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OUR TEAM

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ABATE BASHAW, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate, JAX Cancer Center Brooks Scholar

Abate completed his Ph.D. in Immunology in 2020 in the laboratory of Ian Frazer at the University of Queensland, Australia. His thesis work focused on mechanisms of immune modulation by HPV-induced epithelial malignancies. From 2021-2023, Abate pursued postdoctoral research in the Melanoma Discovery Lab at the University of Western Australia Centre for Medical Research. In the West Lab @ JAX, Abate is studying how aging-associated mitochondrial DNA instability impacts melanoma growth and metastasis.

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GAOMIN FENG, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

Gaomin received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from Peking University studying the initiation and regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial electrochemical flashes. From 2019-2023, Gaomin investigated how calcium signaling regulates mitochondrial function during aging as a postdoc at Vanderbilt University. In the West Lab, she is researching how interferon regulates mitochondrial iron metabolism in infectious and inflammatory diseases. 

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ARUNACHALAM SEKAR, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate

Arun received his Ph.D. in cancer biology in the lab of Prof. Yosef Yarden at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. His thesis work focused on therapeutically targeting the glucocorticoid receptor in ETS rearranged childhood bone malignancy Ewing sarcoma and prostate cancer. In the West lab, he is studying the role of mitochondrial DNA topoisomerases in mtDNA maintenance, immunity, and chemotherapy-related cardiotoxicity.

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JORDYN VANPORTFLIET, B.S.

Ph.D. Student, NIH/NIAID NRSA F31 Recipient

Jordyn earned a B.S. in Genomics and Molecular Genetics from Michigan State University, and is a Ph.D. candidate in the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics. In the West Lab, she is investigating how innate immune dysfunction increases susceptibility to viral and bacterial pathogens in POLG-related disorders and other models of primary mitochondrial disease. 

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HOLLY WHITE, B.S.

Research Assistant II

Holly received her B.S. in Captive Wildlife Care and Education from Unity College. She joined JAX in 2020 as an animal care technician and has since transitioned into research. In the West Lab, Holly manages the animal colony and leads a project to define how mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation contribute to Gulf War Illness. 

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DEBI FOSTER

Research Administrative Assistant

Debi joined JAX after 20 years as an administrator in various medical offices. Debi assists with ordering, scheduling, coordinating travel and expenses, and many other vital tasks for the West Lab. 

LAB ALUMNI

CHRISTINE BIRDWELL, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate, 2017-2020

Presently, Research Scientist

Dept. of Leukemia

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

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JOSH BRYANT, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate, 2019-2023

Presently, Research Scientist

Dept. of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University

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YUANJIU 'ABBY' LEI, PH.D.

Ph.D. Student, 2016-2023

Presently, Postdoctoral Associate

Depts. of Pathology and Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine

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MORGAN CHAPMAN

M.D./Ph.D. Student, 2022-2023

Presently, Ph.D. Candidate

Dept. of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M University

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CAMILA GUERRA MARTINEZ, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate, 2017-2018

Presently, Assistant Professor 

Dept. of Medicine

Universidade Ceuma, Maranhão, Brazil

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YI-FAN CHEN, PH.D.

Postdoctoral Associate, 2020-2023

IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow, Mechanistic Toxicology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) 

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SYLVIA TORRES ODIO, PH.D.

Ph.D. Student, 2018-2023

Presently, Research Scientist

Coeurative, Inc.

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ASHLEY WINTERS, M.S.

M.S. Student, 2019-2022

Presently, Mohs Surgery Histotechnician and Medical Assistant

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHER ALUMNI

MORGAN SMITH, B.S. - 2023

QUINN FAN, B.S. - 2021-2022

SARA ALI, B.S. - 2021-2022

GRACE SELNER, B.S. - 2020-2023

MARY STHALMAN, B.S. - 2021

KAYSEE FAAS, B.S. - 2019-2022

AKHILA REDDY, B.S. - 2019

SERENA KANG, B.S. - 2018-2021

SAYEED MENISSY, B.S. - 2018-2022

PAIGE DONART, B.S. - 2017-2019

MELISSA PINEDA, B.S. - 2016-2019

A. PHILLIP WEST, PH.D.

Principal Investigator

Phillip received dual B.S. degrees in Biology and Science Education in from North Carolina State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Immunobiology from Yale University under the mentorship of Sankar Ghosh. He then completed an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship with Gerald Shadel in the Department of Pathology at Yale School of Medicine. Phillip was a faculty member at Texas A&M School of Medicine before moving to JAX. 

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