Seder Research Group

Learn more about Robert Seder, M.D.

Robert Seder, M.D.

Chief, Cellular Immunology Section

Contact: rseder@mail.nih.gov

Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center

Education:

M.D., 1986, Tufts University, Medford, MA

B.A., 1981, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

Dr. Seder received his B.A. in Natural Science at Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and his M.D. at Tufts University in 1986 and completed his residency in internal medicine at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Seder did his postdoctoral training at NIAID with Dr. William Paul. He is currently Chief of the Cellular Immunology Section in the Vaccine Research Center in the NIAID, NIH. Dr...

Patricia A. Darrah, Ph.D.

Head, TB Unit

Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH

Education:

Ph.D., 2001, Microbiology and Immunology, Temple University School of Medicine

Dr. Darrah joined the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Vaccine Research Center (VRC) in 2002 as a post-doctoral fellow in the Cellular Immunology Section under Dr. Robert Seder where she began studying the cellular mechanisms by which vaccines mediate protection. She transitioned to a Staff Scientist in 2009 and became Head of the VRC’s Tuberculosis Unit in 2016. Her work focuses on how vaccine...

Learn more about Patricia A. Darrah, Ph.D.

Azza Hussein Idris, M.D., Ph.D

Head of the Malaria Unit in the Seder Lab

Education:

Board Certified, General Pediatrics and Peds ID

Subspeciality Training, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 2015, Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

Pediatric Residency Training, 2004, Emory University, Atlanta

M.D., Ph.D, 2001, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

B.Sc, Biology, MIT

Languages Spoken: Arabic, French

Dr. Azza Idris is a physician scientist trained as an immunologist and pediatric infectious disease specialist with interests in discovery science and translational research. As the head of the Malaria Unit, Dr. Idris leads efforts on discovery, development and evaluation of antibodies and vaccines against malaria.

Learn more about Azza Hussein Idris, M.D., Ph.D

Portrait of Azza Hussein Idris, M.D./Ph.D.

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November 18, 2022

Reynolds Research Group

Read more about Reynolds Research Group

Our research is focused primarily on epidemiologic, immunologic, and clinical features of HIV, STDs, and COVID-19 infections both domestically and internationally. Specifically, we examine the epidemiologic features of HIV-1 infections in developing countries and the United States, while assessing the effectiveness of biomedical interventions to control HIV, including circumcision, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and vaccine development. We have examined the various methods of quantifying the latent HIV reservoir in virally suppressed Ugandan men and women with identification of immunologic predictors of the reservoir size. In addition, we are interested in exploring the continuing syndemic between HIV and sexually transmitted infections and their roles in prevention, PrEP, and clinical complications. With the advent of COVID, the group pivoted some of our expertise to examine the serologic and cellular responses to SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses to aid in defining the epidemiologic features, immunologic features, and clinical responses to COVID-19 in the U.S. and Africa.

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Reynolds Research Group

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Steven J. Reynolds, M.D., M.P.H., F.R.C.P. (C)

Chief, International HIV/STD Section
Scientific Director, ICER Uganda

Contact: sr357h@nih.gov

Education:

M.P.H., 2002, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

M.D.C.M., 1994, McGill University

B.Sc., University of Toronto

Languages Spoken: French

Dr. Reynolds obtained his M.D. from McGill University in 1994 and went on to receive specialty certification in internal medicine, medical microbiology and infectious diseases. He completed his M.P.H. in 2002 at Johns Hopkins University while working on an HIV prevention collaboration in Pune, India. He is a senior clinician at NIAID and an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at Johns...

Learn more about Steven J. Reynolds, M.D., M.P.H., F.R.C.P. (C)

Oliver Laeyendecker, M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Epidemiologist

Education:

Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University

M.B.A., Johns Hopkins University

M.S., Johns Hopkins University

B.A., Reed College

Languages Spoken: Dutch

Dr. Laeyendecker is a laboratory scientist and infectious disease epidemiologist engaged in studies of SARS-CoV-2, HSV-2, HCV and HIV both domestically and internationally. He uses use of molecular and serologic biomarkers to determine the movement and pathologic impact of these viruses on human populations. His particular area of expertise is the development and application of methods for...

Learn more about Oliver Laeyendecker, M.S., M.B.A., Ph.D.

Portrait of Oliver Laeyendecker, MS, MBA, Ph.D.

Andrew Redd, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., Harvard University
B.Sc., North Carolina State University

Dr. Redd explores several areas of HIV virology including the role of HIV Superinfection in natural disease, as well as viral diversity in the African HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Learn more about Andrew Redd, Ph.D.

Former Research Group Members

2007 - Melissa (Riedesel) Rolfes, postbac IRTA, obtained her Ph.D. in Epidemiology at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, then became an Officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and now an Epidemiologist in the Influenza Division, CDC

2008 - Thoai Ngo, postbac IRTA, MHS from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Ph.D. in demography and epidemiology from London School for Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, currently Vice Present of Social and Behavioral Science Research for Population Council

2008 - Mona Rezapour, postbac IRTA, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, now is a practicing clinician in Gastroenterology at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

2009 - Samantha Conroy, postbac IRTA, graduated from Geisinger Commonwealth Medical College, a locum tenens clinician currently in Hawera, New-Zealand

2010 - Aleisha Collinson-Streng, postbac IRTA, graduated from University of Maryland School of Nursing, currently Senior Research Nurse at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics

2013 - Sarah K. Wendel, postbac IRTA graduated from Georgetown University Medical School, Emergency Medicine Fellow at Wake Forest University, currently an Instructor in Emergency Medicine at the University of Colorado

2014 - Andrew Longosz, postbac IRTA, MBA/MPH program at the Johns Hopkins University, currently Consultant at Quintiles IMS

2014 - Melanie (Frank) Kiener, postbac IRTA, graduated from Emory University School of Medicine, currently an internal medical specialist at the University of Washington Neighborhood Belltown Clinic

2015 - Eshan Patel, postbac IRTA, MPH student at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, currently Ph.D. student in the Department of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

2016 - Allison Kirkpatrick, postbac IRTA, graduated from University of Maryland Medical School, currently a medical resident at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

2018 - Anna Eisenberg, postbac IRTA currently at medical school at University of Michigan

2019 - George Mwinnyaa, currently Ph.D. student in the Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

2019 - Jada Hackman, postbac IRTA, currently Ph.D. student at University College of London

2021 - Owen Baker, postbac IRTA, currently a research specialist at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Section

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January 08, 2025

Moir Research Group

Read more about Moir Research Group

Immunologic studies of human B cells in HIV and other infectious and non-infectious diseases

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Moir Research Group

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Learn more about Susan Moir, Ph.D.

