Gabriel Nuñez

Prof. Gabriel Nuñez is the Paul de Kruif Endowed Professor of Pathology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he has been since 1991. He holds an M.D. from the University of Seville (Spain) and completed postdoctoral training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Washington University in Saint Louis. He served as an External Fellow in the FRESCO Programme from July 2021 to March 2022.

Education:

• M.D., University of Seville, Spain
• Postdoctoral Training: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas
• Postdoctoral Training: Washington University, Saint Louis

Research Interests: His laboratory focuses on host-microbial interactions, pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, and microbiota's role in host defense and disease. Key areas include Nod-like receptors (NLRs) and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in immune responses, intestinal/skin inflammation models, inflammasome mechanisms, and microbiota's role in colonization resistance and pathogen eradication. Current studies explore microbiota regulation in gut and skin inflammation.

Awards:

• Elected Member of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine
• Paul de Kruif Endowed Professorship in Academic Pathology
• FRESCO Programme External Fellowship

Advising & Grants: Dr. Nuñez has mentored over 100 scientists (65 postdoctoral fellows), with most becoming independent investigators. His research is NIH-funded. Current postdocs: Joseph Pickard, Ph.D. and Gustavo Caballero-Flores, Ph.D.

Labs/Teams: His lab investigates NOD1/NOD2's role in Crohn’s disease, microbial pathogenesis, and microbiota-driven inflammation. Collaborations include genetically modified mouse models and biochemical studies of NLR signaling.