RESEARCH THEMES
T cell responses, Innate Lymphoid Cells, Immunological memory
RESEARCH ACTIVITY
David’s research is focused on understanding the signals involved in the development and maintenance of T cell responses, in particular, the development of memory CD4 T cells which are essential for immunological memory and thus vaccination. Understanding how memory CD4 T cells are generated and maintained is crucial for improving our ability to enhance vaccination, but also potentially to modulate unwanted self-reactivity. Key areas of research:
ILC3 control of CD4 T cell responses
Multiple studies indicate that ILC3, the RORgt-expressing population of Innate Lymphoid Cells, modulate CD4 T cells at different stages of the response. Using established models to track endogenous antigen-specific T cell responses, we are dissecting the role of ILC3 and mechanisms they use, in the regulation of CD4 T cell responses.
ILC3 biology in health and disease
Much of the basic biology of ILC3 remains poorly understood. We are assessing their location, migration and activation in vivo in both murine and human tissues to better understand this cell population
Regulation of ILC3 function
Recently we have developed a series of tools to determine the role of key transcription factors in controlling ILC3 function, an exciting new area of study that is revealing key information in the transcriptional regulation of ILC3 functions and may provide clues to how to manipulate these cells.