The way maternal antibodies are passed to newborns varies dramatically across species: humans primarily transfer antibodies through the placenta, while dogs and horses rely almost entirely on antibodies in colostrum and milk.

Our lab studies these species-specific differences to understand how maternal immunity is established in early life. We are using a combination of functional and biophysical antibody assays to study how transfer is mediated. This comparative approach is important for veterinary species and also sheds light on fundamental principles of maternal–neonatal immune interactions that are relevant to human health.