Latest Updates
New fund support!
Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi and Dr. Hami Hemati, in collaboration with Dr. Mary Mohrin, Dep. of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, received a pilot project grant from the UKY Markey Cancer Center and the Substance Use Priority Research Area (SUPRA) to study how alcohol affects cancer risk.
June, 2025
Summer Learners !
The Messaoudi lab will host many summer learners to provide research opportunities and experiences.
Jude Koura will join us for his second year as a volunteer undergraduate researcher.
We will also host two high school students from the Future Deaf Scientist program.
Nick Keiran will join us as a volunteer undergraduate researcher.
June, 2025 New summer science program | ACTION program
Dr. Messaoudi Presents on Age-Mediated NTM Susceptibility at Ohio State
Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi visited the Ohio State University to present a talk titled “Age-mediated increased susceptibility to NTM pulmonary disease is driven by immune senescence and dysbiosis in the lung”.
June, 2025
New publication!
Our paper titled “Short-term heavy drinking in a non-human primate model skews monocytes toward a hypo-inflammatory phenotype” was published by Frontiers in Immunology. While we have previously profiled the effects of long term drinking, this is the first publication from the lab investigating short term drinking to help contextualize the dynamic longitudinal changes associated with alcohol consumption.
June, 2025 Access the paper
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Conference
Ethan Napier gave a talk titled “M. avium pulmonary disease severity in macaques inversely correlates with Tropheryma Spp abundance in the lung” at the NTM Conference 2025 hosted by Colorado State University.
June, 2025
Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi Presents on Chronic Ethanol Consumption and Immune Cells
Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi gave a seminar titled “Rewiring of monocytes and tissue resident macrophages by chronic ethanol consumption” at Nebraska Medical College.
June, 2025
Dr. Messaoudi Explores Research and Education at UK’s Robinson Forest
Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi recently visited the Robinson Forest, a research and education site maintained by the University of Kentucky’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. During her visit, Dr. Messaoudi gained valuable insight into the diverse educational programs and research initiatives undertaken at this site.
June, 2025
New publication!
Our paper titled “Prenatal opioid exposure and maternal HCV infection impair microglia development and function: a patient-specific in vitro model.” was published in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. This publication is the lab’s first to investigate the impact of opioid use on fetal development. It also introduces a model using induced microglia-like cells (iMGLs) derived from umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells, providing a more accessible approach to studying human neurological development.
June, 2025 Access the paper
BioBonanza
Hami Hemati participated in the BioBonanza here at the University of Kentucky to show how cool science is to local kids.
May, 2025
American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI) meeting
Heather True gave a talk at the American Society for Reproductive Immunology meeting in Saint-Paul, MN. Her talk was titled “Maternal opioid use with and without HCV infection disrupts placental structure and immunity”.
May, 2025
Global Lyme Alliance Research Symposium 2025
Dr. Ilhem Messaoudi was an invited speaker at the Global Lyme Alliance Research Symposium 2025 in Greenwich, CT. The title of her talk was “Borreliosis and doxycycline treatment disrupt gut microbiota and immune responses in nonhuman primates”.
May, 2025
Successful PhD Defense for Heather: Examining Maternal Environmental Exposures. Congratulations Dr. Heather True!
Heather gave her PhD defense seminar on April 18. It was titled “The Impact of Maternal Environmental Exposures on the Immune Landscape of the Maternal-Fetal Interface”.
April, 2025
Messaoudi Lab Researchers Highlight Work at 2025 ID Research Day
Ethan Napier: “M. avium pulmonary disease inversely correlates with macaque lung commensal Tropheryma”.
Heather True: “Perinatal opioid exposure and maternal HCV infection compromise microglia development and function.”
Madison Blanton: “6 months of heavy drinking in a non-human primate model skew monocytes towards a hypo-inflammatory phenotype.”
Brianna Doratt: “Transcriptional changes linked to rapid protection from SUDV infection by a single dose of a Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-based vaccine.”
Sheridan Wagner: “Glycoprotein specific transcriptional response prompts differential vaccine protection against fatal Ebola infection.”
April, 2025
Oral Presentations by Heather True: Placental Effects of Maternal Opioid and HCV Exposure
Heather True gave two oral presentations: “Maternal opioid use with and without HCV infection disrupts the structure and immune landscape of placenta” at the 2025 CCTS Spring Conference and “Placental implications of maternal opioid use with concurrent hepatitis C infection“ at the conference for the Association for clinical and translational science.
April, 2025
Gordon Research Conference
Hami Hemati and Madison Blanton presented at the Gordon Research Conference
Hami’s presentation: “Chronic heavy alcohol consumption improves the ability of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells to develop into osteoclast precursors”.
Madison’s presentation: “6mo of chronic alcohol consumption induces a hypo-inflammatory phenotype in monocytes”.
March, 2025
Ethan’s Research Presentation at 2025 Substance Use Research Event and MIMG Seminar Series
Ethan presented his work on “How chronic alcohol consumption affects the metabolic and microbial landscapes of the gut” at the 2025 Substance Use Research Event. He also presented his work on the immunological response to Mycobacterium avium at the MIMG seminar series.
February, 2025
Presentation on Alcohol Misuse Effects on Monocytes
Madison gave a seminar on her work titled “The effects of alcohol misuse on circulating monocytes”.
January, 2025
New lab member
Mahdi Eskandarian Boroujeni, PhD, joined the lab in Jan 2025 as a bioinformatic analyst. Welcome to the team Mahdi!
January, 2025
Year in the life of College of Medicine
We celebrate the end of a productive year with the College of Medicine and look forward to continuing all the good work in 2025!
December, 2024 Access outreach
New publication accepted by Frontiers in Immunology
Our paper titled “The immune landscape of fetal chorionic villous tissue in term placenta” was published with Frontiers in Immunology. This was the culmination of many years of work and will be fundamental in the understanding of mechanisms involved in immune development during pregnancy.
December, 2024 Access paper
Nirsevimab and Infant Immunity, new project !
Ryan started recruiting patients and collecting data for a project to characterize how Nirsevimab interacts with the infants’ immune systems and how it affects the development of an adaptive immune response to RSV.
December, 2024
2024 Alcohol and Immunology Research Interest Group – AIRIG meeting
Hami and Madison attended the 2024 AIRIG meeting in Chicago to present their work.
Hami’s Poster: Alterations in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells mediate alcohol-induced Osteoclastogenesis.
Madison’s talk: PBMC-derived microglia: a beneficial tool for understanding the impact of AUD on CNS.
November, 2024
Pumpkin Carving! We are ready for Halloween !
Dr. Messaoudi hosted a fun-filled pumpkin carving event for the entire lab, including family and friends. We spent some time carving pumpkins, sharing stories, and enjoying delicious snacks. It was a great opportunity to bond with our colleagues and create lasting memories!
October, 2024
Neuroscience Data Blitz
Madison and Heather presented their research at the 2024 Neuroscience Symposium.
Madison’s Talk: “Microglia-derived Peripheral Monocytes as a Window into the Brain: A Beneficial Tool for Understanding the Impact of AUD on CNS”
Heather’s Poster: “Perinatal opioid exposure and maternal HCV infection compromise microglia development and function”
October, 2024
Visiting collaborators at OHSU
Ethan and Madison recently traveled to Oregon to meet and learn new skills from our long-term collaborators at the Oregon Health and Science University! This invaluable experience will undoubtedly contribute to their ongoing research and future scientific endeavors.
October, 2024
Funding!
Exciting news! Ethan and Madison have achieved significant milestones in their academic careers. Ethan has been awarded a T32 grant, while Madison has secured an F31 grant. These prestigious awards will provide them with invaluable support and resources to further their research and contribute to the field. We congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition!
September, 2024
Talk with the NIAAA
Dr. Messaoudi’s groundbreaking research on the impact of chronic alcohol consumption on immune cell function was recently presented to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Her talk, titled “Dysregulation of monocyte differentiation, maturation, and function by chronic ethanol consumption,” highlighted the effects of alcohol on the immune system.
September, 2024
Messaoudi Lab attends CURE open house
The Messaoudi Lab attended the open house for the Consortium for Understanding and Reducing Infectious Diseases in Kentucky (CURE-KY).
August, 2024
White coat ceremony marks start of medical journey
The Messaoudi Lab attended the University of Kentucky white coat ceremony to celebrate our friends as they embark on the journey that is Medical School.
August, 2024
Dr. Messaoudi presents at Rocky Mountain Laboratory
Dr. Messaoudi was an invited speaker at the Rocky Mountain Laboratory to present her talk “The power of nonhuman primate models to define host-microbe interactions” and visit our long term collaborator Dr. Andrea Marzi.
July, 2024
New consortium to advance research on infectious disease prevention, treatment
The Consortium for Understanding and Reducing Infectious Diseases in Kentucky (CURE-KY) is a new partnership between researchers at the University of Kentucky that aims to combat the threat of infectious diseases through research directed at prevention and treatment.
May, 2024 Access outreach
American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI), Houston
Dr. Messaoudi was a keynote speaker at the American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI) in Houston, TX from 5/18 to 22. The title of her talk was: “Disruption immunity maternal-fetal interface by maternal infection and inflammation”.
May, 2024
Entrepreneur Bootcamp of the Van Allmen
Hami Hemati was awarded a wining prize in the Entrepreneur Bootcamp of the Van Allmen center for Entrepreneurship from the Gatton College of Business and Economics.
May, 2024
Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE)
Geoffrey Smith was awarded a Commonwealth Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) Fellowship for the summer of 2024.
May, 2024
New Lab Member
Rebecca (Becca) Geron joined the Messaoudi Lab as a research Technician after graduating with her B.Sc. in Biology from Eastern Kentucky University.
May, 2024
Appalachian Career Training in Oncology
Summer Learners
The Messaoudi lab will host many summer learners to provide research opportunities and experiences
1. Ryan Barney: 2nd year MD-PhD rotation student
2. Emma Stemen: 1st year MD-PhD rotation student
3. Landon Thompson: 1st year MD-PhD rotation student
4. Chris Anstead: MD student summer volunteer
5. Jude Koura: volunteer undergraduate student from Transylvania University
6. Jaycee Stevens: high school student from the Markey Cancer Center (MCC) Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program
7. Eryka Criswell: high school student from the Markey Cancer Center (MCC) Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) program
8. Emerson Farrar, Bryan Station High School, MIMG summer program
May, 2024 Access ACTION program
Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS), Las Vegas
Heather True, presented a poster at the Association for Clinical and Translational Science (ACTS) 2024 in Las Vegas April 3-5th, attendance at the conference was supported by a TL1 training grant through CTSA and a travel award from ACTS. The title of her poster was “Perinatal Opioid Exposure Compromises Placental Structure and Alters Immune Function at the Maternal-Fetal Interface” (see picture). She also presented a poster at the 6th Substance Use Research Event (SURE) 2024 at the Gatton Student Center on April 23rd as a SUPRA graduate student pilot grant awardee. Congratulations, Heather!
April, 2024
The 6th Substance Use Research Event (SURE)
Madison Blanton, graduate student presented a poster at SURE 2024 titled “Chronic Alcohol Consumption Dysregulates Innate Immune Response to SARS-CoV-2 in the Lung”
April, 2024
Global Lyme Alliance annual research symposium, Tarrytown, NY
Dr. Messaoudi was an invited speaker at the Global Lyme Alliance annual research symposium in Tarrytown, NY, March 21 to 23. The title of her talk was “Borreliosis and doxycycline treatment disrupt gut microbiota and immune responses in nonhuman primates”.
March, 2024
Annual Infectious Diseases Research day 2024
Madison Blanton’s abstract was selected for a podium presentation the annual Infectious Diseases Research day 2024. The title of her talk was “SARS-CoV-2 immune responses in the lung are compromised by chronic alcohol consumption”.
Isaac Cinco, Brianna Doratt, Delphine Malherbe, Ethan Napier, Heather True and Sheridan Wagner presented posters at the Infectious Diseases Research day 2024.
March, 2024
Accepted into Medical school
Isaac Cinco, Lab Technician, was accepted into Medical school at the University of Kentucky. Isaac was a Messaoudi lab member for four years and relocated from California with Dr. Messaoudi’s laboratory move from the University of California – Irvine. Congratulations Isaac!!!
March, 2024