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My primary interest is in the modulation of immune function through nutrients and dietary bioactives. Current projects in my group investigate the relationships between specific nutrients (e.g. dietary proteins and fatty acids) and immune responses. We focus on the modulation of innate (macrophages) and adaptive (CD4+ T cells) immune responses in the intestine through direct (e.g., metabolism of nutrients by immune cells and its signalling effects) and indirect (gut microbiota-mediated) mechanisms. My group investigates how nutrient quantity, digestion behaviour, immune cell metabolism, and gut microbiota metabolism (of components that reach the colon) influence diet-mucosal immune crosstalk. We are also interested in mechanistic investigations into the anti-inflammatory and antioxidants effects of food bioactives and plant-derived natural products. We have a particular interest in dietary modulation of immune response through redox-mediated signalling pathways in immune cells, especially cellular mechanisms mediated by redox-active transcription factors such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), NF-κB, and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs). We use in vitro (cell culture – cell lines and primary cells) and in vivo methods, and we have our sights on human studies in the near future.

We aim to collaborate with other disciplines, especially in leveraging microbiome-based precision nutrition approaches and machine learning to unravel the complex relationships between diet, the gut microbiota, and host immune health.