Immune cells are known for helping our body to fight infections. However, immune cells are present even in tissues that are not typically exposed to potential infections. This suggests that immune cells actively support normal tissue function beyond host defense. In his lab, Hernandez Moura Silva seeks to understand “non-immune” mechanisms mediated by immune cells that support normal tissue function. By understanding the defining principles of homeostasis, he hopes to develop new strategies to tune molecular pathways to reestablish normal tissue function in pathological conditions, such as type II diabetes.