Who We Are
Leadership
Nancy Cain and Jeffrey A. Marcus Scholar in Medical Research, in Honor of Dr. Bill S. Vowell
Jonathan W. Uhr, M.D. Distinguished Chair in Immunology
Director, Walter M. and Helen D. Bader Center for Research on Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Lora V. Hooper, Ph.D., is a member of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and has been a faculty member at UT Southwestern Medical Center since 2003 and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 2008. She became Chair of the Department of Immunology in 2016.
Dr. Hooper has been an invited speaker at dozens of meetings and workshops around the world and is the author of over 80 published scientific papers, reviews, and book chapters. She currently serves on the editorial boards of several journals including Science and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
In addition to leading the Department of Immunology, Dr. Hooper is also Director of the Walter M. and Helen D. Bader Center for Research on Arthritis and Autoimmune Diseases at UT Southwestern, and directs the Integrative Immunology Training Grant (T32).
Hooper Lab
Dr. Hooper’s lab focuses on the microbiome and its interactions with the immune system. In particular, her group has studied how the intestinal immune system defends against the vast microbial communities that inhabit the mammalian gut. Dr. Hooper’s discoveries have helped explain how a host peacefully coexists with the trillions of beneficial bacteria present in the intestinal tract and may ultimately reveal alterations in these populations that can make it possible for disease-causing bacteria to overtake them.
Dr. Hooper’s work has provided insights into the molecular mechanisms that mediate the interaction between the remarkably dense and complex community of intestinal microbes and the host intestine to maintain health. As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that the microbiome not only determines the ability of pathogenic microbes to cause infections, but also regulates the susceptibility to many other disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.
Faculty and Their Research Interests
Associate Professor
The Farrar Lab studies how external signals regulate T cell function and development. We study both the regulatory components that impact allergic diseases and external signals that control inflammation and immune homeostasis.
Assistant Professor
The Hancks Lab aims to better understand host defenses against pathogens including the identification of new battlefronts critical in determining the outcome of infection. Another goal is to increase our understanding of cell biology by exploiting insights from the adaptive mechanisms used by viruses.
Professor and Chair
The Hooper lab studies how the resident intestinal microbiota interacts with the immune system of humans and other mammalian hosts. Experimental approaches range from animal models to structural methods to understand protein function.
Assistant Professor
We study chronic liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), alcoholic liver disease (ASH), liver fibrosis/cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We use advanced 'omics' technologies, mouse genetics, and sophisticated pathohistological analyses.
Assistant Professor
The Obata Lab studies how environmental signals shape neural circuits and the immune system. We use genetic tools, in vivo physiological assays, gnotobiotic animals and multi-omics technologies. We are also interested in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of inter-organ communication, including the Gut-Brain axis.
Assistant Professor
The Orchard lab studies host-pathogen interactions by leveraging functional genomic CRISPR/Cas9 screens. We hope to identify novel vulnerabilities in a virus or bacterial life cycle which could represent a therapeutic target.
Associate Professor
The Reese lab studies how chronic viruses and other pathogens change the immune system and how the immune system controls these pathogens. Our goal is to use mouse pathogens to model how chronic infections change responses to coinfections and vaccinations.
Assistant Professor
The Sandstrom lab studies molecular mechanisms through which the immune system recognizes infection and stress. We investigate how the immune system can recognize pathogen-associated activities, such as the enzymatic activity of pathogen secreted proteins or changes in homeostasis induced by pathogens using a combination of immunology, cellular biology, and biochemistry.
Professor
We study the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development and regeneration of the thymus under normal and disease states. We are using mouse models of selected human disorders along with thymic tissues from patients with the goal of regenerating normal thymic tissue functions.
Assistant Professor
The Wu lab focuses on the molecular programs of T cell exhaustion and T cell stemness. We hope to apply this knowledge to the development of more effective vaccines and immunotherapies.
Professor
The Yan lab studies molecular mechanisms of innate immunity and how they impact infectious and autoimmune diseases. We are focused on monogenic immune diseases that affect genes.