Susan Moir, Ph.D.

Chief, B-Cell Immunology Section

Education: Ph.D., 1996, University Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Dr. Moir received her Ph.D. in immunology and microbiology from the University Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, in 1996. Her Ph.D. studies were supported by a scholarship from the National Health Research and Development Program of Canada. In 1996, Dr. Moir came to the NIAID Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR) as a Visiting Fellow. Dr. Moir was appointed to the position of Staff Scientist in...

Felipe Lopes de Assis, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., M.S., Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil

B.S., University of Itauna, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Languages Spoken: Portuguese

Dr. Assis joined the LIR as a Visiting Fellow in early 2020. His research initially focused on understanding the regulatory mechanisms involved on B cell maturation during chronic HIV infection but since the pandemic, has focused on evaluating the correlates and potential determinants of immunity in response to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccination. He has also implemented multiomic technologies to...

Learn more about Felipe Lopes de Assis, Ph.D.

Clarisa M. Buckner, Ph.D.

Biologist

Education:

Ph.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, Bronx, NY

Dr. Buckner uses novel technologies that combine confocal microscopy and flow cytometry to study B cells as well as other populations in lymphoid tissue sections of people living with HIV. She provides expertise in immunophenotyping, antigen-specific and functional B-cell analyses to the Moir lab and to many collaborators in NIAID and beyond. In addition, she oversees the processing and storage of...

Learn more about Clarisa M. Buckner, Ph.D.

Lela Kardava, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist, B-Cell Immunology Section

Education:

Ph.D., 2002, Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi, Georgia

Dr. Kardava received her Ph.D. in Immunology from the Tbilisi State University, Georgia in 2002. She conducted her postdoctoral research at the Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh. In 2008, Dr. Kardava joined the Laboratory of Immunoregulation (LIR) at NIAID as a postdoctoral visiting fellow and in 2011, she became a research fellow. In 2016, she was appointed as a staff scientist in the B-Cell Immunology Section, LIR.

Learn more about Lela Kardava, Ph.D.

Connor Smith

Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow

Education:

B.S., University of Virginia, VA

Connor Smith’s research is focused on using single-cell multiomic technology to investigate the transcriptional and phenotypic properties of B cells that underlie their response to vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 as well as during HIV infection.

Learn more about Connor Smith

Wei Wang, M.S.

Biologist

Education:

M.S., Fisk University, Nashville, TN

M.S., Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China

Languages Spoken: Chinese

Wei utilizes her background in molecular biology and microbiology to actively support research projects involved studying the role of B cells in the pathogenesis of HIV disease. She is currently working on B-cell responses to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines.

Learn more about Wei Wang, M.S.

Xiaozhen Zhang, M.S.

Biologist

Education:

M.S., University of California – Irvine at Irvine, CA

Languages Spoken: Mandarin

Xiaozhen Zhang is currently focused on investigating the molecular aspects of B cell receptor repertoires during HIV and SARS-Cov-2 infection using single B cell cloning technology, BCR bulk sequencing and 10x genomics technology. She also performs neutralization, binding, and competition assays to assess neutralization and binding activities of anti-HIV and anti-SARS-Cov-2 antibodies.

Learn more about Xiaozhen Zhang, M.S.

Section

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Members of the B-Cell Immunology Section Research Group

October 07, 2022

Chun Research Group

Read more about Chun Research Group

Persistence of viral reservoirs in HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Viral dynamics and immunologic control of HIV replication in infected individuals.
Development of therapeutic strategies aimed at achieving sustained virologic control in HIV-infected individuals in the absence of antiretroviral therapy.

Short Title

Chun Research Group

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Learn more about Tae-Wook Chun, Ph.D.

Tae-Wook Chun, Ph.D.

Chief, HIV Immunovirology Section

Education:

Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Dr. Chun received his Ph.D. from the Biochemistry, Cellular, and Molecular Biology Graduate Program from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine where he the first to discover latently infected, resting CD4+ T cells in HIV-infected individuals. In 1997, he was recruited by Dr. Anthony Fauci in the Laboratory of Immunoregulation at NIAID to pursue his studies on HIV persistence in infected...

Jana Blazkova, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist, HIV Immunovirology Section

Education:

Ph.D., Mediterranean University of Aix-Marseille II, France

Dr. Blazkova received her Ph.D. in Immunology at the Mediterranean University of Aix-Marseille II, France in 2006. She conducted postdoctoral in Prague, and in 2010, joined NIAID as a Visiting Fellow. In 2015, she worked at Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar, for one year as a Senior Postdoctoral Fellow. In 2016, Dr. Blazkova returned to the NIAID and was appointed as a Staff Scientist in the HIV Immunovirology section, LIR.

Learn more about Jana Blazkova, Ph.D.

J. Shawn Justement, B.S.

Senior Research Assistant

Education:

B.S., Old Dominion University

Brooke D. Kennedy, B.A.

Postbaccalaureate Fellow, Intramural Research Training Awards Program

Education:

B.A., University of Colorado, Boulder

Maegan R. Manning, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate Fellow, Intramural Research Training Awards Program

Education:

B.S., Hobart and William Smith College

Victoria Shi, M.S.

Senior Research Assistant

Education:

M.S., Rutgers University

Former Research Group Members

Mohammad Ali Rai, M.B.,B.S., D.Phil., Staff Clinician, Clinical Trials Program, NIAID

Section

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October 07, 2022

Metcalfe Research Group

Read more about Metcalfe Research Group

The mast cell is the focus of the Mast Cell Biology Section (MCBS) research effort. This multifunctional inflammatory cell is involved in both innate and acquired immunity and plays a central role in the induction of allergic inflammation. An integrated program investigating mast cell biology includes studies into the growth and differentiation of mast cells, mast-cell signal transduction, and the products generated by mast cells that lead to disease. The MCBS program emphasizes basic research that may be translated into the clinic and from the clinic to the bench, where protocols include studies on the pathogenesis of anaphylaxis, physical urticarias and clonal mast cell disorders. Research efforts have contributed to the identification of mutations in mast cell disease, understanding signaling through KIT and the high affinity IgE receptor, and how alterations in the control of mast cell mediator production affect human disease.

