The Crawford Lab
About Us
Meet the Principal Investigator
Welcome to The Crawford Lab! Here we delve into the effects of agricultural pollutants on the gut, lungs, and metabolism. Led by Dr. Meli'sa S. Crawford, our team investigates the impact of these pollutants on human health. Explore our work, publications, and team members to learn more!
Our research projects focus on inter-organ communication with special emphasis on gastrointestinal homeostasis. Along with understanding the intricate relationship between agricultural pollutants and human health, we also aim to provide valuable insights for health professionals and policy makers to improve public health.
Gut Health
The gastrointestinal tract plays a crucial role in maintaining health and homeostasis. My research investigates how exposure to pollutants from agricultural and industrial activities disrupts gut physiology, focusing on intestinal barrier integrity, immune modulation, and the gut microbiome.
​
The overarching goal of this work is to bridge the gap between environmental exposures and gut health, shedding light on the systemic consequences of disrupted gut physiology.
This research aims to inform strategies for mitigating the impact of pollution and developing interventions to support gut health, particularly in communities with high exposure to environmental pollutants.
Representative IF image of colon
credit: Dr. Meli'sa Crawford
Research
Lung Function
The intersection of agriculture and public health represents a critical frontier in understanding the effects of environmental exposures on human physiology. My research focuses on elucidating how pollutants generated from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and crop production impact lung function and respiratory health. Specifically, I aim to investigate the pathways by which airborne particulate matter and bioaerosols alter pulmonary physiology, immune responses, and susceptibility to chronic respiratory and gut comorbidities.
Metabolic Impact
Environmental pollution poses a significant and often underexplored threat to metabolic health, with far-reaching implications for chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders. These projects will focus on examining how exposure to pollutants from agricultural and industrial activities affects key metabolic pathways, including glucose homeostasis and lipid metabolism.
Through a multidisciplinary approach, this research investigates the molecular mechanisms by which inhaled and ingested pollutants disrupt metabolic regulation, induce systemic inflammation, and impair energy balance. Utilizing advanced metabolomics and transcriptomics techniques we aim to identify critical exposure biomarkers and pathways that mediate these adverse effects.
Representative image of lung histology credit: Dr. Meli'sa Crawford