Dr. Vanni Bucci's lab focuses on developing innovative therapies aimed at enhancing the health of the intestinal barrier to help people affected by severe radiation exposure. They explore how the gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria and microorganisms in our intestines—can be harnessed to prevent damage from radiation. The lab works on engineering probiotics and designing dietary interventions that support the microbiome, promoting better recovery and survival following acute radiation syndrome (GI-ARS).

The Jacobson lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School focuses on understanding how specific types of mRNA are degraded when they contain errors, such as premature termination signals. By studying yeast as a model organism, the lab investigates the underlying mechanisms of a quality control process called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD). Their work not only deepens our comprehension of mRNA behavior but also aims to improve therapies for genetic diseases related to these mechanisms.

Dr. James Munro's lab conducts research focused on understanding viral mechanisms, particularly for HIV, influenza, and Ebola viruses. The lab investigates viral proteins that play critical roles in how viruses enter host cells and how they can potentially be targeted for better therapeutics. By exploring the structure and dynamics of viral membrane proteins, the lab aims to develop new strategies to treat or even eradicate viral infections.

Dr. Christopher Sassetti's lab focuses on understanding how genetic diversity among both humans and the tuberculosis bacterium affects disease outcomes. By using advanced models, including mice that mimic human genetic diversity, the lab studies how different genetic and environmental factors interact to influence tuberculosis infection. The goal is to identify pathways that impact disease progression and improve strategies for diagnosis and vaccination against tuberculosis.

Dr. Samuel M. Behar's lab focuses on understanding how the immune system, particularly CD8 T cells, can effectively combat tuberculosis (TB). They study how the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades the immune response and explore new vaccine strategies to enhance T cell responses against TB. The lab also investigates how metabolic stress and conditions like hypoxia affect T cell function, aiming to develop approaches that can restore or improve T cell activity.

Dr. Ronghua Zhuge's lab at the University of Massachusetts Medical School focuses on understanding how ion channels in uterine smooth muscle cells affect uterine contractions, which are important for reproduction. The lab studies conditions like adenomyosis, a disease that impacts many women and can cause significant distress. By exploring the roles of specific calcium channels in these muscles, the research aims to uncover new treatment strategies for gynecological disorders.