Lauren B. Rodda

Dr. Lauren B. Rodda is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). Her research focuses on understanding how tissue-resident memory B cells and plasma cells provide rapid protection against respiratory infections like RSV, SARS-CoV-2, and influenza. She opened her independent research lab in 2023 to investigate niche interactions that enable protective immunity without causing inflammation, with implications for improving vaccine efficacy and treating lung pathologies.

Education: B.S. in 2011 from MIT; Ph.D. in 2017 from UCSF under Dr. Jason Cyster, studying lymph node niche heterogeneity using microscopy and single-cell RNA sequencing. Postdoctoral work (2018-2023) in Dr. Marion Pepper’s lab at UW, focusing on human immune memory to infections, including SARS-CoV-2.

Research Interests: Immune memory dynamics, B cell biology, vaccine responses, respiratory pathogen immunity, and the interplay between infection and vaccination in shaping long-term immunity. Her work emphasizes translational applications for pandemic preparedness and immunotherapies.

Publications highlight her contributions to understanding SARS-CoV-2 immunity, including hybrid immunity mechanisms, vaccine responses in immunocompromised individuals, and the role of cytotoxic T cells. She has also advanced methodologies for characterizing SARS-CoV-2-specific B cells using high-parameter flow cytometry.

Lab Activities: Current projects investigate tissue-resident memory B cell niches in respiratory systems and the molecular basis of durable immune protection. Collaborations include multi-lab studies on SARS-CoV-2 memory lymphocytes and vaccine efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis patients.