The PI

Elsa Bou Ghanem, PhD

Elsa is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University at Buffalo (UB). She is originally from Lebanon where she received her bachelor’s degree in medical lab science and master’s degree in immunology at the American University of Beirut. She then moved to the United States to continue her studies. She received her Ph.D. in microbiology and immunology at the University of Kentucky where she performed her thesis work on Listeria monocytogenes developing natural feeding models to more closely mimic human intestinal infections in the laboratory of Dr. Sarah D’Orazio. She then moved up to the lungs to work on Streptococcus pneumoniae infections where she did her postdoctoral training with Dr. John Leong at Tufts University. In 2018 she enthusiastically stared her own lab at UB exploring immunesenescence, inflammation and infection. Her work has been recognized through The Life Science Research Foundation Award, K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award and Excellence in Leukocyte Biology Early Career Award. Her lab has been funded by grants from several foundations and the National Institute of Health. Her favorite immune cells are neutrophils and she is very dedicated to mentoring the next generation of scientists.

The Team

The lab consists of a group of bright scientists from all over the world focused on discovering host pathways that control the age-driven susceptibility to bacterial pneumonia.

Current Members

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Senior Scientist

Manmeet Bhalla, PhD

Manmeet is a Research Scientist currently studying a novel anti-pneumococcal vaccine formulation, with the overall goal of increasing the protection in older adults against infections. He also enjoys mentoring in the lab and teaching undergraduate courses. Apart from research, his weekly schedule consists of jogging, gym, cooking, and Church service. In his free time, he enjoys reading old scriptures, writing blogs, and making cartoons. He enjoys finding science in ancient teachings.

PhD Student

Anagha Betadpur

Anagha is a PhD student. She is working on the role of neutrophils in pneumococcal vaccines. She is also an ambassador team leader for the graduate program and secretary of the Biomedical Graduate Student Government. Apart from her love for research, she loves to travel and explore new places, catch sunsets, play badminton, do nature photography, watch Bollywood movies, and cook fun recipes.

Undergraduate student

Miles Stefko

Miles is an undergraduate biomedical sciences student working on characterizing the immune response induced by the novel LEPS pneumococcal vaccine. His goal is to attend medical school and ultimately work at the crossroads of inpatient care and public health.

PhD student

Gillian Hodge

Gillian is a PhD student in the lab, primarily focused on the effects of aging on host neutrophil response to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, by targeting senescent cells to improve neutrophil function. Her overall goal is to eventually work on immunotherapy research for immune diseases. When she is not in the lab, she loves spending time with her two dogs and taking dance lessons.

Research Technician

Samuel Roberts

Sam is a tech in the lab with a neuroscience background. He has a passion for molecular biochemistry and is currently learning about all things immunology while looking to attend graduate school

Former Members

PhD Students

Sidney Herring, PhD. Sydney graduated in 2023 and is now a Medical Science Liaison at AbbVie

Essi Tchalla, Phd. Essi graduated in 2024 and is now doing her postdoctoral training at Umass

Shaunna Simmons, PhD. Shaunna graduated in 2025 and is now doing her postdoctoral training at UB

Alexsandra Lenhard, PhD. Alex graduated in 2026 and is now a Senior Research Scientist at Curia Global

Postdoctoral Scholars

Michael Battaglia, PhD. Michael trained in the lab from 2023 to 2025 and is now a Researcher at the National Institutes of Health

Master Students

Sovathiro Mao, trained in the lab in 2021. He is now a PhD student, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Vijay Raaj Ravi, trained in the lab in 2022. He is now a PhD student at the University of Rochester

Andrew Khalil, trained in the lab in 2022. He is now a PhD student at Arizona Biological/Biomedical Sciences program

Annabel Rivera, trained in the lab in 2023. She is now a Research Specialist at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Megha Raghu, trained in the lab in 2024. She is now a Senior Manufacturing Associate at Elanco in Waterville, ME

Undergraduate Students

Other Scholars

Lauren Heinzinger, trained in the lab from 2019 to 2021. She is now a PhD student at the University of Michigan

Chloe Picciano, trained in the lab from 2024 to 2025. She is now a PhD student at UB

Frederick Piwko, medical student, summer researcher 2026

Rania Hassan, PhD, visiting Fulbright scholar 2024

Emily Smith, medical student, summer researcher 2021

Emilie Harley, medical student, summer researcher 2024

Jun Yeoh Hui, junior technician, 2018-2019