The Anderson Lab at the University of Virginia

Kristin Anderson, PhD, (she/her)

Principal Investigator

Assistant Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology (MIC)
Member, Beirne B. Carter Immunology Center (CIC)
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN)

Dr. Kristin Anderson received her PhD in Immunology from the Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology (MICaB) Program at the University of Minnesota in the lab of Dr. David Masopust in 2014. Her graduate work led to the adoption of an intravascular staining technique now widely used in the field of immunology that allows investigators to distinguish between intra-vascular and tissue-localized cells. Her 1st author publications in the Journal of Immunology and Nature Protocols already have received >500 citations.

During graduate school, she was diagnosed with and underwent treatment for aggressive breast cancer. After finishing treatment, she redirected her research focus to immunotherapy and joined the lab of Dr. Philip Greenberg at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (Clinical Research Division) and the University of Washington (Department of Immunology). During her postdoctoral training, she learned how to engineer T cells to recognize and kill cancer. Her research lab now focuses on engineering cancer-killing T cells to overcome obstacles in solid tumors.

Kristin has served on the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Associate Member Council (AMC, 2018-2023), the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Early Career Scientist (ECS) Committee (2020-present), and the SITC Awards Review Committee (2020-present), as a Rivkin Center Breast and Ovarian Health Education Program Facilitator and Instructor (2016-2021), an Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance (OCRA) Advocate Leader (2021-present), as a Board member of the Powell-Drescher Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation (2022-present), and as a Social Media Editor for the Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer (JITC; 2022-present).

When she is not in the lab, she enjoys traveling, hiking, connecting with friends, and spending quality time with her family.

Senior Research Staff

Kara Cummings, PhD, (she/her)

Lab Manager

Dr. Cummings received her PhD in Cellular Biology from the University of Georgia in the lab of Dr. Rick Tarleton. During her graduate work, she investigated the role of iNOS signaling during Trypanosoma cruzi infections. She completed her post-doctoral training under the mentorship of Dr. Young Hahn at the University of Virginia, where she studied CD4 T cell responses to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. She joins the Anderson and Justin Taylor labs from Dr. Vic Engelhard’s lab, where she was a Senior Lab Specialist. Her research in the Engelhard lab focused on the immunogenicity of cancer-expressed phosphorylated MHC Class I peptides. In the Anderson Lab, Kara aims to apply her cancer immunology training to investigate immune responses in solid tumors and develop novel immune-based cancer therapeutics. She also oversees the lab’s undergraduate research program.

In her free time, she enjoys reading suspense novels.

Gabriel Alencar, PhD, (he/him)

Senior Computational Biologist/Bioinformatician

Dr. Alencar received his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics from the University of Virginia under the mentorship of Dr. Gary Owens and Dr. Stefan Bekiranov. During his graduate work and for a couple of years thereafter, he used bioinformatic tools to interrogate the role of pluripotency genes in smooth muscle cells late-stage atherosclerosis. During his training, he mastered coding languages Python, JavaScript, HTML, Perl, and R, built pipelines for scRNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analyses, and designed software for data visualization. He worked at Tandem Diabetes Care as a Senior Customer Experience Researcher role where he designed studies and performed data analysis, i.e. comparing diabetic patients (type 1 and type 2) glycemic control improvement, as well as several quality of life parameters, after being in a insulin pump for a year. He joins the Anderson and Justin Taylor labs bringing his biostatistician experience from the biotech world. In the Anderson Lab, Gabe aims to leverage his expertise in programming and statistical analysis of “big data” to interrogate how immune responses are modulated in tumors.

When he's not sciencing, Dr. Alencar is a proud parent to two awesome boys. And when he's got some free time on his hands, you'll find him geeking out over everything cool, grooving to music, and wandering around the region soaking in the great outdoors (and indoors).

Breanna Bates

Lab Specialist

Breanna received her bachelor’s degree in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Washington. After graduating she began work at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, first in the lab of Dr. David MacPherson where she worked on projects related to identifying key mutations in small cell lung cancer and retinoblastoma. She later joined the lab of Dr. Philip Greenberg, where she studied T cell immunology and worked with Dr. Anderson on projects engineering T cells to overcome the suppressive tumor microenvironment, specifically in ovarian and pancreatic cancer. Breanna is thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Anderson again and continue to be involved in the groundbreaking research in the Anderson and Taylor labs at UVA!

In her free time, she enjoys chasing after her boys, hiking and exploring new areas of her current state of Tennessee.

Kuntal Biswas, PhD, (he/him)

Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Biswas received his master’s degree from the University of Dhaka in Bangladesh, where he developed a novel technique for isolating environmental Vibrio cholerae. He received his Ph.D. in Cardiovascular Physiology from the University of Kanazawa, Japan, where his graduate research primarily focused on the role of class II PI3K C2a in endothelial cells, both in vitro and in vivo. He completed his postdoctoral training in Radiation Oncology at the University of Virginia, where he conducted research on the E3 ligase, Carboxyl terminus of Hsp70-Interacting Protein70 (CHIP), in prostate cancer, then transitioned to a Senior Scientist role in the Gynecology Oncology department, where he dedicated his efforts to evaluating the efficacy of a RNA Polymerase I inhibitor in chemo-resistant ovarian cancer cells. In the Anderson and Justin Taylor labs, his research focuses on understanding tumor-specific B cell responses in ovarian cancer.

Outside the lab, Dr. Biswas’s hobbies include gardening, exploring new places, and spending quality time with his family.

Fellows

Ester Goldfeld, MD

Gyn/Onc Research Fellow

Ester Goldfeld, MD is a first-year Gynecologic Oncology fellow at UVA. She completed her undergraduate degree at Duke University in evolutionary anthropology and biology, her master’s degree in cell and molecular biology at Tulane University, her medical degree at the University of Pittsburgh, and her residency at UVA. Treatment advances in gynecologic oncology drew her to pursue the specialty for her career and inspired her to engage in opportunities to bring new treatments from the bench to the clinic. Her previous research experiences focused on ovarian cancer biology, and she is excited to expand her repertoire of lab skills into the immunotherapy and T cell engineering space this year.

Outside of the lab, she enjoys baking, hiking, listening to true crime podcasts, and spending time with her family, especially her husband and 1-year-old daughter who keeps her on her toes!

Asmaa Mohamed, PhD

Post-doctoral Research Fellow

Asmaa completed her undergraduate degree at the University of California Merced and her PhD at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She is passionate about learning new ideas, executing clear experiments, and helping patients with cancer and their families. Her research interests include T cell engineering and enhancing immune responses in ovarian cancer.

In her free time, she loves baking, gardening, reading/listening to mystery books, and crafting.

Graduate Students

Rossymar Rivera

Rossymar (Ross) Rivera Colón received her bachelor’s degree in biomedical science from the University of Puerto Rico at Ponce. Ross was inspired to pursue a PhD after losing a loved one to cancer. She is deeply dedicated to discovering new treatments and advocating for Latinas in STEM. In the Anderson lab, Ross focuses on investigating adenosine-mediated suppression to improve the efficacy of engineered T cell anti-tumor therapies.

Outside the lab she enjoys cooking, baking, dancing salsa & cuddling with her two cats.

Yaning Li

Yaning Li received her B.Sc. in pharmacy from China Pharmaceutical University and M.Sc. in Pharmacology from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She was inspired to study cancer immunology after working in the pharmaceutical sector where she engaged in preclinical studies of immunocytokines and immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment. She recognized that therapeutic breakthroughs often arise from fundamental research and chose to pursue a PhD to embrace research opportunities & expand her research skills. She is attracted by the science in the Anderson lab as she believes in the boundless potential of T cells which are her favorite immune cells. Her motivation for scientific research lies on creativity and applying knowledge in innovative ways to benefit human health.

In her free time, she enjoys journaling, collecting stationery items, and building Legos. Her life motto is "make the world a cuter place".

Rylee Poole

Rylee Poole received her B.Sc. in Biology at Purdue University, then conducted breast cancer research at Indiana University School of Medicine before joining the UVA BIMS program in 2024. Rylee was inspired to pursue research to understand the immune response in the context of solid cancers, and she is eager to utilize the knowledge gained in the Anderson lab to make headway towards improving immunotherapy treatments for cancer patients!

Outside the lab, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, biking, and spending time with her two cats.

Julia Blaszczyk

Julia Blaszczyk completed her bachelor's and master's degrees in medical biotechnology at Pomeranian Medical University in Poland. During her undergraduate studies under the Erasmus Exchange Program, she participated at the Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences in a research project that focused on the development of a method called Liquid Array Diagnostics which was used to detect HPV variants associated with human pathology. During her bachelor's and master’s studies, she worked on developing diagnostic genetic testing for various diseases, including Lynch Syndrome and cancer. She also completed a research internship at the Read-Gene company where she evaluated the association of USP39 gene mutations with prostate cancer risk. Julia then completed a two-year research internship in the BioLab Program under a Fulbright Scholarship at UVA School of Medicine in Prof. David Wotton's Laboratory researching the interaction of metabolic and epigenetic control in colorectal cancer. Fascinated by the clinical potential of cancer immunology and immune cell engineering, she joined the BIMS PhD program and is now investigating the impact of immunotherapy on B cell responses in ovarian cancer.

Outside the lab, she enjoys singing, hiking, skiing, tennis and traveling.

Undergraduate and Post-baccalaureate Researchers

Joelle Aheto

Joelle Aheto is a Second Year student at UVA. Her love for science began at a young age, driven by curiosity about the living world around her. This interest evolved into a passion for medical research when, in high school, she was given the opportunity to conduct an independent research project exploring an alternative treatment for Hemophilia A. The excitement she felt working in a lab—constantly learning and trying new things—motivated her to pursue an MD/PhD after graduation. She is particularly interested in joining an immunology lab, with a focus on oncology and its impact on the daily lives of individuals affected by cancer and is grateful to the Anderson lab for allowing her to explore her passions. Her long-term goal is to contribute to research that helps uncover treatments for currently unknown diseases and conditions, ensuring that everyone has a chance at survival. In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out, dancing, cooking, spending time with friends, trying new experiences, and traveling.

