Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology

Hickman Research Group

The Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit aims to make fundamental discoveries about the mechanisms underlying effective antiviral immune responses.

Heather Hickman, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Chief, Viral Immunity and Pathogenesis Unit

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

Dr. Heather Hickman received her Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Oklahoma, where she investigated the presentation of virus-derived peptides by major histocompatibility (MHC) class I molecules. Dr. Hickman first joined the NIH as a postdoctoral fellow in the Laboratory of Diseases, NIAID, to study antiviral immunity under the mentorship of Dr. Jonathan Yewdell.

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Melanie Barksdale, B.A. (She/Her/Hers)

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

B.A., Molecular Biology, Colorado College

My project investigates antiviral protection provided by type I innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) in the oral mucosa and other mucosal tissues. I use a number of different approaches, including microscopy, to understand and visualize how ILC1s sense and respond to viral infection.

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Morgan Erin Brisse, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

Ph.D., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota
B.S., Biochemistry with honors, University of Michigan

My project focuses on the development of antiviral immunity in the lymph node. I am specifically trying to understand how the flow of lymph is altered by different inflammatory stimuli, including mosquito saliva. Further, I am looking at the role of specific lymphatic endothelial cell proteins in the transport of molecules to and through the lymph node.

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 Anurag Kalia, M.Sc., Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

Doctorate, National Institute of Immunology, Delhi, India

M.Sc., Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai, India

Languages Spoken: Hindi

Lymph nodes are the site of interaction of pathogens with other immune cells. Macrophages provide the first line of defense against pathogens and play a crucial role in capturing and transporting the antigens to underlying B cells. My research focuses on understanding the role of macrophages in establishing the humoral responses within the lymph nodes employing Zika and vaccinia virus mouse models...

Learn more about  Anurag Kalia, M.Sc., Ph.D.

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Raymond Andrew Lujan, B.S.N., R.N. (He/Him/His)

Predoctoral Fellow

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

B.S.N., The University of Texas at El Paso

Languages Spoken: Spanish

I am investigating the dynamics of group I innate lymphoid cells (ILC1s) and CD8+ T cells in the tissue during viral infection. Specifically, I investigate cytotoxic protease expression and how cytokines influence their expression during poxvirus infection.

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Katie Nunez, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

B.S., Towson University

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Luxin Pei, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow

Contact: For contact information, search the NIH Enterprise Directory.

Education:

Ph.D., NIH-Johns Hopkins University Graduate Partnership Program

B.S., The Pennsylvania State University

Languages Spoken: Mandarin

T cells undergo significant metabolic changes in response to evading pathogens. My project focuses on the metabolic control and mitochondria dynamics of antiviral T cells during vaccinia virus infection.

Learn more about Luxin Pei, Ph.D.

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Former Research Group Members

Cynthia Aguilar, B.S., Graduate Student, University of Michigan

Joanna Droppo, B.S., Medical Scribe

Courtney Malo, Ph.D., Editor, Science Translational Medicine

Dan McManus, B.S., Graduate Student, Emory University

Glennys V. Reynoso, R.N., B.S.

John Shannon, D.Phil., Consultant, Booz Allen

Sophia Vrba, B.S., M.D./Ph.D., Student, University of Michigan

Olivia Wise-Dent, B.A., Scientist, MilliporeSigma

Erica Wynne-Jones, Ph.D., Scientist, Takeda Pharmaceuticals

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