Dr. Shams Tabrez earned his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Jamia Millia Islamia, (India), where his research focused on host microRNA-mediated alterations in macrophage lipid metabolic pathways during Leishmania donovani infection. Following his doctoral studies, he joined the National Institute of Immunology (India), where he contributed to malaria vaccine development.

In 2023, he joined the Department of Pathology at the University of Michigan as a Research fellow, investigating diverse aspects of mucosal immunology and allergic inflammation. His research explored circadian regulation and chemokine-mediated homing of ILCPs. The role of retinoic acid receptors in regulating Th2 cells and mast cells in an ovalbumin-induced food allergy model in BALB/c mice, and the role of SP5 engineered CD4⁺ regulatory T cells in naïve T cells induced colitis in Rag-/- mouse model.

He has recently joined Dr. Simon Hogan’s laboratory, where his research focuses on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing rare mucosal immune cell populations in allergic and inflammatory diseases, with particular emphasis on IL-9-producing mucosal mast cells and their contributions to IgE-mediated food allergy. Through his research, he aims to advance our understanding of mucosal immune regulation and uncover new avenues for therapeutic intervention in allergic disease.

Outside the laboratory, Shams enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and playing pickleball.