Overview
Dr. Tessa Bergsbaken received her Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology at the
University of Washington. Her work examined the activation of inflammatory caspases and pyroptosis,
an inflammatory cell death process initiated by these enzymes, in response to bacterial infection.
Dr. Bergsbaken continued her training in the Department of Immunology at University of Washington,
where she focused on tissue-resident memory CD8+ T cell populations that develop in the intestinal tissue in
response to local infection. She identified the mechanism by which T cells localized to areas of infection
and inflammation within the intestinal tissue. She also examined the role of specific inflammatory cytokines in
supporting the differentiation and long-term persistence of tissue-resident memory T cells. Dr.
Bergsbaken?s long-term research interests include understanding the mechanisms of T cell differentiation
and maintenance in the intestine and other mucosal sites and determining the unique functions of tissue-
resident memory lymphocyte subsets during secondary infection. In addition, her lab is utilizing
these findings to improve CD8+ T cell functionality in the context of colorectal cancer immunotherapy.
Education
PHD, 2002, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Curriculum Vitae
View CV
Examining the differentiation and function of tissue-resident lymphocytes at mucosal surfaces
Our lab is focused on understanding the mechanisms of T cell activation and function in the intestine and
other mucosal tissues in response to infection. We are also interested in identifying strategies for
improving the efficacy of intestinal T cells for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
