Dr. Deborah W. Knapp's lab at Purdue University focuses on improving cancer treatment through innovative research on immune cell responses in both dogs and humans with invasive urinary bladder cancer. By studying naturally-occurring bladder cancer in dogs, the lab aims to advance immunotherapy techniques that can enhance outcomes in human patients. This research not only contributes to better therapy options for bladder cancer but also aims to harness the canine model to explore solutions for other types of cancer.

Dr. Shankar Thangamani's lab at Purdue University studies Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus that colonizes the skin and can lead to severe infections in hospitalized patients. The lab focuses on understanding how the skin microbiota influences the growth of this fungus, aiming to uncover mechanisms that could inform new treatment strategies. By examining both the properties of the bacteria on the skin and the host's immune response, the research seeks to provide insights to combat these increasingly common infections.

Dr. Suresh K Mittal's lab at Purdue University focuses on developing innovative vaccines, particularly for COVID-19 and influenza. They aim to create a new adenoviral vaccine platform that is effective even in vulnerable populations, such as the elderly. The research also explores antibody-dependent enhancement and the immune response to these vaccines, which could contribute significantly to public health initiatives against pandemics.