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Metcalfe Research Group

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Dean D. Metcalfe, M.D., M.S.

Special Volunteer
Scientist Emeritus

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

Education:

M.D., University of Tennessee

M.S., University of Michigan

Dr. Metcalfe received his M.D. at the University of Tennessee and an M.S. in microbiology at the University of Michigan, where he also did a residency in internal medicine. Dr. Metcalfe then trained in allergy and immunology during a fellowship at NIAID, followed by training in rheumatology while a Fellow in Immunology at the Robert Brigham Hospital in Boston. In 1995, he was appointed as the...

Learn more about Dean D. Metcalfe, M.D., M.S.

Yun Bai, M.S.

Biologist

Education:

M.S., University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX

Languages Spoken: Chinese

Focus is on the studies of the genetic analysis and specific gene expression related with human mast cell diseases. Provides research assistance on the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases and clonal mast cell disorders.

Learn more about Yun Bai, M.S.

Geethani Bandara, Ph.D.

Biologist

Education:

University of Pittsburgh

Languages Spoken: Sinhala

Geethani Bandara received her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the Mast Cell Biology Section in 2008. Her research interests are the identification and characterization of mast cell receptors and their contribution to pathogenesis of mast cell associated diseases.

Learn more about Geethani Bandara, Ph.D.

Hyejeong Bolan

Study Coordinator

Education:

University of Phoenix

Languages Spoken: Korean

Lead study coordinator responsible for education, regulatory affairs, and management of protocols for pediatric mastocytosis and for evaluation of the prevalence and significance of clonal mast cell disease in patients with idiopathic or allergen-specific anaphylaxis. Recruits and enrolls patients and healthy volunteer subjects for stimulation and apheresis collection of CD34+ cells in...

Learn more about Hyejeong Bolan

Melody C. Carter, M.D.

Staff Clinician, Mast Cell Biology Section

Education:

M. D., Tulane University Medical School
B.S., Biology, Newcomb College, Tulane University

Dr. Carter received her M.D. from Tulane University Medical School and completed her pediatric residency training at Emory University in Atlanta. She started her career in general pediatrics in an inner-city clinic. Dr. Carter was an assistant professor on the clinical faculty at Emory University for 12 years, with the final 5 years including clinical research in pediatric allergic diseases. She...

Learn more about Melody C. Carter, M.D.

Robin Eisch

Study Coordinator

Education:

B.S., Nursing

Research Nurse working with studies of conditions affecting mast cells. Protocols include a natural history study of mastocytosis, a clinical trial using sarilumab/placebo in patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis, and a natural history study for patients with systemic capillary leak syndrome.

Learn more about Robin Eisch

Guido Falduto, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Biology, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Projects include contribution of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in mast cell biology, as well as the molecular, functional and pharmacological outcomes in mast cells containing the common KIT variants D816V and/or V560G.

Learn more about Guido Falduto, Ph.D.

Hirsh D. Komarow, M.D.

Staff Clinician, Mast Cell Biology Section

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

Education:

B. S., Tulane University

M.D., Sackler School of Medicine

Languages Spoken: Hebrew

Dr. Komarow obtained his M.D. from Sackler School of Medicine in Ramat Aviv, Israel, and completed his pediatric residency at MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve Medical Center in Cleveland, OH. Dr. Komarow completed his Allergy and Immunology Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in 2001 and was a Research Fellow in the Genetics and Genomics Branch of the National Institute...

Learn more about Hirsh D. Komarow, M.D.

Andrea Luker, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Virginia Commonwealth University

Research focuses on germinal center reactions and antibody responses to murine models of inflammation. Specializes in high-parameter flow cytometry.

Learn more about Andrea Luker, Ph.D.

Ana Olivera, Ph.D.

Associate Scientist, Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases

Education:

Ph.D., Complutense University of Madrid, Spain

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Dr. Olivera received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Universidad Complutense of Madrid, Spain, and relocated to the US with a postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Georgetown University, Washington DC, where she later became a Research Assistant Professor.

Learn more about Ana Olivera, Ph.D.

Annika Pfeiffer-Daniels, Ph.D

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Genetics, Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Languages Spoken: German

Dr. Annika Pfeiffer received her Ph.D. in genetics and cell biology from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. She joined the Mast Cell Biology Section as a postdoctoral fellow in 2019. Dr. Pfeiffer’s research interest is to understand the formation, characteristics and functions of extracellular vesicles secreted by mast cells.

Learn more about Annika Pfeiffer-Daniels, Ph.D

Linda Scott

Nurse Practitioner

Education:

MSN, Georgetown University
BSN, University of MD College Park

Linda Scott completed her master’s in nursing, with a minor in HIV studies, in 1996 from Georgetown University. She became a certified family nurse practitioner in 1996. She started her nursing career in the National Cancer Institute focusing on HIV oncology in 1991. After completing her graduate program and NP certification, she transitioned to the position of research nurse practitioner in the...

Learn more about Linda Scott

Yuzhi Yin, M.D., Ph.D.

Biologist

Education:

Beijing Medical University

Languages Spoken: Chinese

Involved in improving culture of Human mast cells. Investigating the expression and function of CD25 and CD30 in mastocytosis patients. Also, evaluates basophil activation in mastocytosis patients.

Learn more about Yuzhi Yin, M.D., Ph.D.

