The Host Defense and Physiology Unit advances innovation in biomedical research by providing unique expertise and a collaborative environment for investigating the physiological and immunological mechanisms that maintain health and contribute to disease. Bringing together scientists with expertise in cardiorespiratory biology, infectious diseases, immunology, physiology, toxicology, and translational medicine, the unit serves as a premier resource for nonhuman primate research that bridges basic discovery with clinical application.
The multidisciplinary research team studies the complex interactions between host physiology, the immune system, and environmental and infectious challenges across the lifespan. Using complementary in vitro and in vivo nonhuman primate models, investigators examine how the heart, lungs, vasculature, mucosal tissues, and immune system respond to injury, infection, and environmental exposures to better understand disease mechanisms and identify new prevention and treatment strategies.
Current areas of scientific emphasis include:
- Cardiorespiratory physiology and disease
- Host-pathogen interactions and mechanisms of infectious disease
- Mucosal immunology and antiviral immunity
- Inhalation toxicology and environmental health
- Air pollution and inhaled toxicants, including tobacco, ozone, wildfire smoke, and cannabis
- Emerging and re-emerging viral diseases, including HIV/SIV, influenza, SARS-CoV-2, Zika virus (ZIKV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), and herpesviruses
- Vaccine development, antiviral therapies, and prophylactic interventions
- Viral diagnostics and epidemiology
- Epigenetics and mechanisms of health and disease across the lifespan
A major strength of the unit is its integration of physiology and immunology to understand how environmental exposures and infectious agents influence organ function and host defense from birth through aging. Researchers conduct collaborative studies that translate discoveries from nonhuman primate models into therapeutic strategies and clinical applications.
The unit has internationally recognized expertise in the SIV macaque model, which continues to provide critical insights into HIV transmission, immunodeficiency, neuro-AIDS, and mucosal immune dysfunction. These models have played a pivotal role in developing antiretroviral therapies and preventive strategies now used in human medicine. Ongoing research explores mechanisms of immune recovery, gut mucosal repair, mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) therapies, and next-generation approaches to preventing and treating infectious diseases.
Resources
The Host Defense and Physiology Unit provides investigators with access to specialized expertise, biological specimens, research data, and collaborative services generated through NIH-funded studies. These resources support investigations spanning physiology, infectious disease, immunology, environmental health, and translational medicine. Priority for the distribution of specimens and data is given to federally funded investigators.
Through its collaborative infrastructure and integrated scientific expertise, the Host Defense and Physiology Unit serves as a vital resource for advancing biomedical research that advances and improves human health.