Assistant Professor
The Yao Lab studies the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of T cell differentiation and function during viral infection and cancer. The goal is to identify genes and pathways that can be harnessed to enhance the efficacy of vaccines and immunotherapies.
Assistant Professor
The Zhong lab investigates the fundamental mechanisms by which mitochondria sense perturbation of tissue homeostasis, initiate inflammation and orchestrate tissue repair and regeneration. We also study how dysregulation of such processes leads to disease development.
Professor of Immunology
Director of the Center for the Genetics of Host Defense
Assistant Professor of Center for Genetics of Host Defense
Associate Professor of Population and Data Sciences and Immunology
Assistant Professor of Pathology and Immunology
Tamia Harris-Tryon, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Immunology
Professor
Chief of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology Service
Assistant Professor of Surgery and Immunology
Theodoros Kelesidis, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Panagiotis Mastorakos, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery and Immunology
Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Hans-Christian Reinecker, M.D.
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, the Center for Genetics of Host Defense And Immunology
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Instructor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Assistant Professor of the Center for Genetics of Host Defense and Immunology
Kirsten Fischer-Lindahl, Ph.D.
Professor
Professor
Professor
Professor
The Vitetta lab has developed and patented a highly stable, safe, and effective recombinant ricin vaccine that protects mice and primates against aerosolized ricin; it is safe and immunogenic in humans. Prior to carrying out the pivotal clinical trial, we are profiling epitope-specific antibodies from archived sera to develop an assay that predicts protection. This assay will be used in the final dose-finding clinical trial. We are also exploring a novel vaccine platform based on synthetic "peptoid" (B cell) epitopes that are protease-resistant and highly immunogenic when attached to carrier proteins. The lab will screen large, diverse libraries of peptoids with broadly protective monoclonal antibodies against pathogens, toxins, and prions and use our "hits" to generate protective vaccines.
Director of the Flow Cytometry Core
Assistant Professor in Immunology
Director of Microbiome Research Laboratory
Associate Professor in Immunology
Overview
UT Southwestern (including its affiliated health care institutions) is proud to support faculty growth through the nationally recognized Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) and the Executive Leadership in Health Care (ELH) programs. Both programs are open to all qualified faculty members, regardless of gender. We may nominate up to two candidates for each program.
If selected, our candidates will participate in a year-long intense curriculum focused on leadership effectiveness, financial strategies, and organizational dynamics.
About ELAM and ELH
- ELAM offers an intensive one-year fellowship of leadership training with extensive coaching, networking and mentoring opportunities. The program develops and connects successful professionals so they can confidently lead academic health care into the future.
- ELH is designed to focus on the unique needs of developing healthcare leaders. Mid-career level leaders will develop their executive skills to bring their full potential to health care organizations. ELH and ELAM have shared curriculum components that are offered in parallel.
- 2026-2027 ELAM/ELH Internal Nomination and Selection Process
The call for applications will be announced July 29, 2025. Chairs, Center Directors, and Health System Leaders are welcome to nominate their candidates by August 28, 2025. Because we are limited to nominate only two candidates for ELAM and two for ELH, each department/center/health system should only nominate one candidate, unless with prior permission.
A subset of candidates will be interviewed virtually by the Internal ELAM/ELH Selection Committee and asked to submit their preliminary plan for the Institutional Action Project. The Committee’s recommendations will be reviewed by The Executive Leadership Team. The Office of the Provost and Dean will notify the nominating departments and their nominees by September 29, 2025.
NOTE: Faculty members interested in attending ELAM or ELH should discuss their plans to apply with their Department Chair/Center Director/Health System leadership. If approved, candidates should work with their leadership to complete the below internal application components.
- Internal Application Components
Applications are to be submitted, in a single .pdf file, by the candidate's Department Chair/Center Director/Health System Leader via FacDev@utsouthwestern.edu by August 28, 2025.
Internal application components include:
- Nomination letter from a direct supervisor (typically Department Chair/Center Director/Health System Leader)
- A one-page statement of interest by the nominee:
- Briefly describe your background, professional/career goals, and the reasons for seeking nomination to ELAM/ELH.
