Dr. Isaac Chiu

Biography

Isaac Chiu is a Professor in the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School, focusing on the role of neural-immune interactions in pain, host defense, and immunity. His research aims to define the molecular mechanisms through which different cell types communicate health and disease. Chiu studies the interplay between nociceptors, which are peripheral sensory neurons that detect harmful stimuli and mediate pain, and immune responses. He investigates how nociceptors sense bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes and how their activation influences immune cell signaling and host defenses. His work also delves into the neuro-immune crosstalk in the skin and gastrointestinal tract, particularly in understanding how sensory neurons interact with microbes and immune cells to drive sensations like itch and regulate inflammation. Moreover, Chiu is exploring the innate immune cell death mechanisms involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal dementia, aiming to identify potential novel treatments through his findings.

Research Interests