of cancers.

We are broadly interested in understanding how resident intestinal microorganisms (particularly bacteria and fungi and collectively referred to as the gut microbiome) influence the health of human cancer and stem cell transplant patients.

We are broadly interested in understanding how resident intestinal bacteria influence the biology of humans and other mammalian hosts.

We combine classical genetics with modern technology to understand human physiology and search for breakthrough treatments for diseases.

The Reinecker laboratory unravels and targets molecular mechanisms of key human genetic variants that cause chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer by creating novel genetic mouse and human organotypic model systems.

Chen Lab is broadly interested in mechanisms of signal transduction, namely how a cell communicates with its surroundings and within itself.

We use in vivo models of ischemic acute kidney injury in mice, and in vitro model systems to perform detailed studies of proinflammatory genes activated by renal ischemia/reperfusion.

Zhong Lab studies studies inflammation, mitochondrial stress responses, tumor immunology and obesity-associated liver disorders.