Research Program
Mission Statement
The Pearson Lab is committed to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, supportive, and multidisciplinary research environment that promotes collaboration and the advancement of impactful science. Our mission is to leverage cutting-edge nanotechnology and engineering approaches to address the challenges posed by dysregulated immune responses, such as those seen in allergy, inflammation, and cancer. By rigorously investigating the interactions between biomaterials and the immune system, we aim to develop innovative, translatable solutions that modulate cellular responses at the most fundamental level. Through this work, we strive to push the boundaries of immunoengineering and contribute to the creation of effective therapies that improve human health.
Lab Overview
The Pearson Lab focuses on understanding and addressing the complexities of inflammation, a multifactorial host defense mechanism essential for protecting the body from infections, injuries, and toxins. While inflammation plays a crucial role in immune defense, its dysregulation can lead to a range of conditions, including sepsis, autoimmune diseases, and allergies. These conditions share common features but pose unique challenges, particularly in clinical management. The presence of comorbidities adds further complexity, requiring targeted immunotherapies tailored to specific patient populations or strategies capable of normalizing immune responses across diverse individuals.
Our lab leverages expertise in polymer chemistry, nanoformulation, nanobio interactions, and immunology to develop biomaterial-focused strategies aimed at reprogramming dysregulated immune responses. We focus on three key research areas: (1) the development of metabolite-based polymers and nanoparticles as multimodal therapeutics to modulate inflammation; (2) protein- and mRNA-delivery systems for antigen-specific immunomodulation; and (3) the dynamic effects of disease-specific nanoparticle-biomolecular coronas on immune responses. By advancing these areas of research, we aim to design nanoparticles that elicit predictable and controllable immune responses, offering new therapeutic avenues for treating a variety of immune-related diseases.
For more information, please see below and our publications page for our latest research:
Nanoparticle Strategies for Targeting Innate Immune Responses to Control Inflammation
Inflammation plays a dual role in health and disease, acting as a critical defense mechanism while also contributing to the pathology of numerous conditions when dysregulated. Chronic inflammatory diseases such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, and sepsis are driven by overactivation of innate immune pathways, leading to excessive immune cell activation and tissue damage. This project focuses on designing novel therapeutic strategies to precisely regulate inflammatory responses by targeting key molecular pathways in innate immunity and modulating macrophage polarization. By shifting macrophages toward pro-resolving or anti-inflammatory phenotypes, these approaches aim to restore immune balance, mitigate inflammation, and improve outcomes across a range of diseases.
Engineered Nanoparticles for Antigen-specific Immune Tolerance
The prevalence of autoimmune diseases and allergies has risen significantly in the past two decades, affecting millions each year. Current treatments, such as steroids, NSAIDs, and systemic immune suppression, manage symptoms but fail to address underlying immune dysfunction. Although Specific Immunotherapy (SIT) offers antigen-specific tolerance, its effectiveness is limited by long treatment durations, safety concerns, and low efficacy. To advance antigen-specific immune tolerance, our approach focuses on exploring the physicochemical properties of tolerogenic nanoparticles (tNPs) to uncover cellular and molecular mechanisms that drive tolerogenic responses in both innate and adaptive immune cells.
Immunomodulatory Nanoparticle-Biomolecular Coronas
The biomolecular corona is a dynamic layer of proteins and other biomolecules that adsorb onto the surface of nanoparticles upon exposure to biological fluids. This corona dictates how nanoparticles interact with host cells, significantly influencing their biological function and drug delivery efficiency. Our research has demonstrated that the composition of the corona varies based on physiological and pathological conditions, supporting the concept of an “immunomodulatory biomolecular corona.” By analyzing these unique biomolecular signatures, we aim to develop generalizable strategies to design nanoparticles with tailored coronas, optimizing their therapeutic precision and efficacy for a range of inflammatory and immune-related diseases.
Research Sponsors
R35GM142752
