About Bertin Lab

Our lab utilizes various cellular, molecular, biochemical, and immunological techniques as well as murine in vivo models to study human inflammatory diseases and cancer. Current research projects in the lab are focused on chronic inflammation and cancer development, particularly in relation to inflammasome signaling and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. One of our projects aims to investigate the link between chronic exposure to common airborne allergens, chronic lung inflammation, and the risk of developing lung cancer.

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Although the relationship between inflammation and cancer is now widely accepted, the exact mechanisms by which chronic inflammation affects the risk of developing cancer remain unclear. Our lab investigates the link between chronic inflammation and cancer and has a particular focus on the IL-17 and IL-1 signaling pathways and the role of inflammasomes. Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that detect self or non-self-molecules, stress signals, and cellular damage. Inflammasomes are a central component of host defense and major contributors to various inflammatory diseases. We are currently investigating the role of specific inflammasomes in immune and epithelial cells using in vitro and in vivo models of lung cancer. We are also collaborating with other labs at UCSD and at the NCI to evaluate the translational applications of our findings using biospecimens and genomic/transcriptomic datasets from lung cancer patients.