The research of Fayyaz Sutterwala, MD, PhD, research focuses on innate immunity and in particular the NLR (nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing receptors) family of molecules that are involved in the regulation of inflammatory and cell death pathways. The members of Sutterwala Laboratory has played an instrumental role in defining the functional role and mechanism of activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, a multiprotein complex that drives the activation of caspase-1. They were also amongst the first groups to postulate that the NLRP3 inflammasome plays a role in detecting and responding to cellular stress and damage. The lab members are currently working towards further defining the molecular mechanisms by which inflammaosme activation occurs and its role in host defense against a variety of pathogens. They are also interested in how inflammasomes can exacerbate inflammatory responses to sterile inflammatory insults such as ischemia and inhaled environmental pollutants.