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Overview

Dr. Sonnenberg is now adjunct faculty at Weill Cornell Medicine and moved his primary appointment & laboratory to UCLA in October 2026.

www.SonnenbergLab.org

The immune system has numerous functions that are essential for human health, such as protection from infection or malignancy, regulation of metabolic homeostasis, and promotion of tissue repair. However, inappropriate immune responses drive chronic inflammatory disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmunity, neurodegeneration, allergies, or various cancers. Therefore, a greater understanding of the immune system will fundamentally advance biomedical research and drive the development of novel preventative, therapeutic and curative treatment strategies for human diseases. The only way to accomplish this is to fully define the complex cellular and molecular networks by which the immune system functionally interacts with itself, other mammalian cell types and beneficial or pathogenic microbes. This is the long-term research goal of the Sonnenberg Laboratory, with a focus on driving highly novel advances, innovative expertise, and paradigm-shifting research that requires out-of-the-box ideas and fresh perspectives.

Highlights

  1. 1
    Nature · 2022
    LKLan KangJZJordan ZhouRSRobbyn SockolowGFGregory Field Sonnenberg
    PMID: 36071169PMCID: PMC9613541DOISenior author276 citations
  2. 2
    Nature · 2024
    JZJordan ZhouVHVeronika HornJNJazib Naseer UddinRSRobbyn SockolowGFGregory Field Sonnenberg
    PMID: 38867048PMCID: PMC11298788DOISenior author48 citations
  3. 3
    Cell · 2021
    MAManish A ShahGFGregory Field Sonnenberg
    PMID: 34407392PMCID: PMC8454863DOISenior author202 citations

Publications

91 publications

Funding

41 grantsView NIH portfolio on RePORTER ↗

Active

22 grants
  • PI
    Novel innate lymphocyte pathways controlling mucosal immunity
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2026–2031
    U01AI201051-01
  • KP
    Defining novel neuro-immune pathways that regulate gut physiology
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2025–2030Career
    K08DK144639-01
  • Co-I
    The role of microbiota amino acid metabolism in cancer
    National Cancer Institute · 2025–2030
    R01CA299862-01
  • PI
    Cytokine regulation of mucosal inflammation
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2019–2029· 2 renewals
    R01AI145989-06
  • PI
    Immune regulation of intestinal health and disease
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2016–2028· 2 renewals
    R01AI123368-08
  • Co-I
    PICI Grant and Main Collaboration Agreement with Multiple Subprojects
    Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy · 2024–2028
    PICI 235170-01
  • PI
    Novel mechanisms protecting the gut from TNF
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2028· 2 renewals
    R37AI174468-04S1
  • Co-I
    Immune Privilege, CNS Autoimmunity, and Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2023–2028
    R01AI174064-04
  • PI
    6th Annual NYC IBD Research Day
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2026–2027
    CCFA 1715651
  • PI
    Innate-like lymphocyte regulation of host-microbiota interactions in cancer
    National Cancer Institute · 2022–2027· 2 renewals
    R01CA274534-04S1
  • PI
    Defining host-microbe interactions in cancer and immunotherapy
    Cancer Research Institute, Inc. · 2019–2027
    CRI STAR 193030-02
  • PI
    EA Pharma Research Collaboration Agreement
    EA Pharma Co., Ltd. · 2020–2027BioPharma Alliance
    BP 202629-01
  • PI
    Innate immune regulation of neuroinflammation
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2021–2027
    R01AI162936-05
  • PI
    Harnessing fecal RNA to better understand IBD and associated therapeutic response
    Foli Bio INC · 2025–2027Contract
    SRA 245630-01
  • PI
    Innate immune regulation of host-microbe interactions
    Burroughs Wellcome Fund · 2018–2027
    1017780
  • PI
    Boston Pharma Inc. Biopharma Agreement
    Boston Pharmaceuticals, Inc · 2020–2026BioPharma Alliance
    BP 203728-01
  • MPI
    MIST Early Career Scholar Awards in Mucosal Immunology
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2016–2026· 4 renewals
    U01AI095608-16S1
  • KP
    Defining novel mechanisms of microbiota in regulating anti-tumor responses
    National Cancer Institute · 2024–2026Career
    K99CA290052-01
  • KP
    [2021] National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF)
    National Science Foundation · 2023–2026Fellowship
    NSF 223639-01
  • KP
    Investigating molecular mechanisms behind gut bacterial transamination and IBD
    Kenneth Rainin Foundation · 2022–2026
    KRF 224323-01
  • KP
    ILC3 Syndecan-4 in the Regulation of Intestinal Health and Inflammation
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2023–2026Fellowship
    F31DK134187-01A1
  • KP
    Regulation of Enteric Nervous System Function by Group 3 Innate Lymphoid Cells
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2023–2026Fellowship
    F32DK136248-01
Completed grants (19)
  • PI
    Defining a novel mechanism of mucosal healing
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2019–2025
    R01AI143842-05
  • KP
    Defining mechanisms of immune tolerance to the intestinal microbiota
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2023–2024
    CCFA 225841-01
  • KP
    CTLA-4 regulation of intestinal health and inflammation
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2022–2024
    CCFA 902451
  • KP
    Defining a novel regulator of innate lymphoid cells and intestinal health
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2021–2024
    CCFA #831404
  • PI
    Defining host-microbiota interactions during colorectal cancer and immune checkpoint blockade
    National Cancer Institute · 2020–2023
    R21CA249274-02
  • KP
    Tolerogenic and pathologic interactions between ILCs and T cells in autoimmunity
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2019–2022Fellowship
    F31AI138389-01A1
  • MPI
    Mucosal Immune Defense Mechanisms of the Urinary Bladder
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2018–2021 · via Washington University, The· 3 renewals
    U01AI095542-10
  • KP
    IL-2-dependent regulation of intestinal health and inflammation
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2019–2021
    CCFA 608975
  • PI
    Modulating host-microbiota interactions to improve cancer immunotherapies
    Cancer Research Institute, Inc. · 2018–2021
    CRI CLIP
  • KP
    Interrogation of a Novel Immuno-Regulatory Pathway in Colitis-Associated Cancer
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2017–2020Fellowship
    CCFA 519428
  • PI
    Harnessing the Co-Evolution of Mammals and Microbes to Engineer Novel Vaccines
    Searle Scholars Program · 2016–2020
    SSP-2016-1467
  • PI
    Regulating Disparate Proinflammatory CD4+ T Cells in Asthma
    American Asthma Foundation · 2016–2020
    16-0109
  • KP
    The Molecular Basis of Host-Microbiota Interactions
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2017–2020Fellowship
    F32AI124517-02
  • PI
    Investigating intestinal selection as a preventative or therapeutic strategy for intestinal inflammation
    EA Pharma Co., Ltd. · 2017–2019Contract
    SRA 170861-01
  • PI
    Defining Host Interactions With Lymphoid Tissue-Resident Commensal Bacteria
    National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2016–2019
    R21DK110262-02
  • PI
    Regulation of Host-Commensal Relationships in Human Health and Disease
    Office of the Director, NIH · 2014–2018
    DP5OD012116-03
  • KP
    CCFA Genetics Initiative Pilot Feasibility Study: Xenophagy Defects in Patients With Monogenic Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America · 2015–2018 · via The General Hospital Corporation (dba Massachusetts General Hospital)
    MGH 3765 EWOF
  • PI
    Immune Regulation of Intestinal Health and Disease
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2015–2016
    R56AI114724-01A1
  • MPI
    Human MAIT Cells in Airway Mucosal Immune Responses to Intracellular Infections: Pilot Project #1 Innate Lymphoid Cell Regulation of Adaptive Immunity and Intestinal Homeostasis
    National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases · 2014–2015 · via Oregon Health & Science University
    U01AI 095776-03

