Jeffrey Rathmell, PhD
Dr. Rathmell studies mechanisms by which extracellular cues influence lymphocyte death and differentiation in efforts to control inflammatory diseases and leukemia. Following undergraduate studies on Biology at the University of Northern Iowa, he earned a Ph.D in Immunology on B cell tolerance and death mechanisms at Stanford University. In postdoctoral studies at the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania, he showed that lymphocyte metabolism was dynamically regulated by growth factors and controls apoptotic mechanisms. He began at Duke University in 2003 in the departments of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology and Immunology, as well as a member of the Duke Molecular Physiology Institute. Dr. Rathmell's group showed that the metabolism of T cells is highly dynamic and that specific metabolic programs are essential for each functional T cell subsets. These fundamental metabolic distinctions may now allow modulation of selective populations of lymphocytes in inflammatory diseases and anti-tumor immunity. He joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University in 2015 as Professor of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology to direct the Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology and co-lead the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center Host Tumor Interactions Program. He is Associate Director of the Vanderbilt Institute of Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation and co-leader of the Molecular Pathology and Immunology Ph.D training program.
Staff Scientists:
Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Hematology/Oncology Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Xiang Ye, Ph.D.Fun Fact: My dog's name is CRIPSR!Bioinformatics, Data analysis, Computational Biology Notable publication: MTHFD2 is a metabolic checkpoint controlling effector and regulatory T cell fate and function |
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Katy Beckermann, M.D./Ph.D.Fun Fact: I love going on runs and petting animals!My research interest is identifying metabolic barriers to T cell function and immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma. Notable publication: |
Current Post-Doctoral Fellows:
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Andrew R. Patterson, Ph.D., PMIFun Fact: In between lab jobs, I spent a summer working as a wilderness canoe guide on the Minnesota-Canada border!My work focuses on the intersection of Immunometabolism and Primary Immune Deficiencies, with an emphasis on how genetic perturbations of metabolic pathways can lead to immunodeficiency or dysfunction. Notable publication: |
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Matt Stier, Ph.D., Critical Care FellowFun Fact: I was in the Witness Protection Program!Immunometabolic Dysfunction in Critical Illness Notable publication: IL-33 promotes the egress of group 2 innate lymphoid cells from the bone marrow |
Current Graduate Students:
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Kaylee SteinerFun fact: I have played the violin since kindergarten and have played in high school and college orchestras as well as competing in solo competitions!Investigating the role of lipid metabolism in inflammation and cancer. Specifically, investigating Mecr and mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis and its role on T cell function and metabolism Notable publication: |
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Emma HathawayFun fact: My father was a mole man!Manipulating T cell metabolism to improve cellular immunotherapies for solid tumors Notable publication: High-Throughput Mass Cytometry Staining for Immunophenotyping Clinical Samples. |
Research Assistants:
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Madelyn LandisResearch Assistant Fun Fact: At one point in my life I had 5 different part-time jobs at the same time!My projects investigate the relationships between T cell metabolism and effector function with immunotherapy treatment in human renal cell carcinoma. I am a part of the VCI Human Immunology Discovery Initiative (HIDI) team working to manage and expand sample collections from patients with immune-related disorders. |
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Sam SchaeferResearch Assistant FGC Core Assistant Fun Fact: I have never broken a bone!CRISPR screens in mouse and human cell lines, healthy donor experiments, helping out others! |
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Summer BrownProgram Manager, Vanderbilt Center for Immunology Fun Fact: My favorite season is summer!Managing the VCI Email me |
Past Post-Doctoral Fellows:
Arissa Young, M.D
Rheumatology Fellow, University of California, Los Angeles
Saara Kaviany, DO
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Chicago
Diana Contreras, Ph.D.
Microbiology and Immunology
Current Senior Clinical Trials Assistant- Contract Partner of Amgen, IQVIA, Clayton, NC
Stephanie Dudzinski, Ph.D.
MSTP
Radiation Oncology Resident, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Nancie MacIver, M.D./Ph.D.
Assistant Professor (tenure track) Duke University, Pediatric Endocrinology
Liza Makowski, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor (tenure track) University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Nutrition
Ryan Michalek, Ph.D.
Senior Study Director, Metabolon Inc., Durham, NC
Pankuri Goraska-Hicks, Ph.D.
Director of Oncology Studies, Gentris
Alfredo Caro-Maldonado, Ph.D.
Post-doctoral Researcher, CIC BioGUNE, Spain
Andrew Macintyre, Ph.D.
Education and Professional Development Manager at American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB)
Peter Siska, M.D.
Hematology-Oncology fellow at University Hospital Regensburg
Sivan Cohen, Ph.D.
Scientist, Genentech, San Francisco, CA
Past Graduate Students:
Dalton Greenwood, Ph.D.
MPI
Ayaka Sugiura, M.D./Ph.D.
MSTP
Matt Madden, M.D./Ph.D.
MSTP
Pathology Residency, Yale School of Medicine
Jessica Wofford
Pharm Defended PhD 11/29/2007
Current Clinical Scientist-Drug Development, Aratana Therapeutics, Kansas City, MO
Yuxing Zhao
Pharm Defended PhD 12/6/2007
Currently a Police Officer, Melbourne Australia.
Heather Wieman
MCB Defended PhD 04/08
Senior Scientist, ZenBio, Research Triangle Park, NC
Kathleen O’Hara
IMM Defended M.S. 2009
Associate Veterinarian at United Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, San Francisco
Sarah Jacobs
MCB Defended PhD 11/2009
Current Post-doc with Blossom Damania at UNC Chapel Hill
Emily F Mason
MCB/MSTP Defended PhD 7/2010
Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University, Department of Pathology
Jonathan Coloff
Pharm Defended PhD 9/2010
Post-doc with Joan Brugge at Harvard Univeristy
Brian J. Altman
MCB Defended PhD 5/2011
Post-doc with Chi Dang, University of Pennsylvania
Valerie A. Gerriets
Pharm Defended PhD 2/21/2014
Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, California Northstate University College of Medicine
Tingyu Liu
Pharm Defended PhD 10/20/2014
Post-doc with Jeffrey Engelman, Harvard University
Rigel Kishton
Pharm Defended PhD 05/09/2016
Post-doc with Nick Restifo, National Cancer Institute (Surgery Branch)
Marc Johnson
Pharmacology/Cancer Biology Defended PhD 11/09/2018
Scientist, Surface Oncology, Cambridge MA
Past Research Assistants:
Katherine Beier
Veterinary Student, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Channing Chi
Medical Student, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Debolanle Dahunsi
Medical Student, University of Illinois College of Medicine
Rachel Hongo
Graduate student, Harvard Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program