The Cannon lab is interested in how spatial movement and location of immune cells, specifically T cells, facilitate immune clearance of infection. Spatial location of immune cells especially T cells is crucial for every phase of the immune response in order to clear infection. Prior to infection, T cells move into the lymph node, where they move through the tissue to maximize the chances of encountering an antigen bearing dendritic cell. Once activated by infection, T cells then migrate to inflammatory sites to perform effector functions to clear infection. Our goal is to understand how specific molecular pathways regulate T cell movements, leading to T cell effector function in clearing infection.
The Cannon lab studies how T cells function to clear infection including influenza infection in the lung. We focus on understanding how T cell movement in tissues such as the lung and lymph nodes affects immune clearance of infection. Using a combination of animal models of influenza infection, flow cytometry, cutting-edge in-vivo imaging techniques and computational modeling, we define how T cells move in tissues such as lung and focus on key molecules that can drive T cell location and movement.
Judy L. Cannon, PhD
Professor, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Pathology
Director, AIM Center Core Facility
Director, K12 Program of the SW CACTI CTSC
Dr. Judy Cannon obtained her B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley in both Molecular Cell Biology and Political Science (1995), then an M.S. from San Francisco State University and Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Chicago (2003). She completed her postdoctoral training also at the University of Chicago and joined the faculty at University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 2010.
Kim Morrissey, PhD
ASERT Postdoctoral Fellow, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Dr. Kimberly Morrissey is an Academic Science Education and Research Training Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology at the University of New Mexico. Her research in the Cannon Lab explores how cytokine and chemokine receptor signaling shape T cell metabolism and motility to support immune surveillance. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology from UNM, where she characterized the unconventional T cell receptor TCRμ found in marsupials and monotremes. Beyond her research, Dr. Morrissey is dedicated to advancing science education and mentorship through innovative teaching practices and active engagement in student training and outreach.
Anthony Languit
Anthony Languit is a senior undergraduate majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Honors. He is an aspiring physician with aims to integrate clinical care, community advocacy/education, and research into his work at an academic institution. He conducts research in the Cannon Lab in the Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, mentors students as an Honors Pathmaker, volunteers at Presbyterian Downtown Hospital, is an HPS committee member, and serves in ASUNM.
Maria Gabaldon-Parish
Maria Gabaldon-Parish is a medical student at UNM SOM and a received her undergraduate degree from UNM. She holds a background in chemistry and psychology and is passionate about integrating clinical perspectives with immunological research. In her free time, she enjoys training her dog, hiking in the sandias and baking sourdough bread.
Former lab members
Janie Byrum PhD (2015-2019). Current position: Senior Science Officer, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine
Paulus Mrass MD (2013-2023). Current position: Physician, Austria.
Sreenivasa Oruganti PhD (2011-2018). Scientist, Geovax.
Francois Asperti-Boursin (2012-2015).
Torres, D.J., Mrass, P., Gonzalez, A., Juarez, M.E., Thompson, E., Vezys, V., Cannon, J.L. Quantitative analysis of T cell movement in tissues reveals environmental influences on T cell motility patterns. 2023 eLife. Oct 23:12:e84916. doi: 10.7554/eLife.84916. PMID: 37870221 PMCID: PMC10672806.
Melanie E Moses, Steven Hofmeyr, Judy L Cannon, Akil Andrews, Rebekah Gridley, Monica Hinga, Kirtus Leyba, Abigail Pribisova, Vanessa Surjadidjaja, Humayra Tasnim, Stephanie Forrest. 2021. Spatially distributed infection increases viral load in a computational model of SARS-CoV-2 lung infection. PLoS Comput Biol Dec 23;17(12):e1009735. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009735. PMID: 34941862 PMCID: PMC8740970
Mrass, P., Oruganti, S.R., Fricke, G.M., Tafoya, J., Byrum, J. Yang, L., Hamilton, S.L., Miller, M.J., Moses, M.E., Cannon, J.L. 2017. ROCK regulates the intermittent mode of interstitial T cell migration in inflamed lungs. Nature Communications. 8(1): 1010. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01032-2.
Judy Cannon, PhD
Department of Pathology
Fitz Hall, Room 379
University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131