Notarangelo Research Group

The main goal of the Immune Deficiency Genetics Section (IDGS) is to characterize the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying inborn errors of immunity, and combined immunodeficiencies (CID) in particular, with the ultimate objective of improving diagnosis and treatment of these conditions.

Luigi D. Notarangelo, M.D.

Chief, Immune Deficiency Genetics Section
Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology
NIH Distinguished Investigator

Specialty(s): Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics
Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center

Education:

M.D., University of Pavia, Italy

Luigi D. Notarangelo received his M.D. from the University of Pavia, Italy. After completing training in pediatrics, subspecialty training in allergy/immunology, and human genetics at the University of Pavia and a postdoctoral internship with David Nelson, M.D., at the Metabolism Branch, National Cancer Institute, he was appointed associate professor and subsequently full professor of pediatrics...

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Zixiao (Annie) An, B.A.

Postbaccalaureate IRTA fellow

Education:

B.A., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA

Annie obtained her bachelor’s degrees in human biology and biostatistics from the University of Virginia. Her work in IDGS investigates atypical B cells and immune dysregulation in immunodeficient patients with STAT1GOF and STAT3DN disease in the context of autoimmunity.

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Marita Bosticardo, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., University of Torino, Italy

Dr. Bosticardo obtained her master’s degree in biology and her Ph.D. in Immunology both at University of Torino in Italy. At IDGS, her research aims at studying the pathophysiology of primary immunodeficiencies (PID), with a special focus on the characterization of defects of T-cell development and thymic abnormalities. In particular, one of her main goals is to characterize how defects in...

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Ottavia Maria Delmonte, MD, Ph.D.

Assistant Research Physician, Staff Clinician

Specialty(s): Allergy and Immunology, Pediatrics
Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center

Education:

M.D., Ph.D., University of Turin, Italy

She received her M.D., Ph.D. degree from the University of Turin, Italy. She completed a pediatric residency followed by a fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard University, USA. She speaks Italian and English.

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Esther Kang, B.S.N., R.N.

Research Nurse

Education:

B.S.N., R.N., Eastern Mennonite University

Esther obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Eastern Mennonite University. Her nursing experience includes Med/ Surg, ICU, Pre and Post Anesthesia Care. She joined the Immune Deficiency Genetics Section in 2023 and provides support for the PID natural history studies.

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Heather Kenney, B.S., M.S.

Biologist

Education:

M.S., Thomas Jefferson University 
B.S., University of Maryland

Heather Kenney obtained her bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular genetics from the University of Maryland and her master’s degree in Biomedical Science concentrating in Developmental Biology from Thomas Jefferson University. Heather has worked at NIH in the Laboratory of Infectious Disease for over 10 years as a biologist and lab manager prior to joining IDGS. Her research focuses on COVID...

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Gloria Magro, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., University of Padova, Italy

Dr. Magro obtained her master’s degree in medical biotechnologies from the University of Padova, Italy. She then obtained her Ph.D. in molecular medicine from the same university, with a period as a visiting student at Imperial College London, focusing on gene editing approaches against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1). Her work at IDGS focuses on the gene mutations underlying RAG...

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Diana Marangu-Boore, M.D., Ph.D.

Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

MBChB, MMed, Ph.D., University of Nairobi, Kenya
M.P.H., University of Washington, USA
M.Phil Paed Pulm., University of Cape Town, South Africa

Diana Marangu-Boore received her Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.D. equivalent), Master of Medicine in Paediatrics and Child Health, and Doctor of Philosophy in Tropical and Infectious Diseases degrees from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. She obtained her Master of Public Health in Global Health degree at the University of Washington. Diana completed her paediatric pulmonology fellowship at...

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Katherine (Kathy) Myint-Hpu, CRNP

Nurse Practitioner

Education:

MSN-MPH, Yale University 
B.A., Vassar College

Ms. Myint-Hpu received joint master’s degree in nursing and public health from Yale University, specializing in pediatrics and international health. Prior to coming to the NIH, she worked in the Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at Georgetown University Hospital. Ms. Myint-Hpu was with the Pediatric Consult Service of the NIH Clinical Center before joining LCIM...

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Francesca Pala, Ph.D.

Visiting Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Pasteur Institute, Paris

Dr. Pala obtained her bachelor's degree and master's degree in cellular, molecular and medical biotechnologies from the San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy. She did her Ph.D. at Pasteur Institute in Paris, where she studied the metabolic pathways controlling skeletal muscle stem cells’ behavior in muscle homeostasis and regeneration. After that, she joined the IDGS, where her research focuses...

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Giuseppe Sangiorgio, M.D.

Predoctoral Visiting Fellow

Education:

M.D., University of Catania, Italy

Giuseppe Sangiorgio obtained his M.D. degree from the University of Catania, Italy. He started his Ph.D. at the University of Catania, and he is currently serving as a visiting fellow in the Immune Deficiency Genetics Section.

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Pooi Meng Truong, B.S.N, R.N.

Research Nurse Specialist

Education:

A.S., Marymount University 
B.S.N., University of Maryland

Meng Truong obtained her Associate of Science Degree in Nursing from Marymount University, Virginia, in 1997 and her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from University of Maryland, Baltimore, in 2000. She worked as a Registered Nurse at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Rockville, since 1998 and joined NIH Clinical Center Intensive Care Unit/Critical Care Department in 2002. She also worked in...

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Former Research Group Members

Bello, Ezekiel, B.S. – Ph.D. student at University of Louisville, KY

Calzoni, Enrica, M.D., Ph.D. – Post-doctoral fellow at Columbia University, NYC

Castagnoli, Riccardo, M.D., Ph.D. – Staff Clinician, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia (Italy)

Dobbs, Kerry A, B.S. – Research Scientist, JURA Bio, Somerville, MA

Gardner, Cameron Lee, Ph.D. – Vice President of Research, JURA Bio, Somerville, MA

Kawai Tomoki, M.D., Ph.D. – Staff Clinician, Shizuoka Children’s Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan

Keles, Sevgi, M.D. – Staff Clinician, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey

Palterer, Boaz, M.D., Ph.D. – Staff Clinician, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy

Sacchetti Nicolo’, Ph.D. – Business Developer, Anemocyte, Gerenzano (VA), Italy

Sacco Keith, M.D. – Staff Physician, Phoenix Children’s Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ

Schuetz, Catharina, M.D., MSc – Associate Professor, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany

Stack, Michael Austin, B.S. – President and Executive Director, XLA Life

Vakkilainen, Svetlana, M.D. – Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Children’s Hospital Helsinki, Finland

Villa, Anna, M.D. – Group Leader, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Milan, Italy

Yamazaki Yasuhiro, M.D. – Senior Scientist, Lyell Immunopharma, Burlingame, CA

Yu, Hsin-Hui, M.D. – Staff Clinician, Assistant Professor, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan

Kayla Amini, B.S. – University of Massachusetts Medical School

Debbie Draper, B.S.N., R.N. – Retired

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