Laura A. Solt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Immunology and Microbiology
Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology
Laura A. Solt is a biomedical scientist whose work explores how the immune system interprets molecular cues — and how those signals can shift immune responses from protective to harmful. Known for her clarity of vision and collaborative approach, Solt has built a research program that connects fundamental biology with pressing medical needs, particularly chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
At the core of Solt’s research is a simple but far-reaching question: Why do some immune responses fail to shut off? Her laboratory focuses on the internal control systems of immune cells and how they regulate inflammation. By studying nuclear receptors — proteins that sense naturally occurring molecules in the body — her team has uncovered new ways immune responses are fine-tuned. Because many nuclear receptors are already targeted by commonly prescribed medicines, these discoveries offer promising paths toward improved treatments.
Solt’s work has revealed previously unrecognized mechanisms that help restrain overly aggressive immune cells. Those insights are reshaping how scientists approach immune-driven conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis, with an emphasis on reducing harmful inflammation while preserving essential immune protection. Her research has also extended into related areas, including cancer biology and eye disease, through interdisciplinary collaborations that link basic research with therapeutic development.
A defining feature of Solt’s work is her interest in how timing and environment influence immunity. She studies how factors including metabolism and daily biological rhythms affect immune cell behavior, providing a more complete picture of how immunity functions in real life. As Solt notes in describing her approach, “Understanding how immune cells integrate signals from metabolism, circadian rhythms and their environment is key to developing safer and more precise treatments.”
Department chair Susana Valente describes Solt as an internationally recognized investigator whose work focuses on how immune responses are regulated, emphasizing discoveries that are opening new therapeutic opportunities for inflammatory disease and cancer.