Dr. Gavins is a pharmacologist whose research interest focuses on developing anti-inflammatory strategies that promote resolution of inflammation following ischemia reperfusion injury (I/RI) in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. She is specifically interested in the role of the microvasculature as a dynamic-interface between circulating blood- and immune-cells, lymphatics and tissue. Her group studies how circulating cells communicate, adhere and migrate across endothelial borders, along with investigating how circulating and resident cells can render systemic inflammatory responses and alter local inflammatory and thrombotic states. More recently Dr. Gavins has expanded her research to also cover microvascular dysfunction in the setting of organ transplantation, as evidenced by enhanced solute barrier function failure, neutrophil recruitment and endothelial damage.

Dr. Stokes major area of research is the inflammatory impact of cytomegalovirus on the microvasculature. Her diverse research team is comprised of post-doctoral scientists and students, with an international reputation. Their research crosses the boundaries between Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology and uses multidisciplinary approaches to advance understanding of the vascular physiology and pathophysiology of inflammatory and related disorders, at the molecular, cellular, tissue and whole organism levels. In particular she and her team focus on the microcirculation, studying leukocyte trafficking and endothelial dysfunction in both the brain and the periphery.