Baylor PsychoNeuroImmunology Lab

Exploring the relationship between the brain and the immune system

Research

The field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is broadly interested in understanding how psychological factors impact our health and disease vulnerability as well as how our health impacts how we feel, think, and behave.

The Baylor PNI Lab Group is specifically interested in exploring the mechanisms underlying the development and maintenance of fatigue, depression, and motivational deficits in the context of cancer and inflammation (e.g., stress, aging, hyperglycemia).

Representative Publications

Sex differences in the behavioral and immune responses of mice to tumor growth and cancer therapy

There is significant variability in the expression of cancer-related fatigue. Understanding the factors that account for this variation provide insight into the underlying mechanisms. One important, but often overlooked, variable is biological sex. While a few clinical studies have indicated that female patients report higher levels of fatigue, these studies are subject to potential socio-culture reporting biases...