Bio-X Affiliated Faculty

Dr. Tawfik's overall research interest is to understand how the immune system interacts with the nervous system after injury to promote the transition from acute to chronic pain. In her clinical practice, Dr. Tawfik cares for patients with persistent pain that often occurs after minor trauma such as fracture or surgery. Using basic science approaches including whole system immune phenotyping with mass cytometry and genetic manipulation of peripheral and central immune cells, her group seeks to dissect the temporal and tissue-specific contribution of these cells to either promotion or inhibition of healing.