Autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Complex interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors are essential for the development of these disorders. Our laboratory is interested in understanding how autoimmune responses are initiated, amplified and how they cause tissue injury and pathology.
Sjögren’s syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder responsible for causing severe dry mouth, dry eyes, and fatigue. Our laboratory investigates how non-specific activation of the immune system by viruses and bacteria can lead to the development of Sjögren’s syndrome.
Recently, our laboratory has started working on an inflammatory disorder, Sarcoidosis, which mainly affects the lungs. We are developing experimental model systems to test the efficacy of different therapeutics to treat this enigmatic disorder.