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Oscar Medina-Contreras is an immunologist who works on the regulation of intestinal immune responses. He has a B.S. in Biology, a Ph.D. in Molecular Biomedicine, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in the School of Medicine and the Emory Children’s Center at Emory University. He was also a Research Associate in the Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection at the Institute for Biomedical Sciences at Georgia State University. Since 2015, Dr. Medina has been a Medical Sciences Researcher in the Immunology & Proteomics and the Epidemiology, Endocrinology & Nutrition Research Units at the Mexico Children’s Hospital.
Tell us a bit about the current research work that you are part of?
My main area of research is to thoroughly characterize the intestinal lamina propria macrophage populations and their unique anti-inflammatory signature, as they may promote differentiation of T regulatory cells and tolerance in the mucosa. I also study the family of inflammatory cytokines IL-36, in various models of intestinal inflammation, ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, obesity, and cancer. I am particularly interested in studying the intercommunication that exists between the cells of the immune system and the intestinal epithelium, and the modulation that these cell populations have with the commensal microbiota.
What made you choose the field of Immunology over others?
Throughout my academic career, I have maintained a profound interest in the intricate mechanisms governing organismal function. The complexity of immune regulation has particularly captivated my attention. I am convinced that the field of immunology offers an unparalleled lens through which to attain a comprehensive understanding of biological systems from a systems biology perspective.
What drew you to Immunopaedia?
Immunopaedia’s aim to share immunological knowledge for both students and clinicians, in several developing countries.
What advice do you have for fellow researchers that are interested in Immunology?
Be prepared, sometimes you will get wonderful results. While moments of success are gratifying, it is essential to acknowledge that frustration will be a frequent companion. Therefore, cultivating a high threshold for frustration is crucial for sustained progress and resilience.
If you were not involved in Immunology, what other scientific fields do you see yourself contributing to?
Astrophysics.
If you could learn and perform the assay/laboratory technique of your dreams, which one would that be and why?
I’ve done most of the techniques I wanted to do. However, the rapid development of novel methodologies necessitates frequent updates to the experimental repertoire. The capacity to monitor phenotypic and metabolic alterations in vivo and in real time would be great as it would significantly enhance research capabilities.
If anyone was visiting Mexico for the first time, what do you feel are top things they must experience?
Mexican food is a must. Museums, colonial architecture, pyramids, and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.
