Howard Young, Ph.D., is Deputy Chief of the Laboratory of Experimental Immunology in the Cancer and Inflammation Program, as well as Principal Investigator and Head of the Cellular and Molecular Immunology Section at the NCI Center for Cancer Research. Dr. Young has expertise in the regulation and characterization of cytokine gene expression with a special emphasis on interferons. The Young laboratory has as its major focus how disruption of the control of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) gene expression during development and maturation of the cellular immune system impacts the host inflammatory response and the development of autoimmune disease and cancer. In addition, the laboratory is investigating a new cancer vaccine strategy utilizing tumor antigens engineered to adhere to the surface of probiotic microorganisms as a strategy to present these antigens to the gut and lung mucosal interfaces.
James L. Gulley, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.P., is the Chief of the Genitourinary Malignancies Branch and Director of Medical Oncology Service at the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Dr. Gulley is especially interested in immunotherapy for prostate cancer. He works collaboratively with the Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, CCR, and takes promising laboratory findings and uses these to design and conduct clinical trials.
Jeanelle Spencer, Ph.D., is completing postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR), where she conducts translational research related to hematology and oncology.
Jennifer Patterson-West is a post-doctoral IRTA fellow at NIH's NIDDK in the Laboratory of Cell and Molecular Biology. Her research focuses on how bacteriophages take over and kill their host, in order to gain insight into new approaches for developing novel antibacterial agents. Jennifer is a member of FELCOM and is the current co-chair of the Mentoring Committee. As part of the Mentoring Committee, she aims to educate NIH fellows about the benefits of good mentoring and promote good mentoring practices. Outside of the lab, she spends most of her time biking, hiking, painting, or crafting.
Jessica Pierce, Ph.D., is a current postdoctoral IRP fellow at NIDDK, a member of FELCOM, and the current co-chair of the FELCOM Mentoring Committee. Her research interests include microbiology, infectious diseases, and the microbiome. Jessica is the lead instructor for a course on the human microbiome at FAES Graduate School at NIH, as well as a summer journal club instructor for NIH summer interns. Outside the lab, she is involved in dance, hiking, cooking, and taking care of her pet chinchillas.
Johnetta Saygbe, B.S., is a former National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Research Training Award (IRTA) Fellow in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). She is an aspiring global health pediatrician intrigued by the advancements in healthcare delivery and community health facilitated by dialogue on the intersection of faith, science, and society. Johnetta is currently the Dialogue on Science, Ethics and Religion (DoSER) Intern at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Kiara Palmer is a healthcare communications professional working with the Intramural Research Program to share stories on the innovative work done at NIH. Kiara previously served as a communications and social media specialist at NIH's National Human Genome Research Institute, where she led communications campaigns that raised awareness of the importance of genomic and genetic research. Kiara is excited to continue sharing the cutting-edge research done within the walls of NIH and explaining how that work is helping to improve patient health. After a long productive week, you can find Kiara brunching with friends, participating in local sports leagues like dodgeball, kickball, and volleyball, or watching reruns of her old favorite TV shows.
L. Michelle Bennett, Ph.D., did her postdoctoral fellowship in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) IRP, where she was part of the team that characterized and localized the human BRACA1 gene to the long arm of chromosome 17. She became passionate about understanding the characteristics of successful research team functioning and collaboration when she worked in one of the NCI’s IRPs, the Center for Cancer Research (CCR). Dr. Bennett is currently charged with creating a new office within NCI that will work with scientists from across the organization to develop recommendations for identifying research gap areas and new research opportunities.
Lindsey Jay is a postbaccalaureate IRTA in the lab of George Kunos, M.D., Ph.D., at the NIH’s National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). She graduated in June 2018 from the University of Chicago with degrees in Neuroscience and Biology. In Dr. Kunos’ lab, Lindsey assists with studies of a novel drug developed in the lab for the treatment of lung and skin fibrosis, a thickening and scarring of connective tissue that can occur spontaneously or due to injury. She hopes to pursue a career in pharmaceutical and drug development in the future. In her free time, Lindsey enjoys baking and painting.
This page was last updated on Friday, January 14, 2022
