The overarching goal of my research program and professional research career is to build a translational and cross-disciplined program involving bioimaging and infectious disease studies. I am leading two projects that address major challenges in microbial-driven diseases, including: (1) directly targeting/imaging the invading pathogen using self-targeted engineered probes and (2) understanding the determinants of the cellular response to microbial triggers in the form of immune cell structures known as granulomas in health and disease for improved diagnostics and therapies.