Former Research Group Members

Valerie Hox, M.D., Ph.D.- Assistant Professor Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques universitaires, Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium

Rosa Muñoz-Cano, M.D., Ph.D.- Pneumonology department, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Joseph M. Kulinski, Ph.D.- Regulatory Science Biologist, CBER, FDA

Araceli Tobio-Ageitos, Ph.D.- Assistant Professor, Pharmacology Department, Veterinary School, University of Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

Do-Kyun Kim, Ph.D.- Full Professor, Korea Zoonosis Research Institute, Jeonbuk National University, Iksan, Jeonbuk, Republic of Korea

Andrea Naranjo-Erazo, Ph.D.- OITE Research Ethics Training Coordinator, NIH

Section

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October 06, 2022

Koup Research Group

Read more about Koup Research Group

The mission of the Immunology Laboratory (IML) is to investigate novel aspects of cellular immune responses to pathogens in support of the rational development of a vaccine against HIV and other lethal human viral pathogens.

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Koup Research Group

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Learn more about Richard Koup, M.D.

Richard Koup, M.D.

Deputy Director, Vaccine Research Center
Chief, Immunology Laboratory and Immunology Section
Acting Chief, Vaccine Immunology Program
Acting Head, Tissue Analysis Core

Contact: rkoup@mail.nih.gov

Education:

M.D., 1982, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
M.S., 1979, University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT
B.S., 1978, University of Connecticut, Stamford, CT

Dr. Koup received his B.S. in biophysics in 1978 and his M.S. in biochemistry in 1979 from the University of Connecticut. He attended Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he obtained his M.D. in 1982. Dr. Koup served an internship and residency in internal medicine with the Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University Medical School, Providence, Rhode Island, from 1982 to 1985.

David Ambrozak, M.S.

Clinical Research Scientist

Education:

M.S., Medical and Research Technology, University of Maryland at Baltimore
B.S., Medical Technology, University of Texas Medical Branch of Galveston

David Ambrozak works with the Flow Cytometry Core as a flow cytometry specialist and the head of the sorting department. He maintains sorters and performs cell sorts for all of the VRC. He also helps users with panel design and gating strategies to optimally isolate populations of interest. The team sorts a wide range of cell types and from both human and animal samples.

Learn more about David Ambrozak, M.S.

Kristin Boswell, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison
B.S., Virginia Tech University

Dr. Boswell’s current research focus is the characterization of SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses in vaccinated and convalescent individuals. This work includes the characterization SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in longitudinal samples using polychromatic flow cytometry, the identification of T cell epitopes by ELISpot, and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing and transcriptomic analysis of epitope-specific T...

Learn more about Kristin Boswell, Ph.D.

Lauren Bowman, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow

Education:

B.S., Randolph-Macon College

Lauren Bowman currently works to identify SARS-CoV-2 T cell epitopes in vaccinated and recovering individuals and establish transgenic T cell lines and in vitro assays to better understand SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. Her work aims to address how T cells recognize individual epitopes, determine their HLA restriction, and identify T cells that cross-react with other human coronaviruses.

Learn more about Lauren Bowman, B.S.

Joseph P. Casazza, M.D., Ph.D.

Staff Clinician

Contact: jcasazza@mail.nih.gov

Specialty(s): Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine
Provides direct clinical care to patients at NIH Clinical Center

Education:

Ph.D., Biochemistry, Iowa State University
M.D., Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dr. Casazza received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Iowa State University in 1978 and then did a Post-doc at the National Institutes on Alcohol and Alcoholism studying near equilibrium thermodynamics and intermediary metabolism. At the age of 40, he started medical school in 1991 at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center where he did his internship and residency in Internal Medicine...

Learn more about Joseph P. Casazza, M.D., Ph.D.

Joana Dias, Ph.D.

Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Karolinska Institute, Sweden

Dr. Dias studies HIV therapeutic strategies in preclinical non-human primate (NHP) models. Her research focuses on understanding the virological and immunological effects of broadly neutralizing antibodies administered in the acute phase of simian HIV (SHIV) infection. Dr. Dias has also identified and characterized the Fiebig-equivalent stages of SHIV infection in rhesus macaques to facilitate...

Learn more about Joana Dias, Ph.D.

Christopher Gonelli, Ph.D.

Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., B.S., University of Melbourne, Australia

Dr. Gonelli’s research focuses on determining vaccination strategies to induce the generation of protective immune responses against HIV infection. He has a particular emphasis on the use of immune complexes, a combination of soluble antigens and antibodies that can better interact with and activate cells of the immune system that soluble antigen alone, as vaccine immunogens. These immune complex...

Learn more about Christopher Gonelli, Ph.D.

Prathyusha Kandala, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate Trainee

Education:

B.S., Emory University

Prathyusha Kandala has found ACH2 cells can be divided into two phenotypic groups: those that express HIV envelope on their surface before activation and those that do not. She is using single cell proviral DNA sequencing and cellular transcriptome analysis to assess the evolution of intracellular proviral DNAs and the effect of superinfection on cellular transcriptome compared to ACH2 cells that...

Learn more about Prathyusha Kandala, B.S.

Rodrigo Matus-Nicodemos , Ph.D.

Predoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., 2022, John Hopkins University
B.A., M.S., Rutgers University

Rodrigo Matus-Nicodemos’s research addresses how the reservoir of HIV-infected cells is established prior to antiretroviral therapy in HIV+ individuals. His work has found that HIV can directly infect resting memory CD4 T cells, the primary reservoir for HIV under therapy. HIV can infect resting memory CD4 T cells primarily because these cells do have enough levels of dNTPs for HIV reverse...

Learn more about Rodrigo Matus-Nicodemos , Ph.D.

Portrait of Rodrigo Matus-Nicodemos, B.A., M.S.

Jakob Samsel, Ph.D.

Predoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., 2022, George Washington University
B.S., University of Tennessee

Jakob Samsel’s research focuses on antibody responses to HIV/SHIV in rhesus macaque models. He optimized and characterized a method of macaque B cell immortalization for antibody discovery and applied that technology to characterize neutralizing antibody responses in SHIV infected animals. He has also isolated antibodies from animals vaccinated with a germline-bNAb-targeting vaccine, GT1.1, to...

Learn more about Jakob Samsel, Ph.D.

Cody Stein, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate Trainee

Education:

B.S., University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Cody Stein investigates FC-functions of HIV neutralizing monoclonal antibodies with an emphasis on understanding how enhancing complement activation affects viral control and clearance. He currently utilizes in vitro systems to better understand how antibodies with mutations that enhance complement activation and deposition affect lysis of HIV viral particles and HIV-infected cells.

