Shruti Naik, PhD

My laboratory studies the dynamic interactions between immune cells, epithelial cells, and microbes in barrier tissues that interface with the environment such as the skin, lungs, and gut. We navigate these complex biological systems with an interdisciplinary approach that draws from the fields immunology, microbiology, stem cell and developmental biology, and cancer biology. As such, the lab focuses on 3 major areas of research: 1) Inflammation, tissue regeneration and cancer,  2) host-microbe interactions, and 3) early in life immunity. 

Furthermore, we are able to leverage the abundant clinical resources of NYU Langone to translate our bench side findings to understand human immunity and its role in health and disease. This unique position allows us to delve deep into the biology of disease to fundamentally advance our knowledge of how the immune system works and identify the factors that cause immune reactions to go awry.  We then use this information to devise novel therapeutic strategies in a range of inflammatory epithelial conditions such as psoriasis, chronic wounds, and cancer.