Breathing is both essential and dangerous. Each breath provides fresh oxygen, but could also draw in pathogens, irritants, or particles that block our airways, damage respiratory tissue, or trigger infection—any of which could compromise this vital, unceasing process or halt it entirely. To meet this challenge, our airways have evolved sophisticated surveillance systems that constantly monitor the inhaled environment and tissue physiology, enabling rapid threat detection and response.

 

Our lab investigates how airway epithelial cells serve as the frontline sensors in this defense system. Far from being merely physical barriers, these cells detect threats and communicate with neurons, immune cells, and the brain to trigger protective reflexes such as coughing. We explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this sensory detection and the psychophysical aspects of sensation—how these signals, once they reach the brain, translate into conscious perception and behavior.