Ingalls, Robin R., M.D.
Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Residency training: University Hospital/Boston University Medical Center
Fellowship training: Boston University School of Medicine
Dr. Ingalls’ research interests relate to the ability of innate immune system to sense invasion by a pathogenic organism and respond appropriately in order to control infection is paramount to survival. To that end, an array of receptors and binding proteins have evolved as part of the innate immune system to detect and respond to invading microorganisms and other danger signals. My laboratory is interested in the receptors and intracellular signaling pathways that contribute to the host response to Gram-negative bacteria, with a particular focus on mucosal immunity and gonococcal and chlamydial infections. We have a variety of in vitro and in vivo models in the laboratory to address the interaction of phagocytes and epithelial cells with N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis as a means to understanding the pathogenesis of pelvic inflammatory disease and tubal infertility; we investigate the role of C. pneumoniae in acute and chronic lung infections as well as atherosclerosis using established mouse models; and we have active clinical research projects with collaborators to investigate the role of infections and innate immunity in placental function and adverse birth outcomes.