About us

Uncontrolled inflammation generates significant morbidity and mortality in many non-infectious (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease) and infectious (e.g. HIV) diseases. The central focus of Dr. Estes's research seeks to understand how immune response dysregulation leads to tissue pathology, disease progression, and in the context of infectious diseases, pathogen persistence with the goal to develop and test effective therapeutic strategies that prevent disease and restores immune function. Towards that end, we utilize non-human primate models of several highly relevant human diseases, with a strong emphasis on models of HIV infection and disease, to elucidate determinants of local and systemic inflammation and to test therapeutics that modulate the immune landscape, restore immune homeostasis, and reduce viral reservoirs.  

We have a particular interest in comprehensive characterizations of the host-pathogen interactions, including the cellular and inflammatory immune landscapes present within relevant tissue microenvironments. Our studies invite collaboration, and we work with academic, government and industry partners around the globe on a wide range of projects.