The science of the neuroimmune synapse
How immune cells and molecules influence synaptic density and function in psychiatric disease.
Psychiatric illnesses like schizophrenia have long been understood as disorders of brain circuitry — but a growing body of evidence points to the immune system as a key player in shaping those circuits. The Kalinowski Laboratory works at this intersection, asking how immune processes influence the synapse in health and disease.
Combining molecular biology, protein science, and advanced quantitative methods, our work spans from bench to bedside — always aimed at understanding the biology behind our patients’ experiences.
Immune cells & synaptic density
We are investigating the relationship between specific immune cell populations — including neutrophils, classical monocytes, plasma cells, and T cells — and synaptic density in schizophrenia. Using rigorous statistical approaches that account for factors such as age and genetic risk (e.g., C4A), we compare patients and controls to identify immune signatures associated with synaptic changes.
Our analyses emphasize methodological rigor — including sensitivity testing, influence checks, and careful correction for multiple comparisons — to ensure findings are robust and reproducible.
From molecules to meaning
Molecular & protein science
Characterizing the biological players at the neuroimmune interface.
Clinical research
Grounding our questions in real patient populations.
Quantitative rigor
Advanced statistical modeling, sensitivity analyses, and reproducible methods.
Translation
Connecting mechanism to meaning for patients with serious mental illness.
Understanding the synapse could change care
Understanding how the immune system shapes the synapse could reveal new biological targets — and new ways of thinking about conditions that have too long resisted explanation. For our patients, that understanding is the first step toward better care.