Nutritional Immunology

Dr. Hurrell’s lab explores the dynamic interplay between nutrition, metabolism, and immune regulation, focusing on how specific nutrients and metabolic pathways influence the development and function of immune cells in both health and disease, particularly asthma and allergy. Utilizing a variety of cutting-edge mouse models, including genetically engineered strains, specialized diets and established asthma models, his team investigates the impact of dietary factors on immune responses and asthma pathogenesis. By applying techniques such as flow cytometry, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to profile immune cell populations and their metabolic states, the lab aims to identify innovative dietary strategies that can modulate immune function and improve lung health.

Research Interests: Dr. Snodgrass’s research is focused on understanding how diet and nutritional and metabolic status shape immune function. Active research areas include (1) investigating the impact of diet and stress on cardiovascular risk factors and immune cell function in human subjects, and (2) understanding how gut microbiota and their metabolites, both of which are influenced by diet, contribute to host immunity.

Research Interests: Cancer immunotherapy, viral immunology, preclinical modeling.