Learn more about Cody Stein, B.S.

Section

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October 06, 2022

Lyons Research Group

Read more about Lyons Research Group

The prevalence of severe allergic disease is on the rise globally; consequently, severe systemic allergic inflammation and reactions are also becoming far more frequent, representing a major public health burden causing morbidity for patients, distress for families, and substantial costs for the healthcare system. We seek to develop methods and strategies to identify individuals with, or at high risk of, developing severe allergic inflammation and anaphylaxis in order to identify specific pathways leading to these phenotypes and enable the development of new therapies that can successfully limit and/or prevent these potentially devastating consequences.

Short Title

Lyons Research Group

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Learn more about Jonathan Lyons, M.D.

Jonathan Lyons, M.D.

Lasker Scholar;
Chief, Translational Allergic Immunopathology Unit

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

Education:

M.D., 2007, University of Southern California

B.A., 2003, Pomona College

Dr. Lyons received his undergraduate education at Pomona College and Jesus College, Cambridge, UK, where he spent two terms. He graduated with a B.A. in Chemistry from Pomona College in 2003 and earned a Doctor of Medicine from the University of Southern California in 2007. Dr. Lyons completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, in 2010, and served...

Judy Bandoh, B.S., M.S.

Clinical Research Study Coordinator

Education:

M.S., Biotechnology

B.S., General Sciences

Languages Spoken: Twi

Judy is the Study Coordinator working with Dr. Jonathan Lyons on 2 protocols: Natural History of Severe Allergic Inflammation and Reactions, and Screening Protocol for Genetic Diseases of Allergic Inflammation. Her research interests include genetic diseases and allergic inflammation, and all things skin!

Learn more about Judy Bandoh, B.S., M.S.

Samantha E. Fairlie, B.S.

Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow

Education:

B.S., 2021, University of Pittsburgh

Samantha’s current project is focused on the role of partial gain-of-function CACNA1H variants in mast cell activation and how they may contribute to pain phenotypes in patients with and without Hereditary alpha-tryptasemia (HaT).

Learn more about Samantha E. Fairlie, B.S.

Megan Rose Fisher, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Immunology

Megan is studying the effects of TCR signal strength on glycosylation following T cell activation, and how this relates to PGM3 deficiency - a glycosylation disorder first described by this lab and a team of NIAID investigators - that leads to severe allergic inflammation and hypersensitivity.

Learn more about Megan Rose Fisher, Ph.D.

Alyssa E. James, M.D.

Clinical Fellow

Education:

Pediatric Residency-Children’s National Medical Center

M.D., FIU, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

M.A., Medical Sciences, Boston University

B.S., Microbiology, University of Pittsburgh

Alyssa is a clinical fellow in Allergy and Clinical Immunology in NIAID who has a keen interest in immunogenetics and primary atopic disorders.

Learn more about Alyssa E. James, M.D.

Julia Johnston, B.S.

Post-Baccalaureate Research Fellow

Education:

B.S., Brown University

Julia is a postbaccalaureate research fellow studying tryptase genetics and its effect on allergic phenotypes. Her current focus is on the sequencing and characterization of a novel tryptase isoform we have identified at TPSB2.

Learn more about Julia Johnston, B.S.

Sheryce N. Lassiter, M.S.N, C.R.N.P.

Family Nurse Practitioner

Education:

M.S., Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner

Sheryce Lassiter, MSN, CRNP is a Family Nurse Practitioner supporting the Translational Allergic Immunopathology Unit under NIAID and the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases. Sheryce works on natural history and send-in protocols to study severe allergic inflammation and reactions in patients with acquired and inherited genetic disorders leading to these phenotypes. Sheryce utilizes her background in...

Learn more about Sheryce N. Lassiter, M.S.N, C.R.N.P.

Portrait of Sheryce N. Lassiter, M.S.N, C.R.N.P.

Yihui Liu, Ph.D.

Biologist

Education:

Ph.D., Biochemistry

Languages Spoken: Chinese

Yihui is a biologist in the Translational Allergic Immunopathology Unit, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, NIAID/NIH and has been with this group since its inception. His undergraduate studies and degree in chemistry were completed at Liaoning University and his master’s degree and Ph.D. in biochemistry at Dalian Medical University. As an expert in biochemistry and molecular biology, Yihui provides...

Learn more about Yihui Liu, Ph.D.

Celeste Gerise Nelson M.S., C.R.N.P.

Advanced Practice Nurse (C.R.N.P.)

Celeste is a family nurse practitioner with the Laboratory of Allergic Diseases since 2008 working on multiple protocols for allergic disorders including urticaria, atopic dermatitis, capillary leak and genetic disorders of allergic inflammation.

Learn more about Celeste Gerise Nelson M.S., C.R.N.P.

Portrait of Celeste Gerise Nelson M.S., C.R.N.P.

Michael P. O'Connell, Ph.D.

Staff Clinician/Scientist, Translational Allergic Immunopathology Unit

Education:

Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology (Developmental Origins of Health and Disease), 2006
M.Sc., Biochemical Pharmacology, 2003
B.Sc., Sport and Health Sciences, minor in Psychology, 2001

Dr. O'Connell received his Ph.D. in development origins of health and disease (cell and molecular biology) from the University of Southampton School of Medicine in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania. He obtained postdoctoral training in the areas of Wnt5a-mediated progression of metastatic melanoma at the National Institute on Aging from 2006 to 2011. Prior to...

Learn more about Michael P. O'Connell, Ph.D.

Rebeca E. Rivera-Dompenciel, B.S.

Post-Baccalaureate Fellow

Education:

B.S., Molecular Biology

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Rebeca’s is currently investigating the impact of JAK Inhibitors on mast cell activation. Her research interests include the various mechanisms that contribute to allergic hypersensitivity.

Learn more about Rebeca E. Rivera-Dompenciel, B.S.

Portrait of Rebeca E. Rivera-Dompenciel, B.S.

Maribel Vazquez Silva, B.S., M.S.

Biologist/Lab Manager

Education:

M.S., Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida

B.S., Natural Science, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Maribel plays a multi-faceted role within the TAIU, where she supports day-to-day operations, and also leads the efforts on clinical studies examining the association between HaT and associated phenotypes including connective tissue abnormalities and other allergic inflammatory disorders such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

Learn more about Maribel Vazquez Silva, B.S., M.S.

