Pawan Kumar

Pawan Kumar, BVSc, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Stony Brook University. His research focuses on mucosal immunology, particularly the intricate crosstalk between immune cells, microbiota, and epithelial cells that influences intestinal and extra-intestinal host defense mechanisms.

Dr. Kumar's research interests include:

• IL-17A and mucosal host defense
• Th17 cell differentiation pathways
• IL-22 and mucosal host defense
• Intestinal immunity and microbiota interactions

His laboratory investigates how IL-17A derived from Th17 cells plays dual roles in gastrointestinal homeostasis versus systemic autoimmunity, using intestinal epithelial cell-specific IL-17 receptor knockout mouse strains. His work on IL-22 examines its protective and inflammatory roles in inflammatory bowel disease and systemic metabolic disorders. Recent research trends show an expanding focus on how mucosal immunity interfaces with metabolic disorders, obesity, and gut-liver axis communication, demonstrating the profound connections between immune regulation and metabolic health.

Dr. Kumar received his PhD from the University of Southampton, UK in 2009.

His laboratory team includes postdoctoral fellows Ankita Singh and Cody Kempen, as well as undergraduate student Ruhee Damie.