Lab Team

Rhea Coler, MSc, PhD
Rhea Coler, MSc, PhD, received her PhD from the University of Washington, MSc from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and BSc from McGill University. She is a member of the Center for Global Infectious Disease Research at Seattle Children’s Research Institute; a professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases; and an affiliate professor in the Department of Global Health, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Pathobiology, University of Washington. Her research is supported by grants from NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a variety of local and international biotechnology companies. As a member of the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Consortium (IDCRC) and a Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units (VTEUs) site. Coler is also working on clinical trials of prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines for a variety of infectious disease pathogens including SARS-CoV-2, influenza and schistosomiasis. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, cooking, traveling and scuba diving.
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Hazem Abdelaal
Fellow PhD
Hazem got his bachelor’s degrees at Cairo University and his MS at the University of Alexandria, Egypt. He got his PhD in deciphering the virulence mechanisms of Mycobacterial infections at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His interests include developing vaccines and therapeutics against MTC organisms and NTM, and he works to advance diagnostic approaches for early detection of Mycobacterial infections. He has a passion for mentorship and teaching and enjoys photography and hiking.
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Sasha (Larsen) Akins
Research Scientist IV
Sasha works to advance therapeutic and vaccine candidates against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in both preclinical and clinical settings. She helps lead clinical trial efforts for an array of known and emerging infectious diseases including SARS-CoV-2.
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Susan Baldwin
Research Scientist, Senior
Susan’s interest involve preclinical immunology and the use of adjuvants and adjuvant formulations to induce appropriate innate immunity to steer an effective, adaptive T helper immune response following vaccination against these infectious pathogens.
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Bryan Berube
Research Scientist IV
Bryan’s research interests center around host-pathogen interactions and preclinical and clinical development of vaccines and therapeutics to impact human diseases caused by infectious agents.
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Bryan Brown
Acting Assistant Professor
Bryan focuses on identifying biomarkers associated with progression to active Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. He is also interested in how phages can be used for effective post-exposure prophylaxis to Mycobacteria.
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Debora Ferede
Debora joined the Coler Lab as an undergraduate TRTC TB Scholar in January 2022. She is interested in vaccine development, and addressing distrust in healthcare and medical research among underrepresented populations.
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Rakhi Harne
Fellow PhD
Rakhi received her master of science degree in biotechnology from the University of Pune, India. As a postdoctoral fellow in the Coler Lab, she is working on the analysis of immune responses generated against various infectious pathogens including Mycobacterium tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2 and schistosomiasis. Outside of lab, she loves to spend time with family and friends, try out new restaurants and travel to new cities and parks.
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Dulce Hernandez
Dulce is a summer intern with the Summer Scholars Program at the Seattle Children’s Research Institute. She is currently working towards her bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry at California State University, Northridge. Her lab currently focuses on the immune responses to pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2. She is interested in vaccine development and is passionate about advocating for diversity in STEM.
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Suhavi Kaur
Research Technician II
Suhavi has a background in preclinical research, specializing in monitoring the effects of test article during administration and in post-mortem tissues. Her passion for vaccine and therapy development originates from her drive to contribute to a more equitable future and society for all.
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Dana Miller
Research Technician I
Dana joined the Coler Lab in October 2021. She graduated with honors from Arizona State University in May 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in applied biological sciences and a goal to work in biological research. Her interests include novel therapeutic development and improving therapeutic outcomes for high-risk individuals with MTb. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing tabletop role-playing games with friends and spending time with her family.
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Tiffany Pecor-Korman
Research Associate II
Tiffany is our resident expert at ELISAs and has helped create an ELISA SOP in our lab to test for antibodies against SARS-CoV2. Tiffany also does much of the ordering and scheduling in the lab along with writing IACUC amendments.
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Maham Rais
Maham’s research focuses on vaccine development and host-directed therapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, NTM, and SARS-CoV-2 in both preclinical and clinical settings. Dr. Rais is passionate about advocating for more female representation in STEM, mentoring students, and giving back to the community.
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Valerie Reese
Research Associate III
Valerie has contributed assays for a clinical trial of the ID93+GLA-SE vaccine developed in large part by Dr. Coler. She looks forward to an improved tuberculosis vaccine preventing the large burden that TB imposes on the world.
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Thomas Smytheman
Research Technician I
Thomas studied genetic epilepsy disorders with the Kalume Lab at Seattle Children’s Research Institute while earning his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Washington. Now, in the Coler Lab, he is interested in vaccine development and testing in the hopes of improving global health outcomes for children.
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Brittany Williams
Graduate Student
Brittany is a graduate research assistant in the pathobiology PhD program. Brittany received her BS in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Arizona. Her work in the lab focuses on TB co-infections, immunopathology, and vaccine development.
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Zhiyi Zhu
Research Scientist II
Zhiyi focuses on qualified and validated Pseudo-neutralization and Plaque Reduction Neutralization Titer assays against SAR-CoV2 for clinical trials. He is also interested in vaccine development against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacteria through the discovery of new candidate antigens and delivery to induce robust and effective immune responses.
Collaborate With Us
Interested in collaborating with the Coler Lab? Send us an email.