1. Ana Gervassi, MS, PhD
Seattle, WA  (206) 250-1873  ana.gervassi@sbri.org  www.linkedin.com/in/agervassi
SUMMARY
Highly motivated and accomplished self-starter. Experienced and technically skilled research scientist with a diverse
background in immunology, infectious diseases, molecular biology, vaccine and adjuvant discovery. Program manager with
six+ years experience managing a research laboratory and a multi year global health immersion research study. Science
mentor committed to inspire students from diverse backgrounds. Works well individually and in team-oriented
environments.
Program management. Oversight of research projects in
Seattle and South Africa, program operations, assay
development and validation, SOP generation and
implementation, data acquisition and analysis, material
procurement and inventory maintenance, grant
management and reporting, publishing, temporary and
fixed employee training, event planning, development
and implementation of study recruitment tactics, IRB
CDC, IACUC and Infectious Agent protocol design and
submission, Financial oversight of multiple grants and
contracts
Computer literacy. Microsoft Office, Vector NTI,
Genious, Endnote, FlowJo, Reference Manager, website
maintenance,
Languages. Complete oral and written fluency in
English, Spanish, and French.
Laboratory Abilities. Vaccine Research & Immunology:
T cell proliferation, Cytolysis, ELISPOT, Dendritic cell
purification and in vitro generation, T cell subset and
macrophage isolation, Limited dilution analysis, FACS
analysis (intracellular and surface multicolor antigen
staining), Prime Flow, gene silencing, lentiviral
transduction, antigen discovery of MHC class I-, MHC
class II-, and non-MHC-restricted antigens, cellular
apoptosis analysis, Ficoll Hypaque PBMC isolation of
blood and leukapheresis products, and ELISA.
Microscopy: Fluorescence, Confocal, Deltavision and
Electron Microscopy. Microbiology: Bacterial cell culture,
Gram stain. Molecular Biology: Bacterial and retroviral
cloning, PCR, Quantitative PCR, plasmid construction &
purification, microarray analysis. Biochemistry: 1-D Gel
Electrophoresis, Bacterial protein expression and
purification, affinity purification, Western blot analysis.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CENTER FOR AIDS RESEARCH (CFAR) SPECIALIZED CELLULAR IMMUNITY SERVICES, SEATTLE, WA 2013 – Present