Robert O. Watson, Ph.D., MPH
Principle Investigator - Associate Professor
Ph.D.: Jorge Galan, Ph.D., Yale University
Postdoc: Jeffery Cox, Ph.D., UCSF
Interests: My lab is broadly interested in regulation of host innate immune responses in macrophages during intracellular bacterial infection and the macrophage/Mycobacterium tuberculosis host- pathogen interface. We are particularly interested in how Mtb gains access to the macrophage cytosol and the consequences of cytosolic access on innate immune outcomes. We are also working to understand how mitochondrial damage alters innate immune outcomes; in particular, we want to know why human mitochondrial mutations confer susceptibility to mycobacterial infection. We ask these questions via bacterial and mammalian genetics in macrophages ex vivo and in a mouse model of infection.
Email: robert.o,watson@vumc.org
Kristin L. Patrick, Ph.D.
Principle investigator - Associate Professor
Ph.D.: Christian Tschudi, Ph.D., Yale University
Postdoc: Nevan Krogan, Ph.D. and Christine Guthrie Ph.D., UCSF
Interests: My lab studies post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression during the innate immune response in macrophages. We are interested in how RNA binding proteins and components of the spliceosome are functionally specialized in response to pathogen sensing. We are currently working to understand how members of the SR and hnRNP families of splicing regulatory proteins control the maturation and stability of innate immune mRNAs. We also want to know how alternatively spliced protein isoforms perform distinct roles in innate immunity. Working alongside the Watson lab, we seek to understand how intracellular bacterial pathogens like M. tuberculosis manipulate host gene expression by investigating secreted effector proteins that traffic to the macrophage nucleus.
Email: kristin.patrick@vumc.org
Current lab members
Aja Coleman
GRADUATE STUDENT, TAMU MEDICAL SCIENCES
T32 IMSD Awardee
NIH/NIAID NRSA F31 Diversity Fellow
B.S. Trinity University
Interests: I am interested in the pathways that influence host-pathogen interactions and the pathogenesis of MTB
Eddie Martinez, M.S.
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
NIH/NIAID NRSA F31 Diversity Fellow
B.S. and M.S. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Interests: I am interested in cell signaling, Immunology, and bioinformatics.
Cory Mabry
GRADUATE STUDENT, TAMU MEDICAL SCIENCES
NIH/NIAID F31 Fellow
B.S. Texas A&M University
Interests: I am interested in host pathogen interactions and how pathogens exploit the host’s immune system to prolong infection. I am working to understand how Mycobacterium tuberculosis regulates the host immune pathways through manipulation of pathways associated with inflammatory responses.
Kaitlyn Armijo
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
T32 IMSD Awardee
B.S. Baylor University
Interests: I am interested in nuclear paraspeckles and the role they play in regulating the innate immune response in macrophages.
Lily Ellzey
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MICROBE-HOST INTERACTIONS
B.S. Angelo State University
Interests: I am interested in how pathogens and innate immune pathways induce cell death within host cells and how those various forms of cell death ultimately impact the immune outcomes. In particular, lipid oxidation and pathways associated with the generation of mitochondrial ROS are of interest to me.
Morgan Chapman
GRADUATE STUDENT: TAMU MD/PhD program
B.S. Texas A&M University
Interests: I am interested in understanding the role RNA plays in coordinating the immune response, to minimize immunopathology and immunocompromisation. My project looks at on how alternative splicing by the splicing factor hnRNPA2B1 affects the mobilization of Type I and Type II interferon responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Xinwei Geng, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATE
Ph.D. Songmin Ying, Zhejiang University
Interests: I am interested in the mechanisms that govern genomic instabilities and the subsequent immune response, particularly in the context of infectious diseases
Taylor Newbolt
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MICROBE-HOST INTERACTIONS
B.S. College of William & Mary
Interests: I am interested in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the role mitochondria, and mitochondria-associated proteins, play in regulating host immune cell responses to Mtb infection.
Kayla Carmichael
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MICROBE-HOST INTERACTIONS
B.S. Xavier University of Louisiana
Interests: I am interested in Mycobacterium tuberculosis pathogenesis and the impact of secreted virulence proteins on mitochondrial homeostatic processes and overall macrophage health.
Mackenzie Smith
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MOLECULAR PATHOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
B.S. Baylor University
Interests: I am interested in cancer-associated mutations in splicing factors and how they impact innate immune gene expression.
