Antibiotic resistance of pathogenic microbes in healthcare and community settings is a quickly growing and extremely dangerous health threat. There is consequently a critical need for the development of alternative therapeutics. The mission of Dai lab is to develop light-based nonpharmacological approaches to counteract the increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant infections.
To enhance immunoprotection and support of transplanted allogeneic islets or human stem cell derived beta cells without systemic immune suppression and develop efficacious and safe novel therapies for targeted delivery of therapeutic cargo to the graft to treat and prevent type 1 diabetes (T1D).
To apply evolving knowledge of immunology, pharmacology, and light- based mechanisms to create novel therapeutic approaches for immune, cancer, and infectious diseases.
Identify actionable targets for the development of novel immunotherapies and cancer vaccines for developing safe and potent treatments for cancer.
Neurological complications from infections include cognitive changes and depression. We study systemic indicators of health, immune function and metabolite networks to advance our understanding and management of neurological disorders after infections.
To explore novel mechanisms in immunology that reveal new therapeutic approaches for cancer, infectious and immune mediated diseases.
Detailed interrogation of the immune system to drive development of vaccines and therapeutic strategies for cancer and infectious diseases.
To develop innovative therapeutic solutions for tissue repair and regeneration.
To investigate immunopathogenesis of cancer and HIV/AIDS and develop vaccines and immunotherapies against these diseases.
To understand the mechanisms by which abnormal function of the bone marrow and hematopoietic stem cells may contribute to the etiology of disease, such as type 1 diabetes and associated cardiovascular disease, and to harness these insights for disease prevention and treatment.