Cathryn Nagler, Ph.D.
Bunning Food Allergy Professor
Ph.D., New York University, Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Science, New York
B.A., Barnard College, Columbia University
Contact: cnagler@bsd.uchicago.edu
Robert Patry, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Research:
Rob studies the impact of healthy microbiota on the function of certain immune cells related to food allergy, also examining the bacterial structures and metabolites that induce these effects.
Biography:
Rob received his Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology and the Complex Carbohydrate Research Center at the University of Georgia in 2020.
Contact: rpatry@uchicago.edu
Lauren “Ande” Hesser, PhD
Graduate Student, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research:
Working jointly with Dr. Hubbell and Dr. Cathryn Nagler, Ande’s project focuses on the development of microbiome modulating therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of food allergies. By targeting commensal gut bacteria and their metabolic byproducts as a source of immune modulation, she is gaining new insight into mechanisms underlying food allergies and discovering potential biotherapeutic agents.
Biography:
Ande received her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, 2018.
Contact: lahesser@uchicago.edu
Jack Arnold
Graduate Student, National Science Foundation Fellow, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research:
Working jointly with Dr. Mark Mimee and Dr. Cathryn Nagler, Jack’s research is focused on the “microbiome engineering” of A. caccae and isolation of additional Lachnospiraceae species.
Biography:
Jack received his B.S. in Chemical and Biological Engineering from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois in 2019.
Contact: arnoldj@uchicago.edu
Edward Ionescu
Graduate Student, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research:
Edward is researching the effects of gut microbiota-derived secondary bile acids on the mucosal immune system, in the context of understanding oral tolerance and treating food allergies.
Biography:
Edward received his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 2020.
Contact: eionescu@uchicago.edu
Armando Puente
Graduate Student, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Research:
Armando is studying the mechanisms by which the commensal microbiota influence intestinal homeostasis in the context of food allergy. He is interested in using transcriptomics to elucidate host pathways modulated by the microbiota and to discover novel interventions for food allergies.
Biography:
Armando received his B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California in 2017. He also completed graduate level course work in Bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego in San Diego, California in 2021.
Contact: aapuente@uchicago.edu
Peter Zwarycz
Laboratory Manager
Research:
Peter leads the lab's efforts in intestinal microbial analysis and characterization.
Biography:
Peter received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2017.
Contact: pzwarycz@uchicago.edu
Leidan “Tracy” Chen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research:
Tracy is working with Ande to study the regulatory role of butyrate on mucosal mast cell in food allergy.
Biography:
Tracy is a third-year student in the college majoring in Molecular Engineering with minors in Computer Science and Immunoengineering.
Contact: leidan@uchicago.edu
Jackie Lopez
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Research:
Jackie is working with Ande to study host-microbe interactions that induce gut barrier protective effects.
Biography:
Jackie is a second-year student in the college majoring in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Immunology and minoring in Education and Society.
Contact: jcplopez@uchicago.edu