Portrait of Maribel Vazquez Silva, B.S., M.S.

Former Research Group Members

2013-2015, Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA), Kendall (Karpe) Haddad, B.S., D.M.M., School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, M.M.Sc., Harvard School of Dental Medicine

2014, Summer Student, Shermaine Hutchins, B.S., M.P.H., Yale University School of Public Health, Wyandot County Public Health, Ohio

2014-2016, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Ryan Carlson, B.S., M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington School of Medicine

2016-2018, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Jack Chovanec, B.S., M.D., University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine and Public Health

2018-2020, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Jiwon Kim, B.S., M.S., M.S., Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Medical College of Wisconsin

2019, Postbaccalaureate IRTA, Peter Balough, B.S., RA Capital Management

2019-2021, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Young Hwan Park, Ph.D., Andong National University, Korea

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October 06, 2022

Doria-Rose Research Group

Read more about Doria-Rose Research Group

The aims of AIMS are:

To understand pathways of HIV broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) development and co-evolution with virus
To design and test HIV vaccines inspired by antibody-virus co-evolution studies
To discover and characterize new HIV bNAbs with potential clinical use
To understand SARS-CoV-2 and pan-sarbecovirus antibody development

Neutralizing antibodies, which block virus infection, are critical components of effective immune responses and the correlate of protection for many licensed vaccines. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) against HIV are able to recognize diverse HIV strains from around the world; eliciting bNAbs will be a crucial function of a protective vaccine. While no candidate HIV vaccine has yet succeeded in eliciting bNAbs, a fraction of people living with HIV develop them naturally. We are studying these cases to understand the way the bNAbs target HIV and how they develop over time. We previously showed that viral escape mutants drive the development of breadth in antibodies targeting the apex of the HIV Envelope protein (the viral “spike”), and identified key early changes in bNAbs targeting the HIV Env membrane-proximal external region. Work continues to understand virus-antibody co-evolution for these and other targets on HIV Env. These studies provide a blueprint for vaccine design as we strive to elicit bNAbs. Along the way, we are identifying highly potent bNAbs that may be useful as drugs for HIV prevention.
Using a similar conceptual framework and methods, we are studying antibodies in COVID-19 infected and vaccinated people. We are isolating antibodies with potential clinical use against SARS-CoV-2 and also against related coronaviruses with potential to cause the next pandemic; and studying the development of these antibodies, to improve vaccine designs.

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Doria-Rose Research Group

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Learn more about Nicole Doria-Rose, Ph.D.

Nicole Doria-Rose, Ph.D.

Chief, Antibody Immunity Section
Stadtman Tenure Track Investigator

Contact: doriarosen@mail.nih.gov

Education:

Ph.D., 1998, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Nicole Doria-Rose earned her PhD from Cornell University in 1998, followed by post-doctoral work at the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute. She has been a researcher at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 2006 and the Vaccine Research Center since 2011. Her goals are to understand the development of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) for HIV and COVID, and to use those insights to develop effective vaccines.

Evan Cale, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Contact: evan.cale@nih.gov

Education:

Ph.D., Immunology, 2011, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Dr. Evan Cale is a staff scientist in the Antibody Immunity Section. He earned his Ph.D. in Immunology at Harvard University’s Division of Medical Sciences under the mentorship of Dr. Norman Letvin. He began working at the VRC in 2012 as a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of John Mascola, M.D. His work focuses on the isolation and characterization of HIV-1 bNAbs from infected donors using...

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Sijy O’Dell, M.S.

Lab Manager

Contact: odells@mail.nih.gov

Hua Wang, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Contact: hua.wang2@nih.gov

Maryam Mukhamedova, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Contact: maryam.mukhamedova@nih.gov

Quenelle McKim

Post Baccalaureate Fellow

Contact: quenelle.mckim@nih.gov

Education:

B.S., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2022, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA

Quenelle is a third-year post baccalaureate fellow in the Antibody Immunity Section. Her work focuses on identifying and characterizing broad, potently neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies to enhance our understanding of antibody development.

Learn more about Quenelle McKim

Amirabbas Maghsoudi

Post Baccalaureate Fellow

Contact: amirabbas.maghsoudi@nih.gov

Sari Jacob

Post Baccalaureate Fellow

Contact: sari.jacob@nih.gov

Mia Marotti

Post Baccalaureate Fellow

Contact: mia.marotti@nih.gov

Education:

B.S., Biomedical Science, Northern Arizona University, Honors College, Flagstaff, AZ

My work involves the isolation and characterization of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) from participants living with HIV-1 in a U.S. military cohort. This project aims to address major gaps in current prophylactic and treatment approaches for HIV-1.

Learn more about Mia Marotti

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November 04, 2024

Dekker Research Group

Read more about Dekker Research Group

Bacterial pathogens may undergo dramatic evolution in the context of chronic infection, facilitating host adaptation and the development of antibiotic resistance. In some cases, elevated mutation rates due to evolved mismatch repair and proofreading deficiencies have been shown to contribute to accelerate this evolution. An important insight from studies of within-host adaptation has been that genetic modifications that occur during chronic infection may parallel those that underlie the emergence of human-restricted pathogens from broad-host range generalists over longer evolutionary periods. In the Bacterial Pathogenesis and Antimicrobial Resistance Section (BPARS), we apply a systems biology approach to understand selection dynamics and host-pathogen interactions in the context of defined genetic immunodeficiency diseases. This approach integrates genomics, transcriptomics (RNA-seq), and metabolomic methods to identify and characterize specializations that occur during within-host adaptation. In these studies, we seek to address (1) the role of bacterial hypermutation and other forms of genome plasticity in within-host evolution, (2) the roles that host immune deficiencies can play in shaping the within-host evolution in persistent infections, and (3) the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in the context of acute and chronic infection.

Another linked area of focus within the BPARS are the evolutionary mechanisms by which antibiotic resistance emerges in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens in the context of acute and chronic infection. The approaches applied include genomic sequencing of current and historical clinical bacterial isolates, transcriptome analysis with RNA-seq, proteomics, metabolomics, and in vitro adaptive evolution. This work aims to reveal novel mechanisms of resistance to broad spectrum antibiotics, with implications for clinical treatment of Gram-negative infections.

