Barrier Immunity Section, Lab of Viral Diseases, NIAID, DIR.
The focus of the BIS is to understand the mechanisms that underly viral diseases. The work focuses, predominantly, on understanding the differential disease outcomes between natural hosts of immunodeficiency lentiviral infections and progressive infections. Our studies rely heavily on cellular and molecular immunological analyses in tissues.

Barrier Immunity section 2022: Back row (left to right): Jason Brenchley, Senior Investigator, Andrew Rahmberg, Postdoctoral fellow, Jacob Flynn, Graduate student. Middle row (left to right): Alex Ortiz O’sick, Staff Scientist, Kelsie Brooks, Postdoctoral fellow, Jen Simpson, Postdoctoral fellow. Front row (left to right): Fabiola Castello Casta, postbaccalaureate fellow, Debra Yee, biologist.
Jason Brenchley, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Senior Investigator, Barrier Immunity Section
Specialty(s): Pathology, Medical Microbiology
Education:
M.S., 1999, Idaho State University
Ph.D., 2003, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas

Kelsie L. Brooks, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Emory University
B.S., Oklahoma University

Fabiola Marie Castello Casta, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Postbaccalaureate Fellow
Education:
B.S., Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Jacob Flynn, B.S. (He/Him/His)
Ph.D. Graduate Student
Education:
B.S., Cornell University

Alexandra M. Ortiz O’Sick, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Staff Scientist
Education:
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
BA, University of Virginia
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Andrew Rahmberg, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., Harvard University
B.S., Boston University

Jennifer Simpson, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., University of Queensland, Australia
B.S., University of Queensland, Australia

Debra Yee, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Biologist
Education:
B.S., University of Maryland
Former Research Group Members
Charlotte Langner, BS (2019-2021, post-bac), currently Ph.D. student UC Berkeley
JC Mudd, Ph.D. (2014-2020, post-doc), currently assistant professor Tulane University
Stephen Lai, BS (2016-2019, post-bac), currently medical student California Northstate University
Carly Starke, BS (2015-2019, Ph.D. student), currently post-doc Fred Hutch
Sarah DiNapoli, BS (2014-2016, post-bac), currently MSTP student Johns Hopkins University
Zachary Klase, Ph.D. (2012-2014, post-doc), currently Associate professor Drexel University
Molly Perkins, D.Phil. (2011-2014, post-doc), currently Associate director, Bluebird Bio
Nina Calantone, BS (2012-2014, post-bac), currently MSTP student Northwestern University
Nichole Klatt, Ph.D. (2009-2012, post-doc), currently Professor University of Minnesota
Lauren Canary, BS (2010-2012, post-bac), currently Epidemiologist Centers for Disease Control