Sophie Hapak, M.D.

Biography

Fellowship dates: 2020-2024
Mentor: Vaiva Vezys (Lab website)
Research Emphasis: Immunological mechanisms of immune mediated adverse events (irAE's) in checkpoint inhibitor therapy. List of Publications

Sophie Hapak, MD

Siddheshvar Bhela, Ph.D.

Biography

Fellowship dates: 2017-2021
Research Emphasis: Investigating mechanisms controlling generation and maintenance of peripheral T cell tolerance. Researching role of tolerant CD8 T cells in regulating autoimmunity and cancer. Understanding autoimmunity in the context of hygiene hypothesis.

Siddheshvar Bhela

Emily Thompson, Ph.D

Biography


Program: MICaB
Year Entered: 2011
Defense Year: 2017
Advisor: Vaiva Vezys
Dissertation Title: "Visualizing CD8+ T cell responses to foreign and self-antigen"

Degrees received: 
B.S., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2009
Ph.D., University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2017

Emily Thompson, Ph.D

Christine Nelson, Ph.D.

Biography


Program: MICaB
Year Entered: 2012
Defense Year: 2018
Advisor: Vaiva Vezys
Dissertation Title: "Function and utility of self-specific CD8 T cells."

Degrees received: 
B.S., University of Minnesota, TC, 2007
Ph.D., University of Minnesota, TC, 2018

Christine Nelson, Ph.D.

Vezys Lab

Graduate Students and Post Doctoral Fellows in the the Vezys lab study CD8 and CD4 T cell responses in autoimmunity and chronic infections. Specifically, the laboratory is examining how persistent interaction with cognate antigen impacts T cell selection, differentiation and survival. They observe and manipulate the dynamics of T cell responses specific for chronic viral infections or host derived self-proteins using MHC tetramers, adoptive transfer of transgenic T cells and fluorescence flow cytometry.