The research goals of my laboratory are to identify genetic variants that influence gene expression and epigenetic marks in tissues relevant to complex phenotypes and common diseases, in particular those related to asthma, allergy and preterm birth. To this end we are using both freshly isolated cells and tissues and cell culture models of gene-environment interactions to dissect the genetic architecture of common diseases. Our studies are conducted in founder populations, the Hutterites of South Dakota and the Amish of northern Indiana, in U.S. and European birth cohorts, and in patient populations from Chicago.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
PhD - Biological Anthropology
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
BA - Anthropology
Analytical challenges in omics research on asthma and allergy: A National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases workshop.
Analytical challenges in omics research on asthma and allergy: A National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases workshop. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 Apr; 153(4):954-968.
PMID: 38295882
Gene-based association study of rare variants in children of diverse ancestries implicates TNFRSF21 in the development of allergic asthma.
Gene-based association study of rare variants in children of diverse ancestries implicates TNFRSF21 in the development of allergic asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2024 Mar; 153(3):809-820.
PMID: 37944567
Revealing polygenic pleiotropy using genetic risk scores for asthma.
Revealing polygenic pleiotropy using genetic risk scores for asthma. HGG Adv. 2023 10 12; 4(4):100233.
PMID: 37663543
Epigenetic responses to rhinovirus exposure in airway epithelial cells are correlated with key transcriptional pathways in chronic rhinosinusitis.
Epigenetic responses to rhinovirus exposure in airway epithelial cells are correlated with key transcriptional pathways in chronic rhinosinusitis. Allergy. 2023 10; 78(10):2698-2711.
PMID: 37571876
Asthma-protective agents in dust from traditional farm environments.
Asthma-protective agents in dust from traditional farm environments. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 09; 152(3):610-621.
PMID: 37271318
Single cell profiling at the maternal-fetal interface reveals a deficiency of PD-L1+?non-immune cells in human spontaneous preterm labor.
Single cell profiling at the maternal-fetal interface reveals a deficiency of PD-L1+?non-immune cells in human spontaneous preterm labor. Sci Rep. 2023 05 16; 13(1):7903.
PMID: 37193763
A functional genomics pipeline to identify high-value asthma and allergy CpGs in the human methylome.
A functional genomics pipeline to identify high-value asthma and allergy CpGs in the human methylome. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2023 06; 151(6):1609-1621.
PMID: 36754293
Multi-omic association study identifies DNA methylation-mediated genotype and smoking exposure effects on lung function in children living in urban settings.
Multi-omic association study identifies DNA methylation-mediated genotype and smoking exposure effects on lung function in children living in urban settings. PLoS Genet. 2023 01; 19(1):e1010594.
PMID: 36638096
Discerning asthma endotypes through comorbidity mapping.
Discerning asthma endotypes through comorbidity mapping. Nat Commun. 2022 11 07; 13(1):6712.
PMID: 36344522
New Insights Relating Gasdermin B to the Onset of Childhood Asthma.
New Insights Relating Gasdermin B to the Onset of Childhood Asthma. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol. 2022 Oct; 67(4):430-437.
PMID: 35580164
Distinguished Service Professor
University of Chicago
2018
Jonas Salk Health Leadership Award for Research
March of Dimes
2017
Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award
Clinical Research Forum
2017
John E. Salvaggio Memorial Lectureship
American Association of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
2015
Reuben M. Cherniak Lecturer
Petty Aspen Lung Conference
2015
Fellow
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2014
Named Blum-Riese Professor
University of Chicago
2010
Northwestern Obstetrics and Gynecology Award
Northwestern University Medical School
2005
Charles Reed Lectureship
American Association of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI)
2005
J. Christian Herr Award for Excellence in Basic or Applied Research in Reproductive Immunology
American Society of Reproductive Immunology (ASRI)
1996