People
Who We Are
The neuroimmune lab led by Dr. Nicholas Jendzjowsky focuses on the interplay between sensory and autonomic neurons and the immune system to regulate host defense. Dr. Jendzjowsky started his lab in September 2020 during the Covid pandemic. He obtained his position at The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. The Lundquist Institute is the largest independent, not-for-profit biomedical research institute in Los Angeles County. It has an international reputation for scientific discovery, the training of physician-scientists, and the provision of community service programs.
It is an affiliate of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and has an annual budget of ~$60 million. More than 1,000 active projects are taking place at the Institute in cardiology, emerging infections, neonatology, cancer, women's health, reproductive health, vaccine research, respiratory physiology, molecular biology, genetics, and genomics. Lundquist also actively promotes the health and well-being of nearby communities by providing more than 60 community service programs that meet various essential social and medical needs.
Our Team
Nicholas Jendzjowsky, PhD.
Investigator - The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Assistant Professor-in-Residence
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine and Physiology
David Geffen School of Medicine UCLA
Fengli Zhu
Senior Research Associate
Diane Aguilar
PhD Student (Co-supervised with Dr. Peter Jorth at Cedars Sinai.
Past Members
Lauren Benefield
Research Technician: Current: Immunis Biomedical
Katie Zyuzin
Research Associate: Current: Jackson Laboratories
Antoine Millet
UC Riverside
Our Research
We are interested in how the sensory and autonomic nervous systems regulate immunity.
Current Projects
How Do Sensory Neurons Detect Microbes?
This project focuses on unique immune sensing capabilities of sensory neurons. We use new single cell sequencing technologies along with calcium imaging and patch-clamp electrophysiology
How Do Sensory Neurons Communicate With Lymphocytes?
This project is looking at which neuropeptides stimulate lymphocytes to regulate humoral immunity in the context of bacterial infection and allergy.
How Do Efferent Projections Communicate With Lymphocytes?
This project investigates how autonomic circuitry influences lymphocytes to regulate humoral immunity in the context of bacterial infection and allergy.
How Do Epigenetic Changes To Sensory Neurons/neuroendocrine Cells Alter Reflex Regulation Of Homeostasis?
We are investigating sensory neuron/neuroendocrine cell function in response to environmental changes during the perinatal period. Using a number of techniques to implement perinatal epigenetic changes, we are then test autonomic reflex regulation of systemic arterial pressure and breathing.
Funding Sources
We are funded by the NIH NIAID, UCOP TRDRP and CTSI
