Highly pathogenic viruses, including filoviruses, continue to pose a significant threat to humans with their potential to cause global public health crises. We are investigating host-filovirus interactions to decipher mechanisms of pathogenesis. Additionally, we develop medical countermeasures based on vesicular stomatitis virus for emerging viral infections and conduct preclinical efficacy studies in various disease models.
Immunobiology and Molecular Virology Section, 2025. Left to right: Emily Hansen, B.Sc.; Ariel Shepley-McTaggart, V.M.D., Ph.D..; Corey Henderson, B.Sc.; Elizabeth Wrobel, Ph.D.; Ryder Gathright, B.Sc.; Andrea Marzi, Ph.D.; Jil Haase, Ph.D.; Fred Rhoderick, B.Sc.
Andrea Marzi, Ph.D.
Chief, Immunobiology and Molecular Virology Section
Education:
Dr. rer. Nat. (Ph.D.), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Diplom (M.Sc.), Freidrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Vordiplom (B.Sc.), Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany
Languages Spoken: German
B. Ryder Gathright, B.Sc.
Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow – INRO Program
Education:
B.Sc., Seattle University
Ryder is interested in emerging infectious diseases, such as filoviruses, and the molecular interactions between host and virus. In the lab, he is researching a heterologous prime-boost Ebola virus vaccination strategy and subsequent immunogenicity in a mouse model.
Jil A. Haase (née Schrader), Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow
Education:
Dr. rer. Nat. (Ph.D.), Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
B.Sc. and M.Sc., Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
Languages Spoken: German, Latin
Jil investigates underlying molecular factors that determine filovirus virulence and host-pathogen interaction. Her projects intend to unravel the underlying patterns leading to the pathogenesis observed in the infection macroenvironment, revealing novel factors for therapeutic intervention.
Emily Hansen, B.Sc.
Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow
Education:
B.Sc., Cornell University
Emily is interested in applying the One Health approach as a public health strategy to sustainably control and combat emerging and evolving infectious diseases. In the laboratory, she investigates reporter systems for filoviruses to enable mechanistic analyses outside of high containment conditions.
Corey W. Henderson, B.Sc.
Biologist
Education:
B.Sc., University of Maine at Fort Kent
J. Fred Rhoderick, B.Sc.
Biologist
Education:
B.Sc., University of Tampa
Ariel Shepley-McTaggart, V.M.D., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral IRTA Fellow
Education:
V.M.D., University of Pennsylvania, PA
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, PA
B.A., Columbia University, NY
Ariel investigates the pathogenic potential of emerging viruses using cell culture and animal models. Her project focuses on characterizing viral disease pathology and progression after infection by filoviruses with current unknown risk to human health.
Elizabeth R. Wrobel, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral IRTA Fellow
Education:
Ph.D., University of Georgia
M.S., University of Georgia
B.S., Millikin University
Elizabeth’s research interests include the development and preclinical testing of vaccines against emerging viruses. She uses a wide breadth of techniques, such as flow cytometry, to fully characterize vaccine-induced cellular and humoral immune responses. Her main project focuses on the impact of co-infections, such as HIV, on the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of filovirus vaccines.
Former Research Group Members
Kyle L. O’Donnell, Ph.D. (postdoc and Research Fellow 2019 - 2025), Research Scientist, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Olivia Durant, B.Sc. (postbac 2023 - 2025), Medical Student, Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD
Hanna Anhalt, B.Sc. (postbac 2022 – 2024), Medical Student, University of South Carolina
Paige L. Fletcher, Ph.D. (postdoc 2020-2024), Associate Study Director, NIAID Integrated Research Facility, Frederick, Maryland
Wakako Furuyama, D.V.M., Ph.D. (postdoc 2017-2021), Assistant Professor, Nagasaki University, Japan
Tylisha Gourdine, B.Sc. (postbac 2020-2022), Contractor, Vaccine Research Center, NIAID
Amanda Griffin, Ph.D. (biologist 2019-2021), Microbiologist, LV-OOC, NIAID
Benjamin Kaza, B.A. (postbac 2021), Graduate Student, Cornell University
Brody Mann, B.Sc. (postbac 2022-2023), Medical Student, Tufts University School of Medicine
Cecilia Prator, Ph.D. (postdoc 2021-2023), Senior Scientist, Gingko Bioworks, Boston, Massachusetts
Kyle Shifflett, B.Sc. (postbac 2019-2021), Graduate Student, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill