I’m an Assistant Professor of Immunology in the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, and our research focuses on understanding nutritional regulation of inflammation. We aim to determine how diet and gut microbiota regulate inflammatory cytokines in the intestine and distant tissue sites. Out of the lab, my favorite pastime is trying out different foods. It’s especially ironic because I literally study the effects of diet on health and it’s not the healthiest hobby, since the most irresistible dishes are often not the best for health. I also love more healthier hobbies like hiking. Regarding ICIS, I would like to highlight that this society has played a pivotal role in my career by providing opportunities to connect with people and showcase my research program, and therefore it holds a special place in my heart!
Please tell us your name, degree, where you currently work, and position.
I am Mohammad Arifuzzaman. I also go by ‘Arif’. I’m an Assistant Professor of Immunology in the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, USA.
Where did you do your training?
I completed my PhD at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA. My PhD mentor was Dr. Soman Abraham. I did my postdoctoral training with Dr. David Artis at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Briefly, what is your research about?
Our research focuses on understanding nutritional regulation of inflammation. We aim to determine how diet and gut microbiota regulate inflammatory cytokines in the intestine and distant tissue sites. We are primarily interested in the immunoregulatory signals mediated by various groups of bioactive small molecules produced by the gut microbiota called microbial metabolites.
Tell us your thoughts about ICIS: how has being involved in the Cytokine Society helped your career?
This society has played a pivotal role in my career by providing opportunities to connect with people and showcase my research program, and therefore it holds a special place in my heart. What I value most about Cytokines meeting is its perfect balance in size: large enough to unite diverse scientists under a shared vision, yet small enough to foster genuine interactions, idea exchange, and meaningful collaborations. I have thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from past meetings and I’m very much looking forward to future ones.
Are there any particular friendships or collaborations that came specifically out of Cytokines meetings?
Absolutely! I met several people whose work I had long admired and followed for the first time at these meetings, and I’ve built lasting friendships and stayed in touch ever since. This year’s meeting in Seattle was especially valuable, as I was able to connect with several colleagues who offered insightful advice and potential collaborative opportunities—both of which are critical as I work to establish my lab as a new PI.
What Cytokines meeting(s) have been your favorites? Tell us about any special memories or anecdotes.
It was the 2022 annual meeting in Hawaii. It was my first major platform to present my research and get feedback during my postdoctoral training—which was a defining moment for me.
What do you like to do when not in the lab?
My favorite pastime is trying out different foods—and there’s truly no better place for that than New York City! Of course, it’s not the healthiest hobby, since the most irresistible dishes are often not the best for health. It’s especially ironic (and a little embarrassing) because I literally study the effects of diet on health, yet I often fail to follow the very advice I love to give others about making better food choices. I also love to hike, by no means to compensate—it really doesn’t work that way!
What is the best life/career advice you’ve ever received?
Invest in your relationships, professional or personal.
What book or TV show are you reading/watching right now that you recommend?
Adolescence.
What is your favorite cytokine?
I would say IL-33. I call it a “mystery cytokine” because it acts as both a nuclear factor and an extracellular signaling molecule, a dual role that challenges traditional understandings of cytokines. We are still unclear about its exact nuclear role in different settings. It lacks a signal sequence for secretion but is released by living cells under certain stress like cell death or tissue damage, and we have many distinct mechanisms proposed for its secretion. Its diverse functions—ranging from promoting inflammatory type 2 immune responses in allergies to having tissue-protective roles in some diseases—also contribute to its complexity.
Connect with Mohammad on Twitter/X: @dr_arifuzzaman