Honors & distinctions

1 honor
  • Searle Scholars Program · Searle Scholars Program · 2016

Available technologies

2 technologiesView full WCM portfolio ↗

News mentions

8 mentionsView all WCM news ↗
  • Stress-Linked Gut Viruses May Help Tumors Evade the Immune System
    June 25, 2026

    Chronic psychological stress can help tumors evade immune attack through a chain of molecular events involving gut bacteria and viruses within those bacteria, according to a study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators.

  • Immune Tolerance to Gut Microbes Is Initiated by a Key Bacterial Sensor
    June 16, 2025

    A study led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators has found that immune tolerance to gut microbes depends on an ancient bacterial-sensing protein called STING—normally considered a trigger for inflammation.

  • Putting the Brakes on Chronic Inflammation
    June 12, 2024

    Scientists at Weill Cornell Medicine discovered a previously unknown link between two key pathways that regulate the immune system in mammals—a finding that impacts our understanding of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

  • NIH Awards MERIT Grant for Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
    July 27, 2023

    Dr. Gregory F. Sonnenberg, The Henry R. Erle, M.D.-Roberts Family Associate Professor of Medicine and head of basic research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been awarded a $3.26 million, five-year MERIT grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, to investigate the underlying mechanisms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

  • Study Finds Bacterial Toxin May Trigger Multiple Sclerosis Onset and Relapse
    March 24, 2023

    A specific toxin-producing gut bacteria may be responsible for both triggering the onset of multiple sclerosis (MS) and ongoing disease activity.

Show 3 more mentions
  • Awards and Honors Across Weill Cornell Medicine: October 30, 2020
    October 30, 2020

    Awards, honors, prizes and achievements for the month of October.

  • Immune Cells Heal the Intestine by Controlling Iron
    April 14, 2020

    An iron-regulating molecule called hepcidin is produced by the immune system and restricts the growth of gut bacteria after an intestinal injury, helping to heal the lining of the intestine, according to a study by Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian and Institut Cochin investigators.

  • Weill Cornell Investigator Receives Inaugural Cancer Research Institute STAR Award
    August 1, 2019

    Dr. Gregory F. Sonnenberg, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology in medicine in the Weill Department of Medicine’s Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and a member of the Jill Roberts Institute for Research in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Weill Cornell Medicine, has been named an awardee for the inaugural CRI Lloyd J. Old STAR (Scientists Taking Risks) Program by the Cancer Research Institute.

Mentoring

7 menteesAll publications with mentees →