Laboratory of Immune System Biology

Lenardo Research Group

To carry out the research performed in the Molecular Development of the Immune System Section (MDISS), our team of dedicated scientific and clinical staff study patients using our combined expertise in genetics/genomics, molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, and immunology.

Michael Lenardo, M.D.

Chief, Molecular Development of the Immune System Section
Co-Director, NIAID Clinical Genomics Program

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

Education:

M.D., Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO

B.A., Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Michael Lenardo received a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Sciences from Johns Hopkins University and obtained his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Washington University in St. Louis. He performed clinical work in internal medicine and research at the University of Iowa. He received postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...

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Michael Lenardo, M.D.

Jing Cui, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Developmental Biology, Fudan University, China

Languages Spoken: Chinese

My research focuses on understanding the pathological mechanism of early-onset inflammatory bowel disease due to genetic defects. I am also interested in developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies for cancers.

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Justin Gabrielski, B.S. (He/Him/His)

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

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Education:

B.S., Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University – New Brunswick 

My research focuses on the GIMAP protein family, which are a group of immunoregulatory GTPases whose individual loss of function can result in lymphopenia, splenomegaly, and other immunological disorders.

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Ping Jiang, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Biologist

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Education:

B.S., Environmental Engineering, Liaoning University, China

Languages Spoken: Chinese

I am developing a method to detect the changes in magnesium levels in T lymphocytes.

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Mary Magliocco, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Clinical Project Manager

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Education:

B.S., Psychology, University of Pittsburgh

Drawing on my experience and interest in research, clinical trials, and data/software management, I provide support and lead data efforts and operations for various clinical and research projects in the lab.

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Heather Moorman, M.S.P.H., B.S.N., R.N. (She/Her/Hers)

Clinical Coordinator

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Education:

M.S.P.H., Health Systems concentration, Johns Hopkins University
B.S.N., Population Health certificate, Georgetown University

I am in charge of the NIH site for our clinical trial which is studying use of a human monoclonal antibody to treat CHAPLE disease.

Learn more about Heather Moorman, M.S.P.H., B.S.N., R.N.

Alison Pagalilauan, M.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Laboratory Technician

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Education:

M.S., Biology, George Washington University

My current work supports large-scale whole-exome sequencing to identify rare variants among patient samples from the Canadian Collaborative Project on Genetic Susceptibility to Multiple Sclerosis (CCPGSMS). I am involved in human sample processing and assisting with other on-going projects when possible.

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Rachel Palmer, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

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

Education:

B.S., Biochemistry, Georgetown University

The goal of my project is to use chemical sensing to understand magnesium ion flux and potential magnesium transporters in lymphocytes by finding and developing magnesium probes.

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Ann Yong-jin Park, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Molecular Medicine, Cornell University

Languages Spoken: Korean

My research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of a novel human immune disease caused by loss of function mutations in GTPase of immunity-associated protein 5 (GIMAP5), which is a small GTPase highly expressed in immune cells.

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Carol Trageser (She/Her/Hers)

Lab Manager

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Ensuring the lab runs smoothly, I order and stock all lab supplies, inventory the mouse room, maintain all lab equipment, and other numerous vital tasks.

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Sarah Weber, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Project Manager

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Education:

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Working closely with Dr. Lenardo, I assist with day-to-day lab management in a multitude of capacities such as writing scientific reports, implementing, and optimizing procedures for lab efficiency, and liaison to the technology transfer office.

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Chen Xiang, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Languages Spoken: Chinese

My research efforts are directed toward investigating and comprehending the underlying pathological mechanisms of atherosclerosis attributed to either gene mutations or autoimmune diseases.

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Leilei Xu, Ph.D. (He/Him/His)

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Biology, University of Science and Technology of China

Languages Spoken: Chinese

Using whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 screens, my research mainly focuses on identifying the potential key mechanisms in restimulation-induced cell death (RICD) of T cells. My interests also include characterizing the potential molecular mechanism of Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS) and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.

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Lixin Zheng, M.D. (He/Him/His)

Staff Scientist

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Education:

M.D., The Third Military Medical University, China

Languages Spoken: Chinese

I currently have two main projects in the lab: developing therapeutic immunogens for treating autoimmune disorders and profiling lipidomics and metabolomics of inherent immune disorders.

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Maria Zhu, B.A. (She/Her/Hers)

Postbaccalaureate Fellow

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Education:

B.A., Biological Chemistry and Classics, Grinnell College

Languages Spoken: Mandarin

I am working with Dr. Jing Cui on understanding how rare mutations can lead to the early onset of inflammatory bowel disease.

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Elif Everest, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Postdoctoral Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey

Languages Spoken: Turkish

My major research interest is understanding the genetics and pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis.

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Former Research Group Members

This list only is comprised of former members since 2020.

Alex Waldman, Graduate Student in NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. Returned to Emory University to complete M.D.

Simone Gottlieb, B.A., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D. program at Northwestern University.

Runa Cheng, B.S., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D./Ph.D. program at University of California, San Francisco.

Yikun Yao, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow. Professor & Principal Investigator at Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai.

Satoshi Kubo, M.D., Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow. Associate Professor & Principal Investigator at University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

Matthew Lynberg, B.S., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D. program at Georgetown University.

Rhea Kataria, B.S., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D./Ph.D. program at University of Chicago and NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program.

Zinan Zhang, A.B., Graduate Student in NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program. Returned to Harvard University to complete M.D.

Jessica Phan, B.A., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D./Ph.D. program at Harvard University and NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program.

Samantha Shafer, B.S., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D./Ph.D. program at Emory University and NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program.

Juan Ravell, M.D., Staff Clinician. Physician at Hackensack University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health.

Sarah Cook, Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D. program at Vanderbilt University.

Samuel Chauvin, B.S., Postbaccalaureate Fellow. Enrolled into M.D./Ph.D. program at University of Pennsylvania.

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