The Bagaitkar Lab studies the complex interactions between innate immune cells, epithelial cells, and microbial colonizers at the oral mucosal barrier. Reciprocal and heterogenous interactions between these three entities modulate tolerogenic or inductive immune responses that determine host susceptibility to chronic inflammation, cancers and oral mucosal infections with bacterial and viral pathogens. The Bagaitkar Lab has two main areas of focus: Factors determining immune homeostasis at the oral mucosal barrier, and the regulatory role of NADPH oxidase derived oxidants in immune homeostasis.
Featured Researcher: May 2022
Dr. Juhi Bagaitkar was selected as the Abigail Wexner Research Institute featured researcher. Learn more about Dr. Bagaitkar and her work in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis.
Lab Staff
Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD Principal Investigator Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She is an NIH funded investigator whose research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune pathways that regulate tolerogenic immunity at the oral mucosal barrier.
Anandita Basu, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bagaitkar’s lab, Anandita focuses on understanding the role of the leukocyte or NOX2 NADPH oxidase complex in regulating neutrophil and macrophage immune effector functions. Her work uses various models of murine inflammation to delineate the in vivo regulation of neutrophil responses at the oral mucosal barrier. Anandita grew up in Tezpur, Assam, India, and received her doctorate from Tezpur University. Outside of the lab, Anandita loves to dance and practice yoga.
Kelley Cooper Graduate Researcher Kelley grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and received her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from The University of Alabama. As an undergraduate, Kelley worked on determining how environmental factors affect transcriptional regulatory networks associated with developmental and stress response pathways in zebrafish. Her doctoral thesis project focuses on understanding the immune consequences of efferocytosis of live cells compared to apoptotic cells in the resolution of inflammation and autoimmunity. Outside of the lab, Kelley enjoys competitive sports and going for runs with her dog.
Carlos Rodriguez Hernandez Graduate Researcher Carlos completed his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico. As part of the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of Rochester, Carlos worked on determining how radiation therapy impacts anti-tumor immune responses. As a graduate student, Carlos focuses on understanding how oral bacteria impact interferon responses and antiviral immunity. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys trying out different cuisines and biking.
Elizabeth Urbanski Lab Manager Elizabeth’s research focuses on understanding how bacterial serine proteases affect neutrophil functions during infection with periodontal pathogens. Liz grew up in Indiana and received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Liz’s undergraduate research focused on how Roundup affects enzymatic activity in soil bacteria isolated from wild songbirds. Outside the lab, Liz grows orchids and likes to bake.
The Bagaitkar Lab studies the complex interactions between innate immune cells, epithelial cells, and microbial colonizers at the oral mucosal barrier. Reciprocal and heterogenous interactions between these three entities modulate tolerogenic or inductive immune responses that determine host susceptibility to chronic inflammation, cancers and oral mucosal infections with bacterial and viral pathogens.
The Bagaitkar Lab has two main areas of focus: Factors determining immune homeostasis at the oral mucosal barrier, and the regulatory role of NADPH oxidase derived oxidants in immune homeostasis.
Lab Staff
Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD Principal Investigator Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She is an NIH funded investigator whose research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune pathways that regulate tolerogenic immunity at the oral mucosal barrier.
Anandita Basu, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bagaitkar’s lab, Anandita focuses on understanding the role of the leukocyte or NOX2 NADPH oxidase complex in regulating neutrophil and macrophage immune effector functions. Her work uses various models of murine inflammation to delineate the in vivo regulation of neutrophil responses at the oral mucosal barrier. Anandita grew up in Tezpur, Assam, India, and received her doctorate from Tezpur University. Outside of the lab, Anandita loves to dance and practice yoga.
Kelley Cooper Graduate Researcher Kelley grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and received her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from The University of Alabama. As an undergraduate, Kelley worked on determining how environmental factors affect transcriptional regulatory networks associated with developmental and stress response pathways in zebrafish. Her doctoral thesis project focuses on understanding the immune consequences of efferocytosis of live cells compared to apoptotic cells in the resolution of inflammation and autoimmunity. Outside of the lab, Kelley enjoys competitive sports and going for runs with her dog.
Carlos Rodriguez Hernandez Graduate Researcher Carlos completed his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico. As part of the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of Rochester, Carlos worked on determining how radiation therapy impacts anti-tumor immune responses. As a graduate student, Carlos focuses on understanding how oral bacteria impact interferon responses and antiviral immunity. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys trying out different cuisines and biking.
Elizabeth Urbanski Lab Manager Elizabeth’s research focuses on understanding how bacterial serine proteases affect neutrophil functions during infection with periodontal pathogens. Liz grew up in Indiana and received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Liz’s undergraduate research focused on how Roundup affects enzymatic activity in soil bacteria isolated from wild songbirds. Outside the lab, Liz grows orchids and likes to bake.
Featured Researcher: May 2022
Dr. Juhi Bagaitkar was selected as the Abigail Wexner Research Institute featured researcher. Learn more about Dr. Bagaitkar and her work in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis.
Lab Staff
Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD Principal Investigator Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She is an NIH funded investigator whose research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune pathways that regulate tolerogenic immunity at the oral mucosal barrier.
Anandita Basu, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bagaitkar’s lab, Anandita focuses on understanding the role of the leukocyte or NOX2 NADPH oxidase complex in regulating neutrophil and macrophage immune effector functions. Her work uses various models of murine inflammation to delineate the in vivo regulation of neutrophil responses at the oral mucosal barrier. Anandita grew up in Tezpur, Assam, India, and received her doctorate from Tezpur University. Outside of the lab, Anandita loves to dance and practice yoga.
Kelley Cooper Graduate Researcher Kelley grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and received her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from The University of Alabama. As an undergraduate, Kelley worked on determining how environmental factors affect transcriptional regulatory networks associated with developmental and stress response pathways in zebrafish. Her doctoral thesis project focuses on understanding the immune consequences of efferocytosis of live cells compared to apoptotic cells in the resolution of inflammation and autoimmunity. Outside of the lab, Kelley enjoys competitive sports and going for runs with her dog.
Carlos Rodriguez Hernandez Graduate Researcher Carlos completed his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico. As part of the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of Rochester, Carlos worked on determining how radiation therapy impacts anti-tumor immune responses. As a graduate student, Carlos focuses on understanding how oral bacteria impact interferon responses and antiviral immunity. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys trying out different cuisines and biking.
Elizabeth Urbanski Lab Manager Elizabeth’s research focuses on understanding how bacterial serine proteases affect neutrophil functions during infection with periodontal pathogens. Liz grew up in Indiana and received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Liz’s undergraduate research focused on how Roundup affects enzymatic activity in soil bacteria isolated from wild songbirds. Outside the lab, Liz grows orchids and likes to bake.
Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD Principal Investigator Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She is an NIH funded investigator whose research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune pathways that regulate tolerogenic immunity at the oral mucosal barrier.
Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD Principal Investigator
Juhi Bagaitkar, PhD, is a Principal Investigator in the Center for Microbial Pathogenesis and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The Ohio State University. She is an NIH funded investigator whose research focuses on understanding host-pathogen interactions, and innate immune pathways that regulate tolerogenic immunity at the oral mucosal barrier.
Anandita Basu, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bagaitkar’s lab, Anandita focuses on understanding the role of the leukocyte or NOX2 NADPH oxidase complex in regulating neutrophil and macrophage immune effector functions. Her work uses various models of murine inflammation to delineate the in vivo regulation of neutrophil responses at the oral mucosal barrier. Anandita grew up in Tezpur, Assam, India, and received her doctorate from Tezpur University. Outside of the lab, Anandita loves to dance and practice yoga.
Anandita Basu, PhD Postdoctoral Researcher
As a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Bagaitkar’s lab, Anandita focuses on understanding the role of the leukocyte or NOX2 NADPH oxidase complex in regulating neutrophil and macrophage immune effector functions. Her work uses various models of murine inflammation to delineate the in vivo regulation of neutrophil responses at the oral mucosal barrier.
Anandita grew up in Tezpur, Assam, India, and received her doctorate from Tezpur University. Outside of the lab, Anandita loves to dance and practice yoga.
Kelley Cooper Graduate Researcher Kelley grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and received her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from The University of Alabama. As an undergraduate, Kelley worked on determining how environmental factors affect transcriptional regulatory networks associated with developmental and stress response pathways in zebrafish. Her doctoral thesis project focuses on understanding the immune consequences of efferocytosis of live cells compared to apoptotic cells in the resolution of inflammation and autoimmunity. Outside of the lab, Kelley enjoys competitive sports and going for runs with her dog.
Kelley Cooper Graduate Researcher
Kelley grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, and received her bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from The University of Alabama. As an undergraduate, Kelley worked on determining how environmental factors affect transcriptional regulatory networks associated with developmental and stress response pathways in zebrafish. Her doctoral thesis project focuses on understanding the immune consequences of efferocytosis of live cells compared to apoptotic cells in the resolution of inflammation and autoimmunity. Outside of the lab, Kelley enjoys competitive sports and going for runs with her dog.
Carlos Rodriguez Hernandez Graduate Researcher Carlos completed his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico. As part of the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of Rochester, Carlos worked on determining how radiation therapy impacts anti-tumor immune responses. As a graduate student, Carlos focuses on understanding how oral bacteria impact interferon responses and antiviral immunity. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys trying out different cuisines and biking.
Carlos Rodriguez Hernandez Graduate Researcher
Carlos completed his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Puerto Rico. As part of the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) at the University of Rochester, Carlos worked on determining how radiation therapy impacts anti-tumor immune responses. As a graduate student, Carlos focuses on understanding how oral bacteria impact interferon responses and antiviral immunity. Outside of the lab, Carlos enjoys trying out different cuisines and biking.
Elizabeth Urbanski Lab Manager Elizabeth’s research focuses on understanding how bacterial serine proteases affect neutrophil functions during infection with periodontal pathogens. Liz grew up in Indiana and received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Liz’s undergraduate research focused on how Roundup affects enzymatic activity in soil bacteria isolated from wild songbirds. Outside the lab, Liz grows orchids and likes to bake.
Elizabeth Urbanski Lab Manager
Elizabeth’s research focuses on understanding how bacterial serine proteases affect neutrophil functions during infection with periodontal pathogens.
Liz grew up in Indiana and received her bachelor’s degree in microbiology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Liz’s undergraduate research focused on how Roundup affects enzymatic activity in soil bacteria isolated from wild songbirds. Outside the lab, Liz grows orchids and likes to bake.
