Watowich Lab Members

Stephanie S. Watowich, Ph.D.
Professor
email
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Allison Dyevoich, PhD  email
Postdoctoral Fellow

CD103+ classical dendritic cell type 1 (cDC1s) exhibit superior capacity to cross-present antigens to activate antigen-specific, cytotoxic CD8+ T cells; the Watowich laboratory has investigated their use as cell-based immunotherapy to treat melanoma and osteosarcoma models. I have expanded the scope of the cDC1 vaccine using a pancreatic heterotopic tumor model. Furthermore, I have collaborated to provide cDC1 vaccination in an orthotopic pancreatic murine model; preliminary studies demonstrated efficacy and significantly extended mouse survival. I have also begun investigating the capacity of the cDC1 vaccine as a model for studying antiviral immunity using model antigen systems. The overarching goal of my research is to understand the mechanisms in which cDC1s invoke T and B cell responses against cell-associated and soluble antigens to provide robust, long-lasting immunity.

Yusra Medik, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
email

My research interest is in cancer immunotherapy and mechanisms of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) to checkpoint blockade therapy. Currently, I am studying the role of the innate immune system-microbiome axis in the anti-tumor response and enterocolitis associated with checkpoint blockade. Elucidating the underlying pathophysiology of irAE is important to overcome current limitations of onco-immunology.

Bhakti Patel, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
email

My research interests lie in understanding the anti-inflammatory role of STAT3 in bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) and hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function. I am further interested in determining transcriptional targets of STAT3 in HSCs and myeloid cells, to elucidate the mechanism by which STAT3 protects HSCs and BMDMs from inflammation-induced DNA damage.

Yifan Zhou, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
email

1. To study the role of DC-intrinsic STAT signaling in inflammation and tumor development. 
2. To access the therapeutic role of DC-based vaccination in cancer. 
3. To determine the role of DC in immune-related adverse events of cancer immunotherapies.

Elizabeth Park, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
email

My research interests are in understanding the interplay between the innate immune system, gut microbiome, and response to checkpoint blockade therapy. Currently, I am working to understand why certain patients respond to checkpoint blockade and the underlying link between the microbiome, therapeutic response, and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The overarching goal of my research is to identify how the microbiome stimulates immune responses during immunotherapy treatment.

Rachel Babcock
Ph.D. Student
email  

My research interests are in innate immunity, dendritic cell biology and molecular biology. With my project, I use both in vitro and in vivo models to study the role and regulation of lineage-specific transcription factors in DC immune function.                                                   

Taylor Chrisikos
Ph.D. Student
email

My interests lie in both dendritic cell biology and tumor immunology. Currently, I have two main projects, 1) elucidating how myeloid cells promote pulmonary metastasis in breast cancer, and 2) uncovering novel aspects of how tumor infiltrating dendritic cells respond to the tumor microenvironment.

Laura Kahn Serrudo
Ph.D. student
email

Colitis is a major immune related adverse event (irAE) that occurs upon checkpoint blockade immunotherapy. I am interested in elucidating the role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and IL-6 family cytokines in checkpoint blockade-associated colitis. 

Josué Pineda -  email
Graduate Research Assistant