I am interested in the mechanisms of brain injury caused by infection and inflammation within the central nervous system (CNS). My graduate training was in basic and developmental neurosciences; understanding neural circuits and nervous system dysfunction are some of my primary scientific motivations. As an infectious diseases clinician and translational researcher, I hope to develop tools that prevent the detrimental effects of inflammation while enhancing immune function to protect neuronal circuits during infection. I am currently studying how the innate immune system helps control Zika virus infection, using induced neural progenitor cells which are derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Using this system, we are able to derive all of the major cell types present in the developing brain, which has allowed us to identify differences in the ways that neural progenitors, neurons and glia respond to viral infection. I am also exploring how West Nile Virus infection activates inflammatory microglia and disrupts neuronal function, as well as developing treatments to reverse this harmful neuroinflammation.

I am actively engaged in teaching and mentoring activities through Seattle Children’s hospital and my basic science work. I am firmly committed to increasing the number and impact of underrepresented minorities and women in biomedical research and improving equity in medicine.