- Also provide a title for your potential Institutional Action Project and the name(s) of the mentor(s) who will guide your project.
- A brief (one-page) description of relevant academic accomplishments, demonstrated leadership competencies, and a realistic assessment of likely internal and external leadership opportunities over the five years following the fellowship program. Also include a list of formal and informal leadership development training internal and external to UT Southwestern.
- A current CV.
Learn more about the ELAM/ELH application and preview the application questions.
- Eligibility
Faculty who have been an Associate Professor for at least two years (more is preferred) or Professor (less than five years in rank) are encouraged to apply. The applicant must have an official leadership role in their academic department/center or health system.
- Who Pays for Attending ELAM/ELH
The ELAM/ELH program fee is approximately $19,600. In addition, there are travel and lodging costs of approximately $8,000. Learn more about ELAM's costs. The selected candidate's tuition and expenses will be covered through a cost-share mechanism by multiple entities. These include the Office of the Provost and the Dean, the Health System, and nominating departments/centers.
- ELAM/ELH Attendees
Nisa Kubiliun, M.D.
Assoc VP & Chief Medical Officer Ambulatory Services
Associate Vice President and Chief Medical Officer for Ambulatory ServicesELH Class of 2026
Rinarani Sanghavi, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
ELH Class of 2025
“Through ELH I learnt strategies to navigate the complex matrix of healthcare administration as well as ways healthcare systems can remain nimble in the current and future climate. The program opened doors to collaboration in the healthcare leadership space and created deep, meaningful friendships."
Toral Patel, M.D.
Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery
ELH Class of 2025
"My ELH experience allowed me to connect with an incredible group of academic leaders, with diverse backgrounds and leadership styles. This opportunity, coupled with didactic teaching focused on Health System strategy and dynamics, has significantly impacted my perspective on healthcare leadership."
Melissa Kirkwood, M.D.
Professor & Division Chief of Surgery
ELH Class of 2025
"ELH was a truly valuable leadership experience. The women I met were inspiring and encouraged me to stretch myself beyond previous barriers."
Susan Matulevicius, M.D.
Associate Dean of Faculty Wellness
ELAM Class of 2025
"ELAM helped to level-set where I am as leader, challenge me to become an even better one, and to network and learn from others. I was humbled to be learning with incredible women from throughout the country who are the current and future leaders of academic medicine."
Lina Chalak, M.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry
ELAM Class of 2023
"Participating in ELAM increased my confidence as a leader, my capacity to deal with conflict, my ability to manage complex dynamic changes within the organization. It is like seeing the whole health care system with different glasses. I would not have even applied to or excelled in my job as chief of service if it wasn’t for our institutional investment in me for this leadership course. Best it is the gift that keeps giving, and I am excited to give back growing our ELAM team."
Nora Gimpel, M.D.
Professor of Family and Community Medicine
ELAM Class of 2021
"Through exceptional ELAM coaching, mentoring, and networking, I gained skills to foster a culture that embraces the invaluable opportunity to expose learners to a population health approach to health care and build upon the traditional approach to medical education and training."
Shawna Nesbitt, M.D., M.S.
Vice President and Chief Institutional Opportunity Officer
Professor of Internal MedicineELAM Class of 2013
"I met women leaders from all over the country. The collaboration was amazing, and the friendships extended well beyond the participation in ELAM. The professional development you will gain is infinitely helpful in many aspects of academic leadership. I use these skills nearly every day."
Helen Yin, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Medical Education
Professor of Physiology
ELAM Class of 2006
"ELAM training has great impact on my career, in that it enabled me to look beyond my then-narrow focus on scientific research to topics beyond my immediate basic science research focus. It has launched my current career."
Robin Jarrett, Ph.D.
Associate Dean of Medical Education
Professor of Psychiatry
ELAM Class of 2006
"ELAM promoted my understanding of evolving strategic change, outside an executive leadership role, while maintaining my well-established commitment to advancing evidenced based practices."