“Current research associate at the Fred Hutch in the Clinical Research Division, focusing on immune responses to gene therapy, as well as CAR T cells as a potential cure for HIV.

Gene transfer vectors contain virally derived components that have the potential to be immunogenic in the context of transplantation. By assessing antigen-specific immune responses to both transgenes and viral proteins encoded by the vectors, we are able to avoid in vivo immune rejection or silencing to improve engraftment and long term transgene expression.

By using nonhuman primate models of HIV our group is interrogating and optimizing the use of gene and cellular therapy as a means to control and potentially eliminate latent HIV infections.

Completed postdoctoral training involving translational research focused on analyzing the role antigen-specific T cells play in the development of allergic disease and cancer in humans as both regulatory and effector populations. Graduate work included harnessing protein engineering to alter class II antigen processing to improve CD4+ T cell immunodominance against HIV gp120 vaccines.”