Short Title

Dekker Research Group

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John P. Dekker, M.D., Ph.D.

Senior Investigator
Lasker Clinical Research Scholar
Chief, Bacterial Pathogenesis and Antimicrobial Resistance Section

Specialty(s): Pathology, Clinical, Pathology, Medical Microbiology

Education:

M.D., Harvard Medical School

Ph.D., Harvard University

Dr. Dekker received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and Ph.D. from Harvard University through the NIH Medical Scientist Training Program. He completed pathology residency and fellowship training in medical microbiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and is board-certified in clinical pathology and medical microbiology through the American Board of Pathology. In 2013, he joined the NIH...

Learn more about John P. Dekker, M.D., Ph.D.

Jessie Ellis, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Tufts University

Dr Ellis’s research in the BPARS explores metabolic reprogramming in zoonotic pathogens during genetic adaptation to the human host. Current work focuses on adaptation in the emerging pathogen Bordetella hinzii, and approaches include high-throughput metabolic screening, metabolic pathway analysis, and competition experiments to understand fitness values of identified metabolic changes that occur...

Learn more about Jessie Ellis, Ph.D.

Soma Ghosh, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., 2015, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India

Languages Spoken: Hindi, Bengali

Dr. Ghosh received her Ph.D. in 2015 from the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, where she used Systems Biology approaches to study host-pathogen interactions in the context of iron acquisition by M. tuberculosis. She joined Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, in 2015 as a postdoctoral research fellow with Dr. Tamara O’Connor in the department of biological chemistry. There, she...

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Grace Morales, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral IRTA Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., 2024, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN

Dr. Morales received her Ph.D. in 2024 from Vanderbilt University. Her work was largely focused on connecting microbial genotypes to clinical phenotypes, with an emphasis on uropathogenic E. coli and the development of UTI and asymptomatic bacteriuria. This work employed a combination of genomics and host-pathogen interaction work in the context of UTIs. Dr. Morales joined BPARS in October 2024...

Learn more about Grace Morales, Ph.D.

Prashant Prabhakar Patil, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Languages Spoken: Hindi

Dr. Patil’s research in the BPARS focuses on novel mechanisms of resistance to advanced generation cephalosporins and cephalosporin beta-lactam inhibitor combination antibiotics in P. aeruginosa. These questions are investigated with a combination of in vitro adaptive evolution, genetic engineering, genomic sequencing, gene expression analysis with RNA-seq, and analysis of clinical isolates.

Learn more about Prashant Prabhakar Patil, Ph.D.

Portrait of Prashant Prabhakar Patil, Ph.D.

Arthi Ramkumar, B.S.

Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow

Education:

B.S., 2023, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD

Arthi Ramkumar joined the BPARS as a Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow in July 2023. In the BPARS, she is using genetic engineering to study the molecular biology of RND transporters involved in antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. She also has interests in public health and medicine.

Learn more about Arthi Ramkumar, B.S.

Nick Vereecke, Ph.D., ir.

Postdoctoral Visiting Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., 2023, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Languages Spoken: Dutch, French

Dr. Vereecke received his Ph.D. in 2023 from Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, where he studied the use of long-read sequencing for viral and bacterial diagnostics in veterinary medicine. While his work focused on sequencing-driven diagnostics, it also shed new light on the use of genomics in the context of antimicrobial resistance in Mycoplasmopsis bovis, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, and...

Learn more about Nick Vereecke, Ph.D., ir.

Tommy Yoon, B.A.

Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow

Education:

B.A., 2024, Reed College, Portland, OR

Tommy Yoon joined the BPARS as a Postbaccalaureate IRTA Fellow in July 2024. He is using genomic approaches including nanopore sequencing to study DNA methylation in clinical  Bacteroides fragilis group isolates.

Learn more about Tommy Yoon, B.A.

Former Research Group Members

Jung-Ho Youn, Ph.D., Genomics Scientist, Department of Laboratory Medicine, NIH Clinical Center
Jonathan Ho, M.D., Internal Medicine Resident, Brown University, Rhode Island
Jamie Lemon, Ph.D., Director of Infectious Disease Diagnostics, Northwell Health Laboratories, New York, New York
Andrew Clark, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Derek N. Smith, Ph.D., Genomics Biologist
Lidia Beka, Ph.D., Technology Transfer Center, National Cancer Institute
Chao-Jung Wu, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Taipei Medical University, Taiwan
Mike Tisza, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
Adrien Launay, Ph.D., Chief, Bioinformatics, Endogenomiks, Mexico
Augusto Dulanto Chiang, M.D., Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Vanderbilt, Tennessee
Abraham (Jon) Moller, Ph.D., Bioinformatics System Analyst, CARD, NIA, NIH

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January 21, 2025

Ghedin Research Group

Read more about Ghedin Research Group

Our systems biology research program meets at the interface of molecular parasitology, microbiology, and genomics and focuses on the molecular basis of macroparasite (nematodes) adaptation to niches in their human hosts, and microparasite (virus and bacteria) diversity and interaction in transmission and virulence. The overarching question is: How do pathogens adapt to their hosts, and what is the evolutionary basis of this adaptation?

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Ghedin Research Group

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Learn more about Elodie Ghedin, Ph.D.

Elodie Ghedin, Ph.D.

Co-Deputy Chief, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases
Chief, Systems Genomics Section

Education:

Ph.D., McGill University’s Institute of Parasitology, Montreal, Canada

Dr. Elodie Ghedin obtained her Ph.D. from McGill University’s Institute of Parasitology in Montreal, Canada. In May 2020, Dr. Ghedin joined NIAID’s Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases as a senior investigator. She also holds an affiliated position with New York University. Dr. Ghedin is a MacArthur Foundation Fellow (2011), a Kavli Frontier of Science Fellow (2012), and an American Academy of Microbiology Fellow (2017).

Stephanie Banakis, M.S.

Lab Manager and Biologist

Education:

M.S., Biology, New York University

B.S., Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Chicago

Languages Spoken: Greek, Spanish

Stephanie studies the evolution of the Influenza virus and of SARS-CoV-2 in populations at risk.

