Innate lymphoid cells as mediators of inflammation in IBD

Our projects include the use of flow cytometry to unravel the immune cell profile of 100 pairs of identical twins.  We are analysing the innate lymphoid cell population in IBD patients and comparing them to healthy controls. Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a novel population of innate lymphocytes that are selectively enriched at mucosal sites and have been implicated in both maintenance and loss of mucosal homeostasis. This is an exciting and expanding area in gut immunology, that offers novel insights into the pathogenesis of IBD and has a strong translational potential.