Our diverse, talented research group support the vision and clinical and translational studies of the lab.
Suchitra Hourigan, M.D.
Chief, Clinical Microbiome Unit (CMU)
Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Specialty(s): Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatrics Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center
Education:
M.D., University of Oxford, UK

Mickayla Elle Bacorn, B.A., B.S. (She/Her/Hers)
IRTA Trainee
Education:
B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
B.A., Modern Language and Linguistics, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Qing Chen, Ph.D.
Lab Manager
Education:
Ph.D., Chinese Academy of Sciences
Languages Spoken: Chinese

Phoebe Olivia LaPoint, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Postbaccalaureate IRTA Trainee
Education:
B.S., Biology, Elon University

Shira Levy, M.A., CCRP (She/Her/Hers)
Program Manager
Education:
M.A., George Mason University
B.S., Columbia University
B.A., Jewish Theological Seminary

Ranjani Namasivayam, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Research Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., University of Georgia

Brynn Donnelly O’Laughlin, M.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition
Education:
Clinical Fellow in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, 2024, Children's National Hospital
Chief Resident, 2021, Medical University of South Carolina
Pediatrics Residency, 2020, Medical University of South Carolina
M.D., Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, 2017, Florida International University
B.S., Biology, 2013, University of Florida

Anal Patel, M.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Education:
M.D., American International Medical University
B.S., Manipal University
Languages Spoken: Gujarati, Hindi

Emily Robbins, D.O. (She/Her/Hers)
Allergy and Immunology Fellow
Education:
Pediatrics Residency, Zucker School of Medicine, Northwell Health
D.O., A.T. Still University
B.A., Colby College

Hector Romero Soto, B.S. (He/Him/His)
Postbaccalaureate Trainee
Education:
B.S., Biology, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Rachel Elizabeth Strength, M.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Clinical Fellow in Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Education:
NIH Fellowship in Medicine and Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency, University of Tennessee
M.D., Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport
B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis

Ashleigh D. Sutton, M.S. (She/Her/Hers)
Education:
M.Sc., Georgetown University, Washington, DC
B.Sc., Towson University, Towson, MD
Languages Spoken: Spanish

Former Research Group Members
- Cynthia Omoge Akagbosu, M.D., M.A.