Dr. Mark Lang's research lab focuses on developing better vaccines for Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), a bacteria that causes significant health issues due to infection. The lab aims to create a more effective second-generation vaccine and understand how the toxins produced by C. difficile undermine the body's immune response. By studying these mechanisms, the team seeks to reduce the incidence of recurrent infections and improve public health outcomes related to C. difficile infections.

Dr. Maureen Cox's lab is focused on understanding the relationship between the nervous and immune systems, particularly how adrenergic nerves influence immune memory and responses during infections. By studying how these nerves interact with T cells and stromal cells in lymph nodes, the lab aims to uncover mechanisms that can improve vaccine design and immune treatment strategies for patients with peripheral nerve damage. This research holds potential significance in enhancing the immune responses for individuals who are particularly vulnerable to infections.