Jessica Galloway-Pena
Assistant Professor Department of Veterinary PathobiologyResearch and Scholarly Interests
The Galloway-Pena laboratory is dedicated to understanding the molecular basis of pathogenesis and how the microbiota influence the persistence, transmission, and evolution of pathogens. Specifically, the lab’s goal is to understand the microbial factors, resistance determinants, physiological (e.g. gut integrity) and clinical contributors to the development of antibiotic resistance infections in high risk populations, particularly hematologic malignancies. In addition to infectious toxicities, we are also interested in how microbiota and microbial-derived products contribute to cancer progression and cancer therapy response.
EDUCATION
- PhD: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, August 2007-May 2013
The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston TX (Mentor: Dr. Barbara Murray)
- B.A.: Biology, Minor in Chemistry, August 2003-December 2006
Our Lady of the Lake University, San Antonio TX
EXPERIENCE
- Assistant Professor, September 2020-Present
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, College Station, TX
- Assistant Professor, March 2018-August 2020
Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Odyssey Fellow and Post-doctoral Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. Samuel Shelburne, July 2013-February 2018
Department of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Graduate Research Assistant in the laboratory of Dr. Barbara Murray, May 2008-May 2013
Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Medical School
- Microbiome
- Antibiotic Resistance
- Pathogenesis
- Hematologic Malignancy
- Molecular epidemiology
- Metagenomics
- BUILDING PREDICTIVE RISK MODELS FOR ANTIOBIOTIC RESISTANT INFECTION
- STUDYING THE EMERGENCE OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT INFECTIONS VIA INTEGRATION OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDY AND METAGENOMICS
- UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSITION FROM COLONIZATION TO INFECTION
- DETERMINING MICROBIOME AND MICROBIAL-DERIVED METABOLITE ASSOCIATIONS WITH CANCER AND TREATMENT RELATED OUTCOMES
- EXAMINING EVOLUTION OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE DETERMINANTS UNDER SELECTIVE PRESSURE
- ASCERTAINING ANTIBIOTIC ADMINISTRATION FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH MICROBIOME DISRUPTION
- IMPROVING BIOSTATISTICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR TRANSLATIONAL MICROBIOME RESEARCH