Jessica Nevarez-Mejia joined the lab!

Jessica Nevarez-Mejia, a 2^nd year graduate student in the Molecular, Cellular and Integrative Physiology (MCIP) Program, joined the Reed Lab in July 2018. Her research will focus on understanding how anti-HLA class I antibodies can activate allograft endothelial cells to promote monocyte recruitment and monocyte polarization into distinct alternatively activated macrophage phenotypes. As macrophages are a distinguished feature of chronic antibody-mediated rejection pathology, she aims to determine the underlying mechanisms of polarization and macrophage effector functions.

Jessica graduated from UC Irvine with a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences. During her undergraduate career, Jessica developed her research interest in immunology while researching the cellular origins of melanoma and immunological interventions to regulate disease. At UCLA, she solidified her interest in immunology and immunogenetics while rotating in the Reed Lab. Jessica was awarded the Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship and recently received the Jennifer S. Buchwald Graduate award in Physiology. Outside of the lab, Jessica enjoys going to Santa Monica beach and spending time with family.

Welcome Jessica!