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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

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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

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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.

 
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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.

Linked In

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.

LinkedIn

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.

LinkedIn

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.

ORCID

LinkedIn

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

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Nicholas Babb

RESEARCH ASSISTANT

B.S. University of Arkansas-Forth Smith

CURRENT POSITION: Associate Consultant Scientist at Eli Lily

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Katie Grantham

RESEARCH ASSISTANT/LAB MANAGER

B.S. Texas A&M University

CURRENT POSITION: D.O. candidate at Midwestern University

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Hannah Wilson

Undergraduate Research Assistant

B.S. Texas A&M University

CURRENT POSITION: Ph.D. student at M.D. Anderson

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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

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Kendall Green

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER

B.S. Texas A&M University

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Caitlyn Hoffpauir

GRADUATE STUDENT, MEDICAL SCIENCES

P/W lab publications: Hoffpauir et al., J Immunol. 2020

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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

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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

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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

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Pamela Ulloa-Franco

RESEARCH ASSISTANT/LAB MANAGER

B.A. Trinity College

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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

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Krystal Vail, D.V.M.

GRADUATE STUDENT AND VETERINARY ANATOMICAL PATHOLOGY RESIDENT

CURRENT POSITION: Assistant Professor, Tulane National Primate Research Center

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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

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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

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Michelle Tran

Undergraduate Research Assistant

TAMU Management Information Systems Major, Class of 2022

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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

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Rhyston Broadhurst

Undergraduate Research Assistant

TAMU Biochemistry Major Class of 2024

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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

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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