Projects
The Finney lab focuses on understanding the host response to parasites, the parasites themselves, and developing drugs against parasites.
Host Responses to intestinal parasites in more natural contexts
Host responses to intestinal parasites are not fully understood and rarely studied in more natural context (multiple doses, multiple infections). Understanding how the immune system fails to control these parasites in a more realistic setting may help identify new targets for therapy.
Current Projects
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The role of eosinophils during Heligmosomoides bakeri infection.
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The role of intestinal stem cells during Heligmosomoides bakeri infection.
Understanding intestinal parasite biology
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Parasite biology is understudied. Using -omic tools, we now have the ability to understand basic parasite functions. This will provide new targets for anti-parasitic drug development.
Current Projects
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Feeding in Heligmosomoides bakeri.
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Single cell RNA mapping of Heligmosomoides bakeri.
Drug discovery
Drugs against intestinal worms are few and resistance is rising. Designing new therapeutics is urgently needed.
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Current Project
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Developing in vitro and in vivo drug testing assays for intestinal worms.
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Testing novel compounds.