Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology

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, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology
Chief, Immune Deficiency Genetics Section

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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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Photo of Luigi D. Notarangelo, M.D.

Kayla Amini, B.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Post-Baccalaureate IRTA Fellow

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Education:

B.S., University of Maryland, College Park, MD

Languages Spoken: Farsi, Spanish

Kayla Amini obtained her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences with a specialization in neurobiology & physiology from University of Maryland, College Park. In the Immune Deficiency Genetics Section, her research focuses on T cell development in patients with Primary Immune Deficiencies via an artificial thymic organoid system that allows for mature T cell generation from CD34+ cells or induced
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Portrait of Kayla Amini, B.S.

Marita Bosticardo, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Staff Scientist

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Education:

Ph.D., University of Torino, Italy

Languages Spoken: Italian

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. (She/Her/Hers)

Assistant Research Physician, Staff Clinician

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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

Languages Spoken: Italian

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.

Portrait of Ottavia Delmonte, M.D., Ph.D.

Debbie Draper, B.S.N., R.N. (She/Her/Hers)

Research Nurse Specialist

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Education:

B.S.N., R.N., 1990, Rutgers University

Debbie Draper received a BSN and RN degree in nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey in 1990. Debbie has spent most of her career at NIH working with children and adults in a variety of settings. She has over 20 years of experience as a research nurse at the NIH.

Portrait of Debbie Draper, B.S.N, R.N.

Heather Kenney, B.S., M.S. (She/Her/Hers)

Biologist

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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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Portrait of Heather Kenney, M.S., B.S.

Katherine (Kathy) Myint-Hpu, CRNP (She/Her/Hers)

Nurse Practitioner

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Education:

MSN-MPH, 1998, Yale University, New Haven, CT

B.A., 1989, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Languages Spoken: Spanish

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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Portrait of Katherine (Kathy) Myint-Hpu, CRNP

Francesca Pala, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)

Visiting Fellow

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Education:

Ph.D., Pasteur Institute, Paris

Languages Spoken: Italian, French

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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Portrait of Francesca Pala, Ph.D.

Meng Truong, B.S.N, R.N. (She/Her/Hers)

Research Nurse Specialist

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Education:

A.S., 1997, Marymount University, Arlington, VA

B.S.N, 2000, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD

Languages Spoken: Cantonese, Mandarin, Hakka, Malay, Vietnamese

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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Portrait of Meng Truong, B.S.N, R.N.

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

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