My research interests include the regulation of Toll-like receptor expression in neuronal, mucosal and immune cells. Toll-like receptors are innate immune receptors that are expressed expressed in high numbers on immune cells, mucosal epithelium as well as many other cell types. These receptors bind bacterial, viral and endogenous proteins/lipids and initiate inflammation via activation of transcription factors and expression of inflammatory cytokines. The mechanism of regulation of TLR expression is currently unknown. I investigate the effects of stress on intestinal inflammation with focus on TLR expression/activity in distinct regions of the gut.

Additional research includes studying the role of Toll-like receptors in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression, where there is often a low level of peripheral inflammation detected.

My other interests include investigating the role of Toll-like receptors in brain-gut signalling particularly in visceral hypersensitivity. The brain-gut axis is a bi-directional signalling pathway which is involved in numerous physiological processes. Communication is possible via neural, hormonal and immune connections. The axis is essential in regulating a number of physiological systems such as appetite, immunity and viscerosensory transmission. Brain-gut dysfunction is seen in a number of disorders such as obesity and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) where visceral hypersensitivity is commonly reported.