Spatial Immunology Unit

Our unit studies how immune cells are organized and programmed within tissues during chronic inflammation, with a primary focus on tuberculosis (TB) and granuloma biology. TB granulomas are highly structured immune environments that simultaneously contain infection and enable bacterial persistence. Our work seeks to understand the cellular interactions and microenvironmental cues that govern these opposing outcomes. To do this, we integrate cutting-edge spatial mapping and multiplexed imaging approaches to resolve tissue architecture at single-cell resolution. These technologies allow us to define where specific immune and stromal populations reside, how they interact, and how their functional states are shaped by the local environment. We are particularly interested in how spatial context influences immune cell behavior in ways that cannot be captured by dissociated or bulk analyses. Complementing our work in human tissues, we develop and apply human-based organoid systems that model key features of granuloma formation and immune activation in vitro. These platforms enable controlled perturbation of host and pathogen factors, allowing us to dissect mechanisms of immune organization and function with high precision. A central theme of our research is immunometabolism. We seek to understand how metabolic constraints and adaptations within the granuloma microenvironment influence immune cell function and fate. We investigate how nutrient availability, hypoxia, and metabolic signaling pathways shape immune responses and contribute to either pathogen control or disease progression. Ultimately, our goal is to translate these insights into host-directed therapeutic strategies for TB and other granulomatous diseases. By identifying the principles that govern effective versus dysfunctional immune organization, we aim to inform new approaches that reprogram tissue immunity to improve disease outcomes.