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
Genome-wide association study of asthma with high treatment burden and/or worse outcomes defined using electronic healthcare data in UK Biobank.
Genome-wide association study of asthma with high treatment burden and/or worse outcomes defined using electronic healthcare data in UK Biobank. ERJ Open Res. 2026 Sep; 12(5).
PMID: 42682922
Trans-regulatory gene mapping prioritizes disease drivers in asthma.
Trans-regulatory gene mapping prioritizes disease drivers in asthma. Cell. 2026 Aug 20; 189(17):5250-5265.e11.
PMID: 42580338
Rhinovirus and interleukin-13 alter DNA methylation in bronchial epithelial cells at asthma loci.
Rhinovirus and interleukin-13 alter DNA methylation in bronchial epithelial cells at asthma loci. ERJ Open Res. 2026 Jul; 12(4).
PMID: 42516901
Post-genome-wide association study variant-to-function challenges in asthma research.
Post-genome-wide association study variant-to-function challenges in asthma research. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2026 09; 158(3):663-678.
PMID: 42425470
Epigenetic gestational age acceleration in cord blood is associated with activated inflammatory gene pathways and childhood asthma.
Epigenetic gestational age acceleration in cord blood is associated with activated inflammatory gene pathways and childhood asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2026 Jun 16.
PMID: 42302975
Upper airway microbiome interacts with GSDMB and ORMDL3 asthma risk SNPs to influence early-life wheeze risk.
Upper airway microbiome interacts with GSDMB and ORMDL3 asthma risk SNPs to influence early-life wheeze risk. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2026 Sep; 158(3):758-768.
PMID: 42248217
S-PrediXcan predicted gene expression in human placenta is associated with childhood-onset asthma risk.
S-PrediXcan predicted gene expression in human placenta is associated with childhood-onset asthma risk. Sci Rep. 2026 May 13; 16(1).
PMID: 42129325
The association of newborn metabolites with early-life wheezing and asthma among US children in the ECHO Program.
The association of newborn metabolites with early-life wheezing and asthma among US children in the ECHO Program. Commun Med (Lond). 2026 May 13; 6(1).
PMID: 42129510
Multicohort analysis unveils axon guidance pathways linking small for gestational age to spirometric restriction.
Multicohort analysis unveils axon guidance pathways linking small for gestational age to spirometric restriction. Nat Commun. 2026 May 02; 17(1).
PMID: 42069698
Spinal muscular atrophy among US Hutterites: Phenotype variability in the setting of conserved ancestral haplotype and 4 SMN2 copies.
Spinal muscular atrophy among US Hutterites: Phenotype variability in the setting of conserved ancestral haplotype and 4 SMN2 copies. Genet Med. 2026 04; 28(4):102535.
PMID: 41691542
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