Our research interests lie in the intersection between clinical and molecular neuroimmunology, with a particular emphasis on immunological pathomechanisms and novel therapeutic approaches for multiple sclerosis (MS). Currently, the lab has two major research lines, the first of which centers on the role of neuroinflammation in driving neurodegenerative processes in MS. This line of research focuses on three complementary areas: (1) identifying inflammatory mediators that place patients at increased risk for neurodegeneration and disease progression; (2) examining the links between inflammation and neurodegeneration; and (3) exploring ways that providers can best monitor and predict neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Our second major line of research focuses on sex differences in MS where we are (1) determining the effect of the female sex on neuroinflammation and (2) examining how the male sex affects neurodegeneration and overall disease progression. Sexual dimorphism has been observed with MS outcomes, thus, patients may benefit from sex-specific treatments and management strategies. Our ultimate goal is to provide new tools for managing MS in order to inform personalized therapeutic interventions. We anticipate that our research will ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the altered neuroimmunological pathways in MS.
