Current Members

Deborah Lenschow, M.D., Ph.D

Dr. Deborah Lenschow received her undergraduate degree in Biology from Wittenberg University. She then earned her M.D., Ph.D. from the University of Chicago, where she studied the role of CD28/CTLA4/B7 co-stimulation pathways in T cell activation and autoimmunity. After completing her M.D./Ph.D., Dr. Lenschow did her residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Rheumatology at Washington University School of Medicine. She performed her postdoctoral fellowship in the lab of Dr. Skip Virgin where she described ISG15 as an important type I interferon induced, antiviral molecule. In 2006, she joined the faculty in the Department of Medicine and the Division of Rheumatology where she continues to run her research group, sees patients on the Rheumatology clinical service, and also serves as the co-director of the Physician Scientist Training Program for Internal Medicine and Immunology Program.

Kristen Monte, B.S.

Kristen received her degree in Biology from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2000. She began conducting research at Washington University School of Medicine in 2001. Kristen is currently working as the Research Laboratory Manager and studying influenza and ISG15.

Lindsey (Cook) Fox, Ph.D.

Lindsey received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas in Austin in Microbiology and recently earned a Ph.D. in Immunology from Washington University in St. Louis. As a postdoctoral research scholar in the Lenschow lab, Lindsey continues exploring her longstanding interest in host-virus interactions by studying type I interferon responses. In particular, she is delineating the distinct functions of individual IFN subtypes during acute chikungunya virus infection.

Sachendra Bais, Ph.D.

Sachendra received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biotechnology from Jiwaji and Dr. H.S. Gour University, India, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. from the lab of Dr. Soumen Basak at the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi, India. In Dr. Basak’s lab, he studied the role of canonical NF-kB signaling in host cell responses to RNA viruses. In a broad sense, he was investigating the crosstalk between NF-kB, type I interferon, and cell death pathways during RNA virus infections. As a postdoctoral research associate in the Lenschow lab, he is pursuing his goals in virus research utilizing SARS-CoV-2 pathology in mouse models. More specifically, he is investigating the roles of ISG15 in regulating cell death processes during SARS-CoV-2 infection. He loves to spend his free time with his better half Poonam and lovely daughter Anaya.

Bria Dunlap, B.A.

Bria received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland. After graduating and moving to Missouri, she worked as a technician in the labs of Drs. Skip Virgin and Megan Baldridge studying host-virus interactions. As a graduate student in the Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis program and a member of the Lenschow lab, Bria is studying chronic chikungunya virus disease, specifically, how cell types harboring viral RNA contribute to chronic arthritis.

Jessica Carpenter, M.S.

Jessica received her B.A. and M.S. degrees in Biophysical Chemistry from Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. She worked in the lab of Dr. Ekaterina Pletneva studying the structures and redox properties of cytochrome c metalloproteins. She then joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at WashU and is now a member of the Immunology program. As a graduate student in the Lenschow lab, Jessica is studying regulation of the host response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and acute kidney injury. Outside of the lab, Jessica enjoys volunteering at SLCH, trying out new recipes, and spending time in Forest Park.

Magdalene Brown, B.S.

Maggie received her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Washington. During undergrad, she worked in Dr. Jennifer Hyde’s lab studying alphaviruses and how elements of the genome impact viral replication and pathogenesis. She is now a graduate student in the Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenesis Program at WashU. As a member of the Lenschow lab, Maggie is interested in studying chronic chikungunya disease and how harboring viral RNA contributes to chronic disease.

Lab Alumni

Postdoctoral Fellows

EJ Perng, Ph.D.

Senior Scientist

Pfizer, St. Louis, MO

Jessica Campbell, Ph.D.

Principal Scientist

Pfizer, St. Louis, MO

Marisela Rodriguez, Ph.D.

Microbiologist

USDA, Athens, GA

Graduate Students

Bradley Hiller, Ph.D.

DBBS, Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Lab of Joseph Mizgerd, Sc.D. Pulmonary, Allergy, Sleep, and Critical Care, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Marissa Locke, Ph.D.

DBBS, Immunology

Science Associate II

American Association of Immunologists

David Morales, Ph.D.

DBBS, Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Senior Scientist

Pfizer, St. Louis, MO

Anjali Rohatgi, M.D., Ph.D.

MSTP, Immunology

Medical Fellow

Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Scott Werneke, Ph.D.

DBBS, Immunology

Senior Clinical Science Manager

Exelixis, Alameda, CA

Alissa Young, Ph.D.

DBBS, Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis

Patent Specialist

Nixon Peabody LLP, Boston, MA

Research Technicians

Caroline Lai Kang, M.D., Ph.D.

Medical Resident

Department of Urology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Jessica Struckhoff, R.N., B.S.N.

Staff Nurse

St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO