My research program explores the interactions among biomaterials, innate immune cells and adsorbed proteins to better understand the underlying mechanisms that drive host responses to implanted biomedical materials and devices. Specifically, we are interested in defining the contributions tissue-derived proteins and other macromolecules within adsorbed protein layers on biomaterial surfaces, and studying activation of pattern recognition pathways in responding inflammatory cells, such as macrophages. The goal of our research is advance biomaterial science and improve material-tissue integration by better understanding the mechanisms driving host responses and foreign body reactions. In parallel, we are also developing in vitro human models for screening novel biomaterial candidates and studying human host responses, as well as in vivo material characterization.