This project investigates the role of very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) metabolism in regulating gut immunity, with a focus on how disruptions in this pathway contribute to disease pathogenesis. This study relies on an integration of model systems, including Cre/Lox murine models, patient-derived intestinal biopsies, plasma samples, and brain tissue with the aim to define systemic links between metabolic dysfunction and immune dysregulation across the gut–brain axis. A multi-omics approach (e.g., transcriptomics, metabolomics, and proteomics) will be applied to generate a comprehensive, systems-level understanding of these processes. The work is supported by active collaborations within the Michael J. Fox Foundation consortium and a network of academic partners across Canada and the United States. Ultimately, this project seeks to identify novel metabolic targets for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Associate supports a research program focused on understanding how lipid metabolism regulates gut immunity and contributes to disease when dysregulated. The role exists to characterize metabolic-immune interactions across the gut-brain axis. By working within a collaborative, multi-institutional network, the position contributes to advancing translational discoveries.