Learn more about Stephanie Banakis, M.S.

Abdoulie Bojang, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Visiting IRTA (APTI)

Education:

Ph.D., Open University, UK
M.Sc., Biomedical science, University of Hull, UK
B.Sc., Bioscience and Health, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK

Abdoulie is a Higher scientific officer of the Medical Research Council unit in The Gambia. His project in the SGS is to assess by metagenomics the impact of intrapartum oral azithromycin on the nasopharyngeal microbiome of Gambian infants.

Learn more about Abdoulie Bojang, Ph.D.

Anil Chakravorty, B.S.

Post-bac Fellow

Education:

B.S., Integrative Biology Honors program, minor in Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

Anil investigates the gene expression profiles of host cells in response to infection with Influenza A and B. He will be going to Medical School in the Fall.

Learn more about Anil Chakravorty, B.S.

Daniela Chow, B.S.

Post-bac IRTA (INRO)

Education:

B.S., Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, TX

Languages Spoken: Spanish

Daniela is studying the interplay of Brugia malayi with human lymphatic endothelial cells and its contribution in pathogenesis. She is also determining the role of Brugia malayi Galectin-2 (lec-2) in host-parasite interactions.

Learn more about Daniela Chow, B.S.

Matthew Chung, Ph.D.

Bioinformatics Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland Institute for Genome Sciences

B.S., Microbiology, G.H. Cook Scholar, Rutgers University

Languages Spoken: Cantonese

Matt specializes in the computational analysis of genomics, metagenomics, and transcriptomics data sets. For his doctorate, Matt conducted a multi-species RNA-Seq analysis across the entire life cycle of the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, its Wolbachia endosymbiont, and its vector host Aedes aegypti.

Learn more about Matthew Chung, Ph.D.

Brent Edwards, B.S.

Post-bac Fellow

Education:

B.A., Biology, Middlebury College, VT

Brent studies the endosymbiotic relationship between the intracellular bacteria, Wolbachia, and its filarial nematode host. Another project investigates the interactions between Wolbachia and Zika virus in mosquitos.

Learn more about Brent Edwards, B.S.

Michael Frimpong, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Visiting IRTA (APTI)

Education:

Ph.D., Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

B.Sc., Medical Laboratory Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

Languages Spoken: Twi

Michael’s research is focused on using metagenomics to understand the pathogenesis of skin neglected tropical diseases, particularly Buruli ulcer and how that information can be used to improve treatment outcomes. He is also working on profiling the genetic diversity of SARS-CoV-2 in the respiratory tract of COVID-19 patients on ventilation.

Learn more about Michael Frimpong, Ph.D.

Joseph Koussa, Ph.D.

Visiting Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., Biology, New York University, USA

M.Sc., Molecular Biology, Lebanese American University, Lebanon

B.Sc. in Biology, University of Ottawa, Canada

Languages Spoken: French, Arabic

Joe is an Associate Professor at Montgomery Community College in Maryland. He is interested in the parasitism of filarial nematodes and uses Brugia malayi as a model filarial parasite to investigate the host-parasite interface tackling glycomic, proteomic and immune-relevant interactions between the parasite and its human host.

Learn more about Joseph Koussa, Ph.D.

Allie Kreitman, B.S.

Post-bac IRTA (INRO)

Education:

B.A., Molecular Biology, minor in Math, Colorado College, CO

Allie’s project is to characterize the genomic epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. She is also comparing samples collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Learn more about Allie Kreitman, B.S.

Alexandra (Sasha) Mushegian, Ph.D.

IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow

Education:

Ph.D., Biology, Universität Basel

B.A., Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University

Languages Spoken: Russian

Sasha is working on projects examining SARS-Cov-2 diversity and evolution. She is broadly interested in genomics and microbiomes in the context of disease ecology.

Learn more about Alexandra (Sasha) Mushegian, Ph.D.

Portrait of Alexandra (Sasha) Mushegian, Ph.D.

RyeAnne Ricker, B.S.

Ph.D. Candidate

Education:

B.S., Biological Engineering and B.S., Medical Laboratory Science, Montana State University, MT

RyeAnne is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Engineering from George Washington University. In her graduate research in SGS, she uses Machine Learning techniques to characterize viruses by their Raman spectra. The aim of this work is to generate rapid methods for detection and identification of viruses as well as to better understand how a Raman fingerprint can be used to infer relationships between...

Learn more about RyeAnne Ricker, B.S.

Allison Roder, Ph.D.

Computational Biologist

Education:

Ph.D., Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University

B.S., Biotechnology and Molecular Bioscience, and Computer Science, Rochester Institute of Technology

Allison uses a combination of molecular biology and computational methods to analyze virus dynamics and the host response to viral infection.

Learn more about Allison Roder, Ph.D.

Denis Voronin, Ph.D.

Staff Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Novosibirsk, Russia

M.S., Biology, Novosibirsk State University, Russia

Languages Spoken: Russian

Dr. Denis Voronin obtained his Ph.D. in 2005 from the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk, Russia. In May 2020, Dr. Voronin joined NIAID’s Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, Systems Genomics Section as a Staff Scientist.

Learn more about Denis Voronin, Ph.D.

Wei Wang, M.S.

Biologist

Education:

M.S., Microbiology, North Dakota State University

Bachelor of Medicine, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, China

Languages Spoken: Mandarin

Wei has over 20 years of experience in cell culture with expertise in molecular virology and vaccine research.

Learn more about Wei Wang, M.S.

Yin-Ting (Tim) Yeh, Ph.D.

Visiting Scientist

Education:

Ph.D., Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

M.S., Chemical and Biochemical Engineering University of Notre Dame

B.S., Engineering and System Science & Material Science Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan

Languages Spoken: Mandarin, Japanese

Yin-Ting’s research focuses on developing microdevices for capture and enrichment of viruses from clinical samples using carbon nanotubes, and rapid detection by Raman spectroscopy.

Learn more about Yin-Ting (Tim) Yeh, Ph.D.

Former Research Group Members

Christopher Mederos, B.S.; previous Post-bac Fellow. Chris is going to Medical School at University of Florida

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