Shruti Sharma, M.Sc., Ph.D.

My lab focuses on the innate immune response to nucleic acids from microbial sources as well as from ourselves. Specifically, we are evaluating the role of pathways that sense nucleic acids to shape host metabolism, tissue remodeling, fibrosis and wound healing responses. A particular focus of the lab is to understand the contribution of intracellular DNA sensing to immune-homeostasis. Using a combination of hypothesis driven and unbiased next gen approaches we hope to clarify the signaling nodes engaged during homeostasis. The physiological impact of the pathways we discover will be tested in models of inflammation including infections, autoimmunity, aging and neurodegenerative diseases. These studies will directly impact our understanding of resolution of inflammation in all settings.