Alejandra Mendoza

Alejandra Mendoza, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research, with joint appointments in Neuroscience and the Skaggs Graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences. Her research focuses on neuro-immune interactions in barrier tissues, particularly skin, and explores how endogenous opioids modulate immune responses. She investigates B cell heterogeneity at mucosal sites and the molecular mechanisms underlying immune tolerance and inflammation.

Education:
PhD in Basic Medical Science from New York University (2015).

Research Interests:
- Skin neuro-immune interactions and sensory neuron signaling in inflammation
- Role of endogenous opioids in immune cell communication and tissue homeostasis
- B cell heterogeneity in mucosal immunity, including germinal center dynamics and memory B cell differentiation

Key Research Themes:
- Molecular basis of immune-tissue interactions
- Transcriptional regulation in immune cell specialization
- Development of novel therapies for chronic inflammatory conditions

Lab Activities:
Conducts multidisciplinary studies combining immunology, genomics, and cell biology to understand immune response modulation in barrier tissues.