Welcome to the Lab

Welcome to the Obar Laboratory in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth in Lebanon, New Hampshire. Our laboratory is focused on elucidating the mechanisms by which inflammatory leukocytes are recruited to and activated in the lungs during infections to mediate either resistance to infection, in most cases, or lead to tissue immunopathology if they are inappropriately recruited to or activated in the tissue. Specifically, we are interested in two experimental systems: 1) understanding host resistance against fungal infection with Aspergillus fumigatus and 2) understanding virus-induced susceptibility to Aspergillus fumigatus. Overall, the focus of our current studies is to understand the molecular mechanisms through which pathogens interact with host cells and how these interactions may differ with different isolates of each pathogen in the hope of developing novel and/or improved therapeutic interventions. The Obar Lab supports and fights for diversity in STEM, education, and society. We are dedicated to speaking up for equity and standing against racial injustice in order to build an actively antiracist community at Dartmouth, the MCB graduate program and the Upper Valley. We support our mission through scientific outreach to underrepresented students and fellows, advocacy for BIPOC in STEM, and a no-tolerance policy for racism or discrimination.