2024-25 Innate Immunity Training Program Trainees

Sara Cahill (Medicine)
Sara is a PhD candidate in Dr. Fiachra Humphries’ lab in the division of innate immunity. She is investigating how respiratory viruses metabolically reprogram macrophages to promote disease. Before beginning at UMass, Sara received a BA in Biology with a concentration in Biochemistry from College of the Holy Cross.

Lauren Shumate (Microbiology/Medicine)
Lauren is an MD/PhD candidate in Dr. Beth McCormick and Dr. Ann Moormann’s lab. Her research focuses on microbial metabolites and their role in EBV reactivation in infected B cells and infection of epithelial cells. Lauren received her undergraduate degree in Biology at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Lauren Majors (Diabetes and Medicine)
Lauren is a co-mentored PhD candidate in the labs of Dr. Jennifer Wang and Dr. Neal Silverman. Her research aims to define how scavenger receptor class B type 1, which aids in cholesterol transport, modulates infection with RNA viruses. Lauren received an AS from Collin College and her BS in Microbiology from Texas A&M University.

Hayden Gallo (Microbiology)
Hayden is a PhD candidate in Dr. Vanni Bucci’s lab. His research utilizes computational models to predict temporal changes in the human gut microbiome and for designing rational microbial consortia to bolster immune responses. Hayden received his BS in Applied and Computational Mathematics with a concentration in Biological Sciences from the University of Notre Dame.

Calvin Johnson (Medicine)
Calvin is a PhD candidate in Dr. Jason Pitarresi's Lab, where he studies how tumor-derived factors drive immune suppression in pancreatic cancer. His work has identified a novel role for a protein in orchestrating tumor cell immune evasion, and while further interrogating the mechanism of action is developing therapeutics to target this factor. Calvin received his BS in Microbiology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and spent 5 years developing immunology expertise in both academia and the biotechnology sector prior to joining UMass Chan as a PhD student. 

Emma Holt (Program in Molecular Medicine)
Emma is an MD/PhD student in Dr. Paul Greer’s lab. Her research focuses on the role of Ms4a receptors in monocytes in the context of neuroinflammatory disorders. Emma received her BA in Neuroscience and Behavior from Barnard College.