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Frances Lund, Charles H. McCauley Professor and Chair flund@uab.edu Hometown: Chicago, IL University/Degree: University of Notre Dame, Duke University, PhD |
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Troy Randall troyrandall@uabmc.edu J. Claude Bennet Professor of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Hometown: Columbia, MO University/Degree: University of Denver, BS, Duke University, PhD |
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Miranda Curtiss, Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care curtissm@uab.edu Hometown: Alliance, NE University/Degree: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine MD/PhD Residency: University of Alabama-Birmingham Internal Medicine Research Interest: I am currently in fellowship training at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (combined fellowship in adult Pulmonary and adult/peds Allergy/Immunology). My research interests are mechanisms underlying development of allergic disease. I am studying the role of dendritic cells in this process with an emphasis on transcriptional and epigenetic differences in dendritic cell subsets that contribute to development of Th2 responses |
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Davide Botta Instructor dbotta@uab.edu Hometown: Lariano, Italy University: Benedictine College, BS, University of Arizona, PhD Research Interest: My research involves two main projects. First, understanding the role of the voltage independent, redox-sensitive, cation channel TRPM2 in diseases of lung inflammation and damage, such as Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). The second project focuses on validation of the NAD-consuming ectoenzyme CD38 as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of CD38-positive B cell malignancies, such as multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia. |
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Anoma Nellore, MD anellore@uabmc.edu Assistant Professor of Infectious Disease Hometown: Bel Air, MD University/Degrees: BA/BS University of Maryland; MD University of Pennsylvania; Infectious Diseases Fellowship: Harvard Medical School, Transplant Infectious Diseases Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Research Interest: Novel characterization of humoral responses after vaccination in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts; Multi-drug resistant infections in solid organ transplantation |
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Esther Zumaquero-Martinez Instructor ezm@uab.edu Hometown: Granada, Spain University: University of Granada, BS, University of Granada, PhD Research Interest: My research interest in Dr. Lund's lab lies in the study of Human B Cells. The role of T-bet in B-lymphocyte development, its expression in different memory and effector B cells subsets in health, autoimmune disorders and viral infections, and its role in the regulation of IgG class switching are the major roles of my research. |
Postdoctoral Fellows |
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Sithy R Allie (Rameeza) Postdoctoral Fellow sithyallie@uabmc.edu Hometown: Colombo, Sri Lanka University: University of Kentucky, BS, Dartmouth College, PhD Research Interest: Are there antigen specific B cells that reside in the lung after an influenza infection? If so, what roles do they play in protection? |
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Natalia Ballesteros Postdoctoral Fellow nballesteros@uab.edu Hometown: Ubate Cundinamarca, Colombia. University/Degree: National University of Colombia BS, Complutense University M.Sc, Ph.D. Research Interest: My research interests are to understand the role of dendritic cells subsets and their environmental signals that influence the development of Th1 or Th2 response against Leishmania major infection. |
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Liam Brennan Postdoctoral Fellow brennanl@uab.edu Hometown: Christchurch, New Zealand University/Degree: University of Otago, BSc (Hons), University of Otago, PhD. Research Interest: Characterization of B lymphocyte responses to influenza infection and characterisation of immune pathways that contribute to autoimmune diseases such as lupus. |
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Selene Meza-Perez Postdoctoral Fellow selenemezaperez@uabmc.edu Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico University: National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), BS, National Polytechique Institute (ENCB-IPN), Ph.D. Research Interest: The role of the omentum in immune tolerance. |
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Aaron Silva Sanchez Postdoctoral Fellow aaronsilvasanchez@uabmc.edu Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico University: National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), BS, National Polytechique Institute (ENCB-IPN), PhD Research Interest: My main interest is to understand the development of mucosal immune system development and how alterations during early neonatal period affect the response to further microbial challenges. |
Graduate Students |
