Dr. McNamara is Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division, Beirne B. Carter Professor of Immunology and Director of the Carter Immunology Center at the University of Virginia. She is an experienced investigator in the area of immune cell mechanisms and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), utilizing integrated approaches of mechanistic discovery and clinical translation. Her work, identifying novel genetic and cellular factors mediating atherosclerosis in mice and humans has led to her being awarded the 2016 American Heart Association (AHA) Special Recognition Award in Arteriosclerosis and being selected to present the 2019 National AHA Russell Ross Memorial lecture in Atherosclerosis. She is highly collaborative and has served as Project PI in a longstanding (> 25 years) Program Project Grant (PPG) and as project PI in two Leducq Transatlantic Network of Excellence grants. She is passionate about interdisciplinary collaborative translational research and is one of three Principle Investigators on a Prominence to Preeminence (P2PE) Award from UVA to develop Precision ImmunoMedicine for CVD.

Complete list of publications here

I’m a fourth year BIMS student who graduated from UF with a Bachelor’s in Biology. I’m interested in the immunology of chronic inflammatory diseases and autoimmunity, and was super lucky to find my way into the McNamara lab when I came to UVA! Here I study the interactions between CD4 T cells and B cells via PD-1 in the context of atherosclerosis. Outside of the lab, I love watching hockey and football, playing video games, and spending time with my crazy dog Gracie.

Jesse is an MSTP student at the University of Iowa, where he completed triple majors in biochemistry, biology, and chemistry. As an undergraduate, he investigated mitochondrial pyruvate carriers and their role in cardiovascular disease, work that earned him multiple honors including the Excellence in Research award and the Shoemaker–Strickler Memorial Scholar award.

Building on this foundation, Jesse is now pursuing his MD/PhD through the MSTP program. His current research, conducted under Dr. Ken Walsh and Dr. Coleen McNamara, focuses on the intersection of the immunology and cardiovascular research. In addition to his research, Jesse has also served as co-president of the UVA AMA Medical Society of Virginia and led APSA Professional Development sessions. In his spare time, Jesse likes to rock climb, read, and spend time with friends.

I graduated from UVA with degrees in Biology and History in 2017, and joined the lab of Fran Garrett-Bakelman as a technician to get some more biomedical research experience investigating the pathology of acute myeloid leukemia. I wanted to continue a career in biomedical research, so I entered the BIMS program in 2019, and joined the McNamara lab in early 2020. I’m interested in the interface of cardiovascular disease and oncology, so researching clonal hematopoiesis in lymphocytes and its effects on atherosclerosis progression was a no brainer! With my successful advancement to candidacy, I gained a Master’s degree and now I’m on my way to becoming a “triple hoo”! I enjoy hanging out with my 3 cats, going on walks with my golden retriever, and visiting wineries with my husband in my spare time. You can check out my dog on instagram @daphnethemenace!

Megan Mazzei is a Ph.D. candidate in the McNamara Lab at the University of Virginia, where she studies how G6PD deficiency influences B-cell biology and contributes to atherosclerosis. She earned her B.S. in Biology, magna cum laude, from the College of Charleston Honors College with a minor in Spanish, and completed her M.S. in Biological and Physical Sciences at UVA in 2025. Before joining UVA, Megan conducted extensive cancer biology research at the Medical University of South Carolina, where she helped develop molecular tools targeting oncogenic RAS proteins. Her work has resulted in multiple peer-reviewed publications and numerous conference presentations. Megan’s research interests span immunometabolism, innate-like B-cell biology, and mechanisms linking immune function to chronic inflammatory disease. She is currently supported by a Leducq Foundation mini-grant in collaboration with the Eindhoven University of Technology. Outside the lab, Megan enjoys running and competing in half marathons, reading, making soup, and spending time with her English bulldog.

I’m an amerikiwi with a passion for travelling! After finishing my medical training and residency in New Zealand, I discovered my passion for cardiovascular immunology during my Masters of Science in Scotland. This led me to join the dream team (aka McNamara Lab), where I explore the inner workings of atheroprotective B-1 cells. In my free time I love exploring the Shanandoah National park, consuming coffee, and reading romantasy.

