Our Vision

We aim to define how adaptive, innate, and trained immunity orchestrate viral defense, vaccine efficacy, and chronic inflammation, translating discoveries from bench to bedside and across global settings. Through partnerships in the U.S., Africa, and South Asia, our lab is committed to advancing precision immunology for infectious and metabolic diseases.

We investigate how the immune system recognizes and responds to viral infections—and how these insights can be harnessed to develop effective vaccines and therapeutics. Our work bridges basic immunology, translational research, and global health, with emphasis on HIV, co-infections, and virus-associated non-communicable diseases.

Our Research Focus

• Innate Immunity in HIV/SIV Pathogenesis and Prevention. We study how adaptive and innate immune cells (NK, ILCs, and monocytes) shape viral control, vaccine responses, and long-term immune health. Our research revealed key roles for mucosal NK and ILC subsets in HIV vaccine-induced protection and identified novel mucosal adjuvants that enhance NK cell–mediated antiviral functions. These discoveries are advancing toward preclinical HIV vaccine testing in nonhuman primates and the design of next-generation mucosal vaccine strategies.
• Investigating the Role of Innate Immunity in HIV/TB Co-Infection and BCG Vaccination
  Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV. We study how innate immune training by BCG vaccination and TB exposure influences HIV infection outcomes and vaccine efficacy. Using human, macaque, and mouse models, we explore epigenetic reprogramming of NK cells and monocytes, dissect the impact of BCG-induced trained immunity on HIV pathogenesis, and aim to develop improved vaccine adjuvants and immunotherapeutic strategies for HIV/TB co-infection.
• Trained Immunity and HIV-Associated Co-Infections
  Beyond TB, we investigate how trained innate responses regulate protection and pathology in HIV-associated co-infections, including Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In collaboration with partners at the University of Maryland and Ohio University, we explore how mucosal Neisseria colonization shapes innate responses informing the development of mucosal vaccines and immune modulators.
• Innate Immunity and HIV-Associated Cardiometabolic Disease
  Chronic immune activation drives cardiovascular, metabolic, and endocrine complications in people living with HIV. Supported by multiple NIH  grants, our research identifies how NK cell and monocyte dysregulation contribute to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity in HIV-treated adults and children. Through multi-cohort studies across the U.S., Uganda, and Sri Lanka, we aim to translate immune discoveries into therapeutic interventions that reduce NCD burden in HIV populations.
• COVID-19 and Post-Viral Immunopathogenesis
  Extending our expertise in innate immunity, we study SARS-CoV-2–induced immune dysregulation, coagulopathy, and cardiometabolic risk in COVID-19 and Long COVID.  We are revealing how innate immune imbalance drives disease severity and long-term complications, guiding the development of targeted therapies.