As faculty at McMaster University, I developed a program to investigate host-microbial and dietary interactions in the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, I am interested in the role microbial factors play in modulating immune responses in the context of chronic intestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease. Mechanistically, I focus on commensal and opportunistic pathogen metabolism and proteolytic activity, with the long-term objective to develop therapies to prevent or treat chronic inflammatory and autoimmune conditions.