Naomi McGovern

Naomi McGovern is a Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the University of Cambridge, affiliated with the School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Pathology. Her research focuses on fetal immunology, with an emphasis on macrophages, dendritic cells, the placenta, and Hofbauer cells. Her laboratory investigates the distinct properties of human macrophages and dendritic cells in both health and disease, particularly within fetal membranes and reproductive organs. The research employs techniques such as confocal microscopy, multiparameter flow cytometry, mass cytometry, single cell RNA sequencing, and bioinformatics.

Naomi McGovern is a researcher in immunology, focusing on the functional and phenotypic characterization of human dendritic cells and their role in immune responses. Her work explores the heterogeneity of dendritic cell subsets, their lineage relationships, and their interactions with other immune cells such as T cells and innate lymphoid cells. She has investigated the role of transcription factors like IRF4 and GATA-2 in dendritic cell development and function, as well as the impact of microbial exposure on fetal immune cell priming. Her research also addresses genetic mutations leading to immunodeficiencies, such as dendritic cell, monocyte, B and NK lymphoid deficiency. McGovern's studies contribute to understanding immune system development and disease mechanisms.