Research Interest:
As a bench researcher trained in genetics and genetic diagnostics, I have been interested in the different disease presentations of Valley fever. Our recent work identified common population variants in fungal recognition and response that are associated with escape of the organism from the lung to other sites in the body. In collaboration with the VFCE, I continue to explore the genetics underlying newly diagnosed patients. Additionally, my work now includes studying the interaction between the fungus and the lung epithelium - where initial immune response occurs.