I am a 3rd year UVA MSTP (Medical Scientist Training Program) candidate and am fascinated by the immunological networks that underlay cardiovascular disease progression. Building on a previous MSTP student's work (Oom Pattarabanjird), I am currently studying mechanisms of atheroprotective IgM production in humans. I am an adopted Korean-American, a Cornell Alum (Go Big Red!) and budding chef/coffee enthusiast! Ask me about coffee or cooking if you wanna get into all the great details. In my free time, I love to cook, bake desserts, hang with friends, hike, bike, and hang with my cat!

I got my B.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University and dove into biomedical research. I’ve worked at UVA going on 27 years - I was the lab manager of Joel Linden’s lab before coming over to the McNamara Lab as a research specialist and mouse colony manager. I became lab manager in December 2021 and have been spending my time happily running assays away from the mice. I am a mom to two wonderful children, Dalton and Lexi, and have a best friend in my husband Jerry, along with several cats and dogs which fill our household with love. Fun fact: One summer during break I worked on a dairy farm milking cows and bottle feeding the calves!

Vicki Gordon is a lab specialist who is widely trained in molecular biology techniques. She came to the Center for Immunology after over twenty years in the lab of Dr. Michael Weber. She has years of experience in many laboratory procedures, such as tissue culture, Western blotting, and flow cytometry. In her previous lab, her major focus was a study of the immune cells of leukemia and lymphoma. She is currently applying her expertise to study the role of immune cells in cardiovascular disease. Her extensive training brings critical support for the iPRIME initiative.

Hi! My name is Andrea. I am a mouse lab specialist for McNamara Lab. I have a B.A. in Biology and have spent most of my career so far working for various science labs and zoos in the southeast US region. I study bats in my spare time and practicing circus arts is one of my favorite hobbies.

After graduating with a B.S in Biology and Health Policy I wanted to further understand the process of biomedical science. I have previously worked in cardiovascular health, but loved immunology from the first class I took. I currently work with Megan on G6PD deficiency and the production of antibodies, both atherogenic and atheroprotective! Other than science I can tell you about any constellation and I am the acclaimed cookie expert in the McNamara lab.

After graduating with a B.S. in Chemistry and then working in the mining industry, I knew that the best lab work is teamwork. I’m very happy to be a part of efforts advancing the study of immunology and its impact on human health. My original favorite cells were Tregs and CD8+ T-cells, but now B-cells are! My forte is flow and mass cytometry (sample prep, staining, analysis) and I am always ready to talk shop. My other treasured shop talk topics include horses, gardening, and historical clothing.

Katie joined the lab in December 2021 as a lab specialist and also manages the mouse colony. She previously worked with the Center for Comparative Medicine here at UVA and is excited to now be directly involved in research on the laboratory side. Also a licensed veterinary technician since 2005, Katie’s background and training allows her a unique perspective in directly providing the mouse colony with high quality care while assisting the lab members in reaching their research goals. Katie resides in Waynesboro with her 5 cats and enjoys being outdoors, baking, and the occasional crossword puzzle.

I am a third-year undergraduate in the Human Biology Distinguished Majors Program, and my interest in cardiovascular health began when I was eight years old, after my dad experienced an aortic dissection. In the lab, I work with Sydney on projects exploring the mechanisms linking alpha-gal sensitization to atherosclerosis, as well as the involvement of PD-1 signaling in atherosclerotic disease progression.. Outside the lab, I serve as a youth advocate with the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and I love running on Grounds and watercoloring on the Lawn!

I am a UVA fourth-year undergraduate. I am from Jiaxing in Zhejiang Province, China, a city known for its Dragon Boat Festival traditions and for being a historic center of silk production along the ancient Silk Road. I am currently completing my DMP thesis, where I investigate the functional implications of ID3 variants in primary human B cells. Outside the lab, I enjoy playing table tennis, tennis, and badminton, as well as backpacking across fifteen countries, gardening, hiking, cooking, and hanging with my cat. Before entering graduate school for biomedical research, I plan to continue backpacking across Asia, from the Malay Archipelago to the Greater Caucasus Mountains!