Nicole Ward, PhD

Our lab studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms mediating autoimmune disease with a focus on psoriasis, psoriatic arthrits and psoriasis comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and depression. We combine novel mouse models of skin and inflammation with in vitro bioassays, experimental thrombosis models, and RNASeq, single cell RNASeq, CyTOF, and flow cytometry, along with standard cell biology assays to determine how chronic inflammation leads to systemic inflammation and distant organ injury. We translate our findings to psoriasis patients, and frequently develop new mouse models around new information identified in patient tissue and blood.