In the Parkos and Nusrat labs, we study the basic biology of mucosal epithelia during health
and disease. We are particularly interested in the mechanisms regulating intestinal epithelial homeostasis, barrier function, inflammation, and neoplastic transformation.

Using complementary in vivo and in vitro experimental systems, we are currently investigating
various aspects of intestinal epithelial biology including: the mechanisms of epithelial cell migration/wound restitution, the function of intercellular junctional proteins in the regulation of epithelial barrier and intestinal homeostasis, and immune cell recruitment and interactions with the
intestinal epithelium under normal conditions and those that occur during pathologic
inflammation as observed in Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.