RESEARCH
At the Nicolas-Avila Lab, we study an exciting and often overlooked role of the immune system: helping our organs function and stay healthy. Immune cells reside within nearly every tissue in the body, where they do much more than defend us from infection. They communicate with surrounding cells, sense and respond to changes in their environment, and actively support the everyday functions that keep our tissues healthy.
(1) We use varied approaches to understand how immune cells interact with other tissue elements and support normal tissue function.
(2) We also investigate how different pathophysiological conditions alter or disrupt these supportive immune functions.
(3) Ultimately, we aim to translate this knowledge into therapeutic strategies that harness beneficial immune functions to restore and enhance tissue function.
People
Meet our team and learn about their research interests, backgrounds, and the questions they are exploring in the lab.
Publications
Tissue mitochondrial activity dictates the macrophage pool size. Sci. Immunol. 2026 Sept; eaeb9244. Pena-Couso L, et al., Nicolas-Avila JA. PubMed
Rethinking Mitochondria: The Extracellular Dimension. Circ Res. 2026 Apr; 138(8): e326988. Pena-Couso L, Makuch, M, and Nicolas-Avila JA. PubMed
A Network of Macrophages Supports Mitochondrial Homeostasis in the Heart. Cell. 2020 Oct;183(1):94-109.e23. Nicolas-Avila JA. et al. PubMed
View all publications → Here
Interested in Joining Us?
We are always interested in hearing from curious and motivated scientists who want to understand how immune cells support tissue health.
Explore opportunities → Here
FUNDING
