Children had less severe illness from COVID-19 than expected, and initial research on this phenomenon showed that children have heightened non-specific (“innate”) nasal immune responses compared to adults.
Welcome to the Foxman Lab
Mission
The Foxman lab investigates the natural defense mechanisms that protect the respiratory tract from infection and injury. This includes studying immune responses of tissues that are not traditionally considered part of the immune system, such as the cells that form the lining of the nasal passages and lung airways. Our goal is to identify fundamental mechanisms of innate immunity and to use these discoveries to find new ways to detect, prevent, and treat viral infections and chronic lung diseases.
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Recent Discoveries
Drivers of heightened innate immunity in children Innate Immunity and Viral Interference Common cold infections can block more pathogenic viruses through effects on innate immunityLearn MoreTradeoffs in barrier defense Epithelial cells show tradeoff between antioxidant and antiviral defense.Learn MoreBiomarkers for Virus Discovery and Diagnosis While standard diagnostic tests for viruses (e.g. PCR) are virus-specific, but the body's innate immune sensors can diagnose broad categories of infection with no prior knowledge of the pathogen.
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Principal Investigator
Ellen F Foxman, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Immunobiology