The Wan laboratory seeks to understand the life cycles of these viruses using structural biology under near-native conditions. Our main tool for this is cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), which allows us to obtain molecular resolution information directly within complex environments including intact viruses and cellular sections. Cryo-ET is still an emerging method, and we seek to leverage state-of-the-art equipment and develop image-processing methods in order to pursue our biological goals.
1. Overcoming immune evasion in leukemia
2. Dissect graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia in allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) by manipulating co-inhibitory molecules
3. Human correlative studies in line with clinical trials
Hematology and oncology
Karisa Calvitti is a Project Manager for the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology & Inflammation (VI4) and the Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Digital Communications from Lycoming College, where she studied digital filmmaking, visual media, and business administration. She then received her Master's in Liberal Arts and Science from Vanderbilt University. Karisa comes from the university where she worked with the Vanderbilt Institute for Digital Learning (VIDL) to create Vanderbilt's online courses for COURSERA and other digital learning products.
At VI4, Karisa created The Studio and runs its daily activities. She also moderates the VI4 social media accounts, creates graphic materials, maintains the website, and mentors the VI4 Science Communication Internship.