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Marvin Bowlin Graduate Student bowlin@uab.edu Hometown: Smithdale, MS University/Degree: B.S. Biological Research Sciences, Misissippi College 2013 Research Interest: My general research interests are in understanding and elucidating the development of robust, effective humoral responses to infections. The research focus of my projects center around the development and differentiation of T follicular helper (TFH) cells, the of the generation of germinal centers (GC) and the development of the antibody response, including mechanisms of help used by TFH cells to support GC B cell activities. Of interest at this point is the effect of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on the development of both TFH cells and GC B cells in the context of an influenza infection. |
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Tyler McCaw MD/PhD Student trmccaw@uab.edu Hometown: Raleigh, NC Degrees: Chemical Engineering B.S., Biochemistry B.S. both from NCSU; currently 3rd year MSTP Research Interests: My focus is tumor immunology. One project looking at potential mechanisms of extending the successes enjoyed by CD19 chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) to other targets, namely solid tumors. Second project exploring the effects of HDACi on both malignant and immune cells in a triple negative breast cancer mouse model. |
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Jessica Peel Graduate Student jnpeel@uab.edu Hometown: Walkertown, NC University/Degree: North Carolina State University, Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences minors in mathematics and art and design |
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Christopher Risley Graduate Student crisley@uab.edu Hometown: Libertyville, IL University/Degree: Centre College B.S. in Biology and German Studies |
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Michael Schultz Graduate Student mschul20@uab.edu Hometown: Duluth, MN University/Degree: University of Wisconsin Superior, BS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, PhD candidate Research Interest: I currently work on two projects. My primary focus is on the transcription factor Eomes and how this factor may play a role in B-cell development, maintenance, and memory. My second project involves studying NAD biosynthesis in the parasite Schistosoma mansoni. The goal of this project is to find a new therapeutic approach for treating the deadly disease schistosomiasis. |
Technicians |
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John Bradley Research Assistant johnbradley@uabmc.edu Hometown: Prattville, AL University: Auburn University of Montgomery, BS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, PhD |
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Beth Graf Lab Manager graf@uab.edu Hometown: Livonia, NY University: Rochester Institute of Technology, BS, University of Rochester, MS |
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Betty Mousseau Research Associate mousseau@uab.edu |
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Uma Mudunuru Research Assistant umamudunuru@uabmc.edu Hometown: Hyderabad, India University: ANGRU College of Veterinary Science, Texas A & M University, M.V.Sc. MS |
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Thomas Scott Simpler (Scott) Research Assistant ssimpler@uab.edu Hometown: Birmingham, AL University: University of South Alabama, BS |
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Guang Yang Research Associate gyang@uab.edu Hometown: Wuhan, China University/Degree: Tongji Medical University, MS, MD |
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Fen Zhou Research Associate fzhou@uab.edu Hometown: Shanghai, China University/Degree: Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, MS, MD |
Alumni |
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Andre Ballesteros-Tato Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Hometown: Galicia, Spain University/Degree: University of Vigo, BS, Autonoma University, PhD |
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Beatriz Leon-Ruiz Assistant Professor, Deparment of Microbiology Hometown: La Rioja, Spain University/Degree: Complutense University, BS, Autonoma University, PhD |
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Tulin Dadali-Abel Graduate Student Hometown: Canandaigua, NY University: Rochester Institute of Technology, BS, University of Rochester, PhD Canidate Research Interest: Does modulation of NAD metabolism by CD38 manipulation effect oxidative stress responses? |
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Kristen Southworth Research Assistant Hometown: Birmingham, AL University: University of Alabama at Birmingham |
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Ji Young Hwang Graduate Student Hometown: Seoul, Korea University: Ewha Womans University, BS, University of Rochester, PhD Candidate |
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Mike Fuller mfuller@uab.edu Assistant Professor of Medicine Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology Hometown:Yuba City, CA University/Degree: Brigham Young University, BS, University of Alabama at Birmingham, PhD |
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Sara Stone MD/PhD Student stonesl@uab.edu Hometown: Hunstville, AL University: Auburn University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, MD/PhD Candidate Research Interests: My work focuses on transcriptional regulation of germinal center B cell differentiation and the influence of B cell cytokine production on germinal center B cell fate decisions. Broadly, these studies aim to identify novel pathways which may drive lupus pathology, and to determine potential therapeutic interventions to blunt cytokine-driven B cell differentiation. |