Marzi Research Group

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 vaccines based on vesicular stomatitis virus for emerging viral infections and conduct preclinical efficacy studies in various animal models.

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Immunobiology and Molecular Virology Section, 2024. Left to right: Fred Rhoderick, B.Sc.; Olivia Durant, B.Sc.; Jil Haase. B.Sc.; Kyle O’Donnell, Ph.D.; Ryder Gathright, B.Sc.; Corey Henderson, B.Sc.; Andrea Marzi, Ph.D.

Credit: NIAID

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

Andrea is the Chief of the Immunobiology and Molecular Virology Section. She is a virologist by training, and her research focuses on the pathogenesis of filoviruses in animal models as well as the development and preclinical efficacy testing of countermeasures against emerging viruses. Ultimately, she hopes to advance vaccines and therapeutics against emerging viruses from the “bench to bedside.”

Learn more about Andrea Marzi, Ph.D.

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Olivia G. Durant, B.Sc.

Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow

Education:

B.Sc., Northeastern University

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Olivia is interested in emerging infectious diseases, specifically filoviruses, and in pursuing a career that bridges rigorous scientific inquiry and clinical medicine. In the lab, she is studying the role of filovirus glycoproteins using recombinant vesicular stomatitis viruses and a mouse model.

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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.

Learn more about B. Ryder Gathright, B.Sc.

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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.

Learn more about Jil A. Haase (née Schrader), Ph.D.

image of Jil A. Haase (née Schrader), B.Sc.

Corey W. Henderson, B.Sc.

Biologist

Education:

B.Sc., University of Maine at Fort Kent

Corey has extensive experience working with laboratory animals. He supports all projects in the lab, including bench work and animal procedures.

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Kyle L. O’Donnell, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral IRTA Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., University of North Dakota

B.Sc., Minnesota State University, Mankato

Kyle uses flowcytometry and immunological assays to characterize the immune responses after VSV vaccination and viral challenge. His work has two primary areas of focus. The first is characterizing the complete functional humoral response, including neutralization and Fc-mediated functions. The second area of focus is the characterization of the cellular immune response analyzing early NK cell phenotypes and memory T-cell phenotypes.

Learn more about Kyle L. O’Donnell, Ph.D.

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J. Fred Rhoderick, B.Sc.

Biologist

Education:

B.Sc., University of Tampa

Fred has decades of experience in the fields of molecular virology and cell biology. He assists with all projects conducted in the lab.

Learn more about J. Fred Rhoderick, B.Sc.

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Former Research Group Members

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

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