School of Medicine
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Michael R. Howitt
Assistant Professor of Pathology and of Microbiology and Immunology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur lab is broadly interested in how intestinal microbes shape our immune system to promote both health and disease. Recently we discovered that a type of intestinal epithelial cell, called tuft cells, act as sentinels stationed along the lining of the gut. Tuft cells respond to microbes, including parasites, to initiate type 2 immunity, remodel the epithelium, and alter gut physiology. Surprisingly, these changes to the intestine rely on the same chemosensory pathway found in oral taste cells. Currently, we aim to 1) elucidate the role of specific tuft cell receptors in microbial detection. 2) To understand how protozoa and bacteria within the microbiota impact host immunity. 3) Discover how tuft cells modulate surrounding cells and tissue.
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Rongting Huang
Postdoctoral Scholar, Pathology
BioDr. Huang is a computational biologist with academic interests in cancer genomics and spatial biology, particularly in the field of gynecologic cancers. During her Ph.D. under the mentorship of Dr. Yuanhua Huang, she developed statistical methods to detect allele-specific somatic copy number variations from single-cell and spatial transcriptomic data, aiming to understand genetic diversity in biological systems. Currently, her research focuses on advancing gynecologic cancer studies and women’s health through spatial technology platforms, computational modeling, and innovative data visualizations to uncover meaningful insights.
Outside of research, she enjoys hiking, rock climbing, and calligraphy, which help her stay creative and balanced.