Abdulrahman Asy

Abdulrahman Asy is a Fourth Year biology student at UVA. His interest in cancer research was sparked by his personal experience undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Driven by a desire to make an impact in those similarly affected, he aspires to pursue a degree in biomedical sciences, aiming to support and improve outcomes for individuals facing cancer recurrences and treatment resistance. In his free time Abdul likes to workout, cook, read, and spend time with family and friends.

Yasmine Elhajjam

Yasmine Elhajjam is a Third Year student at UVA. Her passion for medical research evolved after a close family member suffered and passed away from heart disease. This drove a strong passion to integrate herself into the medical community and explore a range of diseases from cardiovascular, immunological, and neurological diseases. She is working to integrate herself into the research field and work to positively contribute to the daily lives of individuals suffering from cancer through the Anderson Lab. Furthermore, outside of her studies and research, Yasmine enjoys gardening, photography, and playing the piano and guitar.

Katie Jennings

Katie Jennings is a First Year student at UVA. Since elementary school, she has known she wanted to be a scientist. In high school, she found her passion for the world of biology which led her to pursue a summer research internship at the University of Arizona. There she discovered a love for research. She was fortunate enough to be welcomed back to the same lab and was able to continue her research project she started over the summer. When not found in the lab or studying, she loves hiking, reading, crafts, and watching UVA football and basketball!

Kaycie Keeley

Kaycie Keeley is a First Year at UVA. From an early age, she has been motivated to better understand how science and medicine can be used to improve and save lives. Her interest in cancer research stems from her family history with breast cancer. She hopes to pursue a major in neuroscience and eventually go to medical school. In her free time, she enjoys playing on the club field hockey team at UVA, volunteering, and spending time with friends and family!

Adhira Prasana

Adhira Prasanna is a Fourth Year student at UVA. Her interest in cancer research was sparked by her experience as a patient care technician at the Emily Couric Cancer Center infusion department working with medical personnel to help patients with their chemotherapy and infusions. Additionally, her passion in medical research was inspired by her strong drive in becoming a physician and interest in exploring immunological and neurodegenerative diseases. She is working to integrate herself into the research field and working continuously to positively support patient care and individuals suffering from cancer through the Anderson Lab. In her free time, she enjoys running, baking, taking her golden doodle for walks, and being outdoors.

Shikha Raghuram

Shikha Raghuram is a Second Year student at UVA. Her interest in biology and cancer research was sparked by a high school senior-year research project studying pediatric neuroblastoma cells. She is continuing to build her research experience through her work with the Anderson Lab, where she hopes to help improve outcomes for individuals affected by cancer. She is also interested in the computational and statistical side of biomedical research, particularly how data analysis can inform experimental and clinical insights. Outside of academics, Shikha enjoys dancing, spending time with friends, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Samara Tanner

Samara Tanner is a Fourth Year at UVA. She has been interested in science for as long as she can remember and particularly enjoys studying biology to understand the mechanisms by which the body functions. Taking an immunology course at UVA inspired her to learn more about how translational research can advance medicine and contribute to the development of new therapeutics, which she hopes she will be able to apply in her future pursuit of medical research. In her free time, she enjoys lifting weights, backpacking, and watching basketball, football, and hockey.

Former Lab Members

Jaime Kiff, MD

8/2025-7/2026
Title: Gyn/Onc Research Fellow
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Daniel Dapaah

9/2023-5/2026
Title: Undergraduate Researcher
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Caroline Grant

9/2023-5/2026
Title: Undergraduate Researcher

Lizzie Mangilit

9/2023-5/2026
Title: Undergraduate Researcher
Subsequent position: Master of Science student in Anesthesia program at Case Western Reserve University
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Francesca Nanetti

3/2025-9/2025
Title: Visiting Graduate Student
Subsequent position: Regulatory Affairs R&D Department, FATRO S.P.A.
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Madi Klavans, MD

8/2024-7/2025
Title: Gyn/Onc Research Fellow

Arianna Gravatt

9/2023-7/2025
Title: Undergraduate/post-bac researcher
Subsequent position: CERT graduate student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
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Ramsey Beladia

9/2023-5/2025
Title: Undergraduate researcher
Subsequent position: Medical student at Nova Southeastern University
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Chloe Kline

9/2023-5/2025
Title: Undergraduate/post-bac researcher
Subsequent position: Medical Student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
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Abby Minkin

9/2023-5/2025
Title: Undergraduate researcher
Subsequent position: Medical student at University of Virginia
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Tina Nguyen

9/2023-5/2025
Title: Administrative Assistant and Undergraduate researcher
Subsequent position: Longwood University Master’s in speech-language pathology program
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Matt Bode

9/2023-5/2024
Title: Post-bac trainee
Subsequent position: University of Pennsylvania Pre-Health Post-bac Program
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Anders Nelson, PhD, (he/him)

05/2023-09/2023
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow
Subsequent position: Computational Biologist at AstraZeneca
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People