Dr. Ayala's research focuses on several areas; (1) the differential effects of sepsis on immune cell function, (2) the role of programmed cell death/apoptosis in immune dysfunction observed following hemorrhage and/or sepsis, and (3) the contribution immune and/or non-immune cell expression of co-inhibitory cell surface molecules/”check-point” protein expression contributes to the development of acute lung injury resultant from shock and/or septic insults.

Recently, the work in Dr. Ayala’s lab has centered on developing a better understanding of what the patho-physiological mechanisms of shock, tissue injury and/or sepsis have on the individual that lead to increasing their susceptibility to subsequent multiple organ failure.  Importantly, the lab has tried to do this through not only the application of what they believe are valuable pre-clinical animal models, but also through collaborative partnerships with clinician scientists here at Rhode Island Hospital and around the world, which can translate the significance of bench-side observations back to the critically ill patient. 

Dr. Ayala's Lab 2022: Dr. Ayala's Lab 2022: Priscilla Appiah, Fasika Petros, Emily Hensler, Yaping Chen, Chun-Shiang Chung, Chyna Gray-Lovell, Brandon Armstead, Al Ayala.