Jacob (Jake) Davis
GRADUATE STUDENT: TAMU MD/PhD Program
B.S. University of Oklahoma, Medical Humanities Scholars BA-MD Program
Interests: I am interested in how interplay between infectious diseases and the immune system can determine disease outcomes. Specifically, I am interested in how Mycobacterium tuberculosis can manipulate innate immune pathways to evade host defenses and prolong infection.
Stacy Hahn
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
B.A. Wake Forest University
Interests: I am interested in how the interplay of mitochondrial homeostasis and intercellular pathogens affect host cell death outcomes and pathogenesis.
Jessica Huskey
GRADUATE STUDENT - VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MICROBE-HOST INTERACTIONS
B.S. Wake Forest University
Interests: I am interested in histone modification and localization in the context of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and innate immune activation.
Former lab members
Nicholas Babb
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
B.S. University of Arkansas-Forth Smith
CURRENT POSITION: Associate Consultant Scientist at Eli Lily
Katie Grantham
RESEARCH ASSISTANT/LAB MANAGER
B.S. Texas A&M University
CURRENT POSITION: D.O. candidate at Midwestern University
Hannah Wilson
Undergraduate Research Assistant
B.S. Texas A&M University
CURRENT POSITION: Ph.D. student at M.D. Anderson
Morgan Riba
Undergraduate Research Assistant
P/W lab publications: Patrick et al. Cell Systems 2018.
CURRENT POSITION: M.D./Ph.D. candidate at University of Texas Medical Scientist Training Program at Houston
Kendall Green
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER
B.S. Texas A&M University
Caitlyn Hoffpauir
GRADUATE STUDENT, MEDICAL SCIENCES
P/W lab publications: Hoffpauir et al., J Immunol. 2020
Kaitlyn Carter
Undergraduate Research Assistant
P/W lab publications: Wagner et al., Front Immunology. 2021
CURRENT POSITION: GRADUATE STUDENT; TAMU Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics
Kayla Lopez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
P/W lab publications: Bell et al., mBio. 2021
CURRENT POSITION: M.P.H. student at Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health
Kelsi West
GRADUATE STUDENT, TAMU Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics
P/W lab publications: West et al., Cell Reports 2019; Wagner, Scott, West et al., Front Immunol 2021.
CURRENT POSITION: Bioinformatics Scientist at Catalyst Data Sciences
Pamela Ulloa-Franco
RESEARCH ASSISTANT/LAB MANAGER
B.A. Trinity College
Samantha Bell, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
P/W lab publications: Bell et al., mBio. 2021; Weindel, Bell, et al., eLife, 2020; Hoffpauir et al. J Immunol. 2020; Patrick et al. Cell Systems; 2018.
CURRENT POSITION: Assistant Professor, Rutgers New Jersey Medical Center
Krystal Vail, D.V.M.
GRADUATE STUDENT AND VETERINARY ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY RESIDENT
CURRENT POSITION: Assistant Professor, Tulane National Primate Research Center
Emily Mulloy
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Biology Major Class of 2024
Summer Apostalo
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Biology Major, Class of 2023
P/W lab publications: Scott et al., Cell Rep, 2024
Andrew Dlugosch
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Biomedical Sciences Major, Class of 2025
Timothy Fitzsimons, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Ph.D. John Boyce, Ph.D. Monash University
Allison Wagner
GRADUATE STUDENT, MEDICAL SCIENCES
P/W lab publications: Wagner et al., Elife, 2022; Wagner et al. Front Immunol. 2021.
CURRENT POSITION: Scientist I; Adverum Biotechnologies
Rylee King
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Biomedical Sciences Major, Class of 2025
Michelle Tran
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Management Information Systems Major, Class of 2022
Sikandar Azam, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL REASEARCH ASSOCIATE
P/W lab publications: Azam et al., PNAS, 2024.
CURRENT POSITION: Research Scientist Columbia University
Savyasachi Dixit
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Bioichemistry Major, Class of 2024
Rhyston Broadhurst
Undergraduate Research Assistant
TAMU Biochemistry Major Class of 2024
Haley Scott
GRADUATE STUDENT, MEDICAL SCIENCES
NIH/NIGMS NRSA F31 Diversity Fellow
P/W lab publications: Scott et al., Cell Rep, 2024; Wagner, Scott et al., Front. Immunol. 2021
CURRENT POSITION: Scientist I Abound Bio
Chi Weindel, Ph.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Ph.D.: Brigette Huber, Ph.D., Tufts University
P/W lab publications: Weindel et al., Cell, 2022; Weindel et al., Elife, 2020.
CURRENT POSITION: Assistant Professor, Tulane School of Medicine