Lab News
Celebrating Reed Lab milestones
Jan 1, 2025: Dr. Parvind Singh Joins Reed Lab
Dr. Singh earned his PhD from the University of
Debrecen, Hungary, where his research focused on unconventional T cells (iNKT, γδ, and MAIT cells) in
both healthy individuals and patients with atopic dermatitis. Before pursuing his doctoral studies, he
worked for several years in a histocompatibility laboratory in India, specializing in assay development,
validation, and testing of clinical samples for organ transplantation.
January 10, 2025: Congratulations to Dr. Pickering!
Dr. Harry Pickering’s paper titled “Host-microbe multiomic profiling identifies distinct COVID-19 immune dysregulation in solid organ transplant recipients” was published in Nature
Communications.
Congratulations, Dr. Pickering and
collaborators!
January 27, 2025: Dr. Moien publishes research
Dr. Moien Lone’s paper titled “Antibody ligation of HLA class II induces YAP nuclear localization and formation of cytoplasmic YAP condensates in human endothelial cells” was published in Immunnohorizons.
Congratulations!
February 14, 2025: Dr. Yumeng Sun's paper published
PhD Candidate Angela Sun was invited to give a talk on her research at the 2024 Federation of Clinical Immunology Society meeting.
February 18, 2025: Dr. Bergersen's Research Published
Dr. Kristina Bergersen’s paper titled “Early cytokine signatures and clinical phenotypes discriminate persistent from resolving MRSA bacteremia” was published in BMC Infectious
Diseases.
Congratulations, Dr. Bergersen!
March 21, 2025: Dr. Pickering Published in Human Immunology
Dr. Harry Pickering’s paper titled “Cytomegalovirus-associated CD57 + KLRG1 + CD8 + TEMRA T cells are associated with reduced risk of CMV viremia in kidney transplantation and chronic allograft dysfunction in lung transplantation” was published in Human Immunology.
Congratulations, Dr. Pickering!
July 1, 2024: Welcoming Tyler-Marie Deveau
Tyler-Marie Deveau joins the Reed lab as a graduate student in the IMMP PhD program.
June 30, 2024: Congratulations to Dr. Meagan Jenkins
Postdoctoral research scholar Dr. Meagan Jenkins accepted a position at Johns Hopkins Clinical Postdoctoral Education Program. Good luck!
June 28, 2024: Drs. Bhat and Pickering present research
Reed Lab members Dr. Bhat and Dr. Pickering presented posters at the 11th Annual Immunology LA meeting. The event took place at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA.
June 20, 2024: PhD Candidate Angela Sun Invited to Present
PhD Candidate Angela Sun was invited to give a talk on her research at the 2024 Federation of Clinical Immunology Society meeting.
June 1, 2024: Dr. Yiping Jin Presents HLA Research
Dr. Yiping Jin presented his research at the American Transplant Congress in Philadelphia. Abstract Title: “HLA I molecules form a signaling complex with TLR4 mediating P-selectin surface expression and monocyte capture to human ECs in a calcium dependent manner.”
Full publication can be found at: Yi-Ping Jin, Jessica Nevarez-Mejia, Nicole M. Valenzuela, Enrique Rozengurt and Elaine F. Reed. American Transplant Congress, Philadelphia, PA, 2024. American Journal of Transplantation, Vol 24, Issue 6, suppl., page S402, 2024.
May 31, 2024: Celebrating Clinical Excellence Day
Members of the Reed Lab presented their various research projects at the 2024 Clinical Excellence Day, hosted by the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.
May 23, 2024: Presenting at LA Best Symposium
The Reed Lab was invited to present their various research projects at the Research Pavilion during the 2024 LA Best Symposium.
April 2024: Dr. Rajesh Parmar's Research Accepted into Frontiers in Immunology
Dr. Rajesh Parmar, a postdoctoral research scholar at Reed Lab, had his research accepted into Frontiers in Immunology. The research is titled: “Integrated transcriptomic analysis reveals immune signatures distinguishing persistent versus resolving outcomes in MRSA bacteremia."
February 28, 2024: Annual Luncheon
Thanks for the great turnout at the annual Reed Lab and UIC collaborator luncheon!
January 1, 2024: Dr. Masaaki Hirata, MD/PhD, joins the Reed lab
December 1, 2023: Dr. Kristina Bergersen Wins Fellowship
Dr. Bergersen, postdoctoral research scholar, was awarded the KUH-TRN TL1 Fellowship. Congratulations!
October 31, 2023: Halloween Celebration
A great turnout for the annual 4th floor CHS Halloween celebration.
September 1, 2023: Dr. Kristina Bergersen, PhD, joins the Reed lab.
July 17, 2023: Congratulations to PhD candidate Jessica Nevarez
Congratulations to Jessica Nevarez, for successfully defending her dissertation!
May 16, 2023: Congratulations to Allyson Terry!
PhD candidate Allyson Terry successfully defended her dissertation!
May 11, 2023
Rajesh Parmar
a post-doctoral scholar in the Reed Lab, received the prestigious American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Trainee Abstract Award. This award allowed him to present his research at the IMMUNOLOGY-2023 annual meeting in Washington, DC, where abstracts are selected for oral presentation. Rajesh’s presentation, titled “Integrated transcriptomic analysis reveals T and B cell immune signatures influencing resolving outcome in MRSA bacteremia,” highlighted his work on the MRSA systems biology project and was well-received by the conference attendees.
April 1, 2023: Dr. Shabir Bhat, PhD, joins the Reed lab.
November 18, 2022: Moien Lone joined the lab!
Moien was registered for Ph.D. in the Department of Biotechnology at Jaipur National University and carried out his research work in the Department of Biochemistry at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. His research focused on understanding the role of R2TP complex and its DSDDE motifs in Diffuse large B- Cell Lymphoma patients.
He joined the Reed Lab as a postdoctoral scholar in October 2022 where he will be studying and understanding the advance signaling pathways that regulate transcriptional programs stimulated by HLA class I and HLA class II antibodies in endothelial cells. His project aims to design novel approaches to improve the outcome of organ transplantation. His research activities primarily focus on YAP/TEAD signaling in promoting the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells challenged with antibodies directed against HLA I and HLA II.
Welcome, Moien!
October 31, 2022: Lab Halloween Party
The Reed Lab joins the Kupiec Lab and the Butte Lab for a Halloween celebration!
September 20, 2022: Reed Lab Celebration
The Reed Lab celebrated recent accomplishments in the lab, including:
- Angela Sun received the Roy & Dorothy John, Fred Eiserling & Judith Lengyel Teaching Excellence Award.
- Dr. Elaine F. Reed received the Mentorship or Education and Training in Transplantation Award from The Transplantation Society.
- Dr. Yiping Jin's paper "Crosstalk between HLA Class I and TLR4 Mediates P-Selectin Surface Expression and Monocyte Capture to Human Endothelial Cells" was published in The Journal of Immunology.
July 28, 2022: Eduardo Valli Presented at the CIVIC 2022 Annual Meeting
Presentation Title(s):
- T Cell Responses as Signatures of Influenza Vaccine Responses
- DNA Methylation Profiling of PBMCs Predicts Influenza Serological Immunity and Response to Vaccination
June 09, 2022: Abstracts Presented by The Reed Lab at ATC 2022
Featured Researchers
Jessica Nevarez-Mejia
Abstract Title: Protein and Transcriptomic Differences Between High and Low Neointimal Arteries in Human Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Rejected Grafts
Allyson Terry
Abstract Title: Disulfide HMGB1 Reprograms Macrophages to Induce Alloimmunity via TLR4 and TLR9 Pathways Following Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Human Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Angela Sun
Abstract Title: Longitudinal Single-Cell Profiling of CD8 T Cells During CMV Viremia in Kidney Transplant Recipients
Harry Pickering
Abstract Title: Multidimensional Immunological Profiling of CMV Dnaemia in Kidney Transplant Recipients
May 11, 2022: Abstracts Presented by Subha Sen and Jessica Nevarez-Mejia at AAI 2022 Annual Meeting
Subha Sen
Abstract Title: Single-Cell Transcriptomics Of CD8 T Cells During CMV Viremia In Kidney Transplant Recipients Identify Transcriptional States Of Advanced Differentiation
Jessica Nevarez-Mejia
Abstract Title: Characterizing Arterial Lesions in Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Rejected Grafts using NanoString GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling
March 23, 2022: Harry Pickering and Meagan Jenkins Presented at the CIVR-HRP 2022 Annual Meeting
Featured Presentations
Harry Pickering
Presentation Title: Soluble, cellular and epigenetic correlates of immune response to flu vaccination
Meagan Jenkins
Presentation Title: Los Angeles SARS-CoV-2-SeroPrevalence and Respiratory Tract Assessment (LA-SPARTA): Assessment of Humoral Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination
September 27, 2021: Allyson Terry Awarded ASHI Travel Award
Allyson Terry, a doctoral candidate in the Reed Lab, was awarded the competitive ASHI Travel Award to attend this year's annual meeting of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) held in Orlando, FL. This award covers travel and registration expenses for attendees whose abstracts are selected for oral presentation. Allyson’s presentation entitled "HMGB1-TLR4 and HMGB1-TLR9 Axes Differentially Polarize Macrophages to Distinct Phenotypes that Contribute to Alloimmunity Following Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Human Orthotopic Liver Transplantation" discussed her work on the liver ischemia-reperfusion injury project and was well-received by conference attendees.
Congratulations, Allyson!
August 01, 2021: Meagan Jenkins joined the lab!
Meagan Jenkins joined the Reed Lab in August 2021 as a postdoctoral scholar. Her research project focuses on the LA-SPARTA project which aims to determine the changes in immune response that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and infection. She specifically wants to explore the T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 and how this correlates with immunity. This includes looking at the specific T cell subsets present after vaccination and infection compared to healthy individuals, and comparing the T cell repertoire in vaccinated and infected individuals.
Meagan received her B.S. degree in Biological Sciences with a minor in Chemistry at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). At FGCU, she studied molecular and cellular virology, focusing on antibody dependent enhancement in Zika virus and also studied Dengue virus vaccine design based on a Yellow fever vaccine construct. She received her PhD at the University of Alabama at Birmingham studying dendritic cell migration patterns and CD8 T cell activation in a mouse model of influenza virus infection. During her PhD, she found that the spleen as a primary site for CD8 T cell activation and generation of long-lived CD8 T cells during influenza virus infection. She joined the Reed lab to transition to and gain expertise in human immunology. In her free time, she enjoys playing beach volleyball, surfing, and working out.
Welcome, Meagan!
February 01, 2021: Eduardo Valli joined the lab!
Eduardo obtained his degree in Biology and received his Ph.D. in immunology from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) – Argentina. His research focused on immunomodulation induced by hypothyroidism in the Cremaschi lab. Later, he moved to New Orleans where he completed his training at Tulane university, investigating novel adjuvants and its incorporation into influenza vaccines at Norton’s lab.
He joined the Reed Lab as a postdoctoral scholar in February 2021 where he will dissect a detailed molecular map of the cross-talk between the innate and adaptive immune response during influenza vaccination, with special interest on the most vulnerable populations.
Welcome, Eduardo!
October 01, 2020: Adil Bhat joined the lab!
Adil Bhat joined the Reed Lab as a postdoctoral scholar in October 2020. His research focuses on deciphering the complex biological interactions that drive liver transplantation reperfusion damage. Research project he currently working is 'Innate and Adaptive Immune Mechanisms of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury (IRI) in Transplantation'. The goal of his project is to identifying the DAMPs, cofactors, and pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) responsible for myeloid cell plasticity and alloreactivity following liver IRI. Understanding the effects of DAMP/PRR signaling on cellular and humoral alloimmunity would allow for the development of therapeutic treatments and, may improve liver transplant outcomes.
Adil earned his Ph.D. in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine from the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) New Delhi, India. He investigated the role of platelet and derived growth factors in liver regeneration in his Ph.D. thesis. His research focused on understanding the mechanism of liver regeneration deficiency in transplant recipients utilizing a multiomics approach. During his Ph.D., he investigated the pro-inflammatory and coagulatory effects of increased oxidized albumin in alcoholic liver disease on the innate immune response. Studies of immunological response in liver transplantation caught his interest. With this zeal, he was eager to learn more and expand his knowledge about the subject at the Reed Lab. Outside of the lab, Adil likes cooking, music, reading, and cycling as well as playing cricket.
Welcome, Adil!
July 01, 2020: Angela Sun joined the lab!
Angela Sun, a 3rd year graduate student in Molecular Biology Institute (MBI) under Immunity, Microbes, and Molecular Pathogenesis (IMMP) home area, joined the Reed Lab in July 2020. Her research will focus on profiling immune responses against cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in solid organ transplant patients. She aims to investigate how previous exposure to CMV affects the immune system and impacts the response to subsequent infections and vaccinations using systems biology approach.
Angela graduated from UCLA with a B.S. degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. Her undergraduate research focused on studying host-pathogen interactions of mosquito-borne RNA viruses and identifying the antiviral spectrum of host factors. She hopes to continue interrogating the immunology of viral infections in the Reed Lab.Outside of the lab, Angela is a fan of anime and theme parks, and enjoys dancing and hot yoga.
Welcome, Angela!
January 01, 2020
Harry Pickering joined the lab!
Harry Pickering joined the Reed Lab in January 2020 as a postdoctoral scholar. His work combines clinical research and computational tools to study systems immunology of viral infections, including CMV in the context of solid organ transplantation, influenza vaccination and SARS-CoV-2, with a particular focus on immunocompromised and otherwise vulnerable populations. The ultimate goal of his work is to understand the cross-talk between innate and adaptive immune responses and how this impacts the interaction between host and virus, with a view to improving clinical care, including antiviral treatment and vaccine delivery, in high-risk populations.
Harry received his BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Edinburgh in 2012, and completed his MSc the following year in Molecular Biology of Parasites and Disease Vectors at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. From 2013-2016 he studied at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) for his doctoral degree, investigating novel immune targets in Chlamydia trachomatis utilizing immunological and genomic tools. Following completion of his PhD, Harry was employed as a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Clinical Research at LSHTM, working on developing a vaccine against ocular C. trachomatis infection, with additional research involving in studies of epidemiology, genomics and immunology of multiple infections, with a focus on neglected tropical diseases in sites across sub-Saharan Africa and the Pacific Islands. Outside the lab, he enjoys browsing local record stores, California’s endless breweries and watching any sport he can find.
Welcome, Harry!
November 20, 2019: Reed Lab Annual Party
This past weekend, the Reed Lab gathered with collaborators to celebrate the accomplishments of 2019. From new members and new publications to long-standing collaborations and friendships, the evening was one of reflection on 2019 and excitement for the possibilities of 2020!
November 15, 2019
Jessica Nevarez-Mejia advanced to candidacy!
On November 14th, Jessica presented and passed her oral qualifying examinatioin to advance to candidacy in her graduate program. Her reserach plan was well-received by the committee. We are excited to witness the progress she will make toward her degree in the coming years. Congratulations, Jessica, on achieving this important milestone!
November 06, 2019
Allyson Terry advanced to candidacy!
On November 5th, Allyson presented and passed her oral qualifying examinatioin to advance to candidacy in her graduate program. Her reserach plan was well-received by the committee. We are excited to witness the progress she will make toward her degree in the coming years. Congratulations, Allyson, on achieving this important milestone!
October 02, 2019: Rebecca Sosa awarded ASHI Travel Award
Dr. Rebecca Sosa, a postdoctoral fellow in the Reed Lab, was awarded the competitive ASHI Travel Award to attend this year's annual meeting of the American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics (ASHI) held in Pittsburg, PA. This award covers travel and registration expenses for attendees whose abstracts are selected for oral presentation. Rebecca's presentation entitled "Increased expression of CEACAM1 in human orthotopic liver transplantation is cytoprotective during ischemia-reperfusion injury" discussed her work on the liver ischemia-reperfusion injury project and was well-received by conference attendees. Congratulations, Rebecca!
October 01, 2019: Subha Sen joined the lab!
Subha Sen was appointed on October 2019, as an Immunologist in the research laboratory of Dr. Elaine F Reed, at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, in the position of Associate Project Scientist.
Subha has a long-term interest in characterization of the immune system in response to infectious and non-infectious diseases including autoimmune disorders and transplantation. Her goals are to identify mechanistic details and novel biomarkers/immune signatures that clinicians can utilize to diagnosis, predict disease outcomes, determine patients' response to treatment and modulate future therapeutic and prophylactic strategies.
Subha’s long-term focus of research is to perform immune-signature identifications in a broad set of variable dimensions relevant for human immunology, such as nature of the perturbation (vaccination vs natural infection), disease state (Acute versus chronic), clinical outcomes (progressive, steady state, resolution) host factors (Age, Gender, Ethnicity).
In the near future, Subha is particularly trying to interrogate anamnestic versus erosive immune memory response to multiple doses of vaccine regimes and natural infections of SARS-CoV2. Identification of protective immune correlates of vaccination regimes and efficacy of SARS-CoV2 and influenza vaccines to define signatures with mechanistic or biomarker potential.
In addition, Subha is working to decipher the immune mechanisms associated with CMV reactivation or resilience in renal transplanted patients. She is particularly interested in the interplay of various T cell subtypes and how they are affected by CMV and how they affect the viremia outcome. Importantly, by identifying and cataloging the immune-signatures and the underlying (putative) causes, it will be possible to infer causal underpinnings of the signatures. She wants to further investigate the mechanisms of immune- memory depletion to natural infections and vaccinations and ways to overcome immune-attrition.
Welcome, Subha!