Spring 2025 Grantee Highlight:
Wendy Garrett
Wendy Garrett, PhD
Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
The Garrett Lab is investigating how gut microbial-derived metabolites influence immune system function in the context of chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD affects approximately 37 million adults in the U.S. and over 850 million people globally, with limited treatment options and high rates of infection-related complications. As kidney function declines, gut microbial metabolites—specifically amino acid-derived uremic toxins—accumulate in the bloodstream, contributing to both disease progression and immune dysfunction.
Current therapies, including dialysis and pharmaceuticals, do not effectively clear these gut microbial-derived toxins (GMUTs), which are known to exacerbate kidney damage. While the role of GMUTs in CKD is increasingly recognized, their impact on adaptive immune cells remains poorly understood. The Garrett Lab is focused on identifying how these metabolites alter the function of lymphoid cells, which are critical for mounting protective immune responses.
By elucidating the connections between GMUTs, immune dysregulation, and CKD progression, this research aims to inform the development of new microbiome-targeted therapies that could improve outcomes and quality of life for patients with CKD.
