Shoemaker Immunosystems Lab

Understanding the control processes involved in immunity, i.e. systems immunology, is key to future immunomodulatory therapies. The immune system is charged with protecting our bodies from damaging changes. It is highly versatile; able to detect external threats (e.g. pathogens) and dangerous internal changes in our body (e.g. DNA damage or cancers). Once a threat is detected, the immune system carefully orchestrates a response so as to clear the threat while minimizing collateral damage. It is in maintaining this balance that engineering approaches can advance understanding in human health.

Systems Immunology: Multiscale, dynamic challenge

Immunity is an incredibly dynamic process that occurs at the molecular, cellular, tissue and whole body level. Importantly, differing immune responses between healthy responding and poorly responding patients has demonstrated that the dynamics of the immune response is a key factor in patient outcomes. Using mathematical models and simulations, we can integrate knowledge of the various elements of the immune system to increase our understanding of immunity and health. These models ultimately enable new therapies which apply engineering knowledge of optimization and feedback control to promote improved patient outcomes, patient-specific treatment and immune optimization.

Specific Areas of Research