Our Research Focus

The Berg Lab investigates how T cell receptor (TCR) signaling shapes T cell development, differentiation, and function in health and disease. T cells play essential roles in immunity, autoimmunity, and tumor surveillance, and their fate is strongly influenced by the strength and context of TCR signals. Using molecular, biochemical, and in vivo approaches, the lab focuses on how varying TCR signal strength—particularly via the tyrosine kinase ITK—affects lineage decisions in the thymus, such as the development of conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, regulatory T cells, and other specialized subsets. In the periphery, we study how TCR signaling influences effector versus memory T cell responses during infections and the emergence of pathogenic T cells in autoimmune diseases. By combining transcriptional profiling, protein analyses, and mouse models, the lab aims to link intracellular signaling dynamics with functional outcomes, ultimately uncovering how TCR-mediated pathways guide immune responses.