It is widely accepted that behavioral, social, psychological and environmental factors can influence the immune system in ways that impact physical health. For example, individuals who report high levels of psychological stress are more susceptible to viral infections and chronic inflammatory diseases, such as heart disease or flare ups of autoimmune disease. More recent evidence shows that communication between the brain and the immune system is bidirectional. Indeed, the immune system sends signals to the brain that alter neural activity and impact behaviors, mood, cognitive function, and wellbeing.

The Behavioral Immunology Laboratory studies these bidirectional pathways between the brain and the immune system and their implications for health across the lifespan. For example, current projects focus on the role of the nonspecific innate immune response as a pathway linking psychosocial risk factors such as experiencing adversity in childhood or living in challenging socioeconomic circumstances to increased risk for cardiometabolic disease, accelerated brain and cognitive aging, and other health disparities. Other projects focus on understanding changes in the immune system that accompany brief psychological stressors.