Summary
Breastfeeding is associated with immunological benefits that persist beyond infancy, including reduced risk of respiratory infection. While these benefits are often attributed to immunoglobulins and antimicrobial compounds, human milk is also rich in T cells whose function is unknown. A central goal of my research career is to elucidate the protective function of breastmilk T cells against infant respiratory infection. To this end, I propose to investigate the respiratory-mammary axis of cellular immunity and its role in the establishment, retention, and response of tissue resident memory T ce
