Research group Group Gekara

The immune system that kills disease-causing microbes and heals tissues, and the DNA repair system that maintains gene expression are essential for life. However, they require careful regulation to prevent the destruction of own tissues. The goal of my research is to better understand these systems and find new strategies in the treatment of diseases.

Group description

Our body depends on two major defense systems for protection against external and internal threats: 1) the immune system which mediates pathogen clearance and tissue healing, and 2) the DNA damage response which senses and repairs DNA breaks thereby ensuring that our genetic material is preserved. While essential for life, if not properly controlled, these surveillance systems can cause havoc. Indeed, dysregulations in the immune and DNA repair systems lie at the core of many health afflictions, including infections, autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and other age-associated disorders.

The overarching goal of my research is to understand how the innate immune are regulated and DNA repair systems and to identify new strategies for manipulating these systems in disease management. We have made some progress toward this goal and contributed to our understanding of how the immune and DNA repair systems cross-communicate and the regulatory component involved.

Microbes with established coexistence with their hosts have evolved strategies to manipulate host defenses. Another area of my research interest is how microbes including the commensal microbiota and pathogens (bacteria and viruses) modulate the immune and DNA repair pathways and how this impacts disease development.

The research in my lab focuses on fundamental cell biological processes with the view that some of our discoveries will benefit human health.