Jaid Perez
Ph.D. Student
Research Topic
Impacts of Plcg2 variants on adaptive immune cells in the late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD2) mouse model
Jaid is currently interested in how T cell dysregulation, driven by age-associated thymic atrophy, contribute to Alzheimer's Disease (AD) pathogenesis and progression in mouse models. In this project, she is investigating the role of phospholipase C-gamma-2 and how its hypomorphic variants shape T cell functionality, potentially elucidating a new mechanism linking peripheral immune dysfunction to neurodegeneration in AD.
After obtaining her Bachelor's degree in 2022, she completed an NIH post-baccalaureate program at the University of Texas Medical Branch where she studied components of innate immunity that contribute to SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis and resolution. She also studied HIV immune evasion during HIV/Tuberculosis co-infection in a humanized mouse model.
Education
B.Sc., Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, 2022
NIH Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP), University of Texas Medical Branch, 2023
Current Program: Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBMS) PhD program, 2024
Awards
2024 - IMMUNOLOGY 2024™ American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Trainee Abstract Travel Award; Chicago, Illinois
2024 - IMMUNOLOGY 2024™ American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Block Symposia Presentation: Immunity and Protection to SARS-CoV-2
2022 - Graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi