Defining determinants of intestinal barrier health and disease

Cells lining the wall of the intestine play precise roles coordinating nutrition and health. These specialised cells interact with adjacent stromal and immune cells to create a protective barrier between luminal microbes and the mucosal immune system. Cells making up this niche are diverse and their individual contribution to barrier health remains obscure. 

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a debilitating disease where defects in the intestinal barrier are believed to drive inflammation. We will use a range of experimental approaches to define molecular determinants of barrier health. We will study the relationships between individual intestinal lining cells, structural supporting cells and immune cells in health and inflammation to define aspects of barrier physiology that break down in IBD. 

Our findings will provide new avenues for interventions that promote barrier health or treat inflammation.