The research is focussed on the immune responses to pathogens and vaccines in poultry and with the aim to determine how the early innate responses modulate the adaptive responses and assess their role in the induction of protective immunity, particularly at musosal surfaces. Most projects are on economically important pathogens such as avian influenza virus, infectious bronchitis virus, Eimeria species, avian pathogenic E. coli and Campylobacter. For the past years, the fundamental immunological research is focussed on understanding antigen uptake at the mucosae, the phenotype antigen presenting cells in the chicken and their interaction with natural killer cells and B and T cells driving innate and adaptive responses. Ultimately, this knowledge will improve the immune responses leading to clearance of pathogens, strong memory responses and novel vaccine approaches through antigen targeting and development of novel adjuvants. 

More recently, I expanded into the field of avian in vitro and ex vivo organ cultures, and have made substantial progress in growing 3D and 2D intestinal enteroids and precision cut lung slices. These systems are multifunctional and can be used to investigate the mode of action of feed additives, adjuvants, drug and toxicology screening, host-pathogen interaction, diagnostic tool, genetic screening and many other purposes.  These organoid models are utilised in collaborative and commercial projects with a wide variety of industrial partners.