Assistant Professor Dequina Nicholas from the UC Irvine Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences was recently featured in Nature Cell Biology, joining leading researchers in discussing critical questions in lipid cell biology. Professor Nicholas focused on the largely unexplored role of lipids in activating immune responses, emphasizing the need to shift the field’s attention from lipid metabolism to lipid presentation and sensing. Her perspective highlights how lipids influence immune cell behavior, including how they respond to dietary changes and contribute to overall health.
Professor Nicholas pointed to key challenges that have limited progress, such as the lack of adequate models and the difficulty of measuring lipids in biological systems. She called for interdisciplinary collaborations to develop new tools capable of identifying and tracking lipid-specific immune cells. These advancements could help researchers better understand how lipids regulate immune responses and contribute to conditions like inflammation.
Her inclusion in this high-profile discussion highlights her leadership in the field and underscores the Dunlop School’s role in fostering research that addresses complex biological challenges. By tackling these questions, Professor Nicholas and her peers are helping to drive innovations that could transform the understanding of metabolism, immune health and disease prevention.