Bio Faculty Research - Rivera-Walsh

Isis Rivera-Walsh

Assistant Professor of Biology

Inflammation is a natural immune response, but its chronic presence often contributes to disease. In the intestine, Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) arises from dysregulated inflammatory signaling and overexpression of inflammatory genes in gut tissue. My laboratory investigates the genetic regulation of inflammatory signaling using human cell lines.  We will use a CRISPR system to explore the roles of specific genes in these pathways. Additionally, we plan to use a mouse colitis model to study how gut bacterial metabolites influence cytokine production and the balance of gut immune cell populations, such as macrophages and regulatory T cells. As part of this project, we will employ techniques such as ELISA and immunofluorescence tissue staining on mouse colonic tissue, as well as on human cell lines.  By elucidating the environment that promotes inflammation and impairs tolerance, our research aims to inform the development of improved treatments for IBD and chronic inflammation.