Our Research

Welcome to the Koch Lab. We study maternal-fetal interactions, focusing on immunity, metabolism and the microbiota. A complex community of microbes colonizes the mammalian gut immediately following birth. Establishing peace with these invaders is essential for neonatal health, yet how the developing immune system accomplishes this task is unclear. We’ve shown that maternal antibodies transmitted from mother to offspring ‘instruct’ mucosal immune responses in neonates. We are expanding on these findings and working to identify novel pathways through which maternal-offspring interactions regulate neonatal health. The Koch Lab is part of the Basic Science Division at the Fred Hutch, a group of diverse and interactive laboratories that focus on fundamental questions in biology.