The research goals of my laboratory are to parse the roles of genetic variation and environmental exposures in the development of asthma and allergic diseases using genetic, transcriptomic and epigenomic markers and integrated omic and systems level analyses. We focus our studies on freshly isolated (ex vivo) blood and airway cells and in vitro cell culture models of gene-environment interactions. Our studies are in diverse U.S. populations of children and adults who have been followed longitudinally and have detailed phenotypes and environmental assessments.
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
PhD - Biological Anthropology
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
BA - Anthropology
Prediction and characterization of genetically regulated expression of asthma tissues from African-ancestry populations.
Prediction and characterization of genetically regulated expression of asthma tissues from African-ancestry populations. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2026 Jan; 157(1):253-261.
PMID: 40930298
Genetic characterization of preschool wheeze phenotypes.
Genetic characterization of preschool wheeze phenotypes. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2025 Dec; 156(6):1537-1546.
PMID: 40769318
Association of 17q12-q21 Asthma Risk Locus with Clinical Severity of Infant Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection.
Association of 17q12-q21 Asthma Risk Locus with Clinical Severity of Infant Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection. Biomolecules. 2025 Jul 22; 15(8).
PMID: 40867500
Genetic risk for adult obstructive lung function and its early life associations.
Genetic risk for adult obstructive lung function and its early life associations. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2025 Oct; 156(4):937-947.
PMID: 40706879
Genetic contributions to epigenetic-defined endotypes of allergic phenotypes in children.
Genetic contributions to epigenetic-defined endotypes of allergic phenotypes in children. Am J Hum Genet. 2025 Jul 03; 112(7):1610-1624.
PMID: 40614707
Immune pathways and perinatal environmental exposures contribute to epigenetic gestational age prediction and acceleration.
Immune pathways and perinatal environmental exposures contribute to epigenetic gestational age prediction and acceleration. bioRxiv. 2025 Jun 18.
PMID: 40667220
Shared loci but distinct variants underlie genetic architecture of allergic diseases.
Shared loci but distinct variants underlie genetic architecture of allergic diseases. medRxiv. 2025 Jun 07.
PMID: 40502601
BAYESIAN VARIABLE SELECTION IN A COX PROPORTIONAL HAZARDS MODEL WITH THE "SUM OF SINGLE EFFECTS" PRIOR.
BAYESIAN VARIABLE SELECTION IN A COX PROPORTIONAL HAZARDS MODEL WITH THE "SUM OF SINGLE EFFECTS" PRIOR. ArXiv. 2025 Jun 06.
PMID: 40503016
Prenatal ambient air pollution associations with DNA methylation in asthma- and allergy-relevant genes: findings from ECHO.
Prenatal ambient air pollution associations with DNA methylation in asthma- and allergy-relevant genes: findings from ECHO. Environ Epigenet. 2025; 11(1):dvaf013.
PMID: 40438471
Newborn blood DNA methylation and childhood asthma: findings from the ECHO program.
Newborn blood DNA methylation and childhood asthma: findings from the ECHO program. Int J Epidemiol. 2025 Apr 12; 54(3).
PMID: 40420521
Distinguished Service Professor
University of Chicago
2018
Jonas Salk Health Leadership Award for Research
March of Dimes
2017
Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award
Clinical Research Forum
2017
John E. Salvaggio Memorial Lectureship
American Association of Asthma, Allergy and Clinical Immunology
2015
Reuben M. Cherniak Lecturer
Petty Aspen Lung Conference
2015
Fellow
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
2014
Named Blum-Riese Professor
University of Chicago
2010
Northwestern Obstetrics and Gynecology Award
Northwestern University Medical School
2005
Charles Reed Lectureship
American Association of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI)
2005
J. Christian Herr Award for Excellence in Basic or Applied Research in Reproductive Immunology
American Society of Reproductive Immunology (ASRI)
1996