Description of Research Expertise

Research Interests:
Skin microbiome; cutaneous host-microbe interactions; wound healing

Research Description:
The skin is a formidable barrier and the first line of defense against the external environment. The skin is also colonized with microbial communities, which we hypothesize have critical functions in cutaneous health and disease. These functions may include but are not limited to colonization resistance to block invasion by opportunistic or pathogenic microbiota and regulation of immunity and inflammation. Various cutaneous disorders and infections are hypothesized to in part result from dysregulation of microbiota-host interactions. The Grice lab applies a variety of different approaches, model systems, and human tissues and isolates to elucidate mechanisms regulating such interactions.

Currently, research in the laboratory is divided into the following focus areas:

(1) Skin microbiome regulation of epithelial defense

(2) Microbial regulation of tissue repair and inflammation in chronic wounds

(3) Skin microbiota-driven mechanisms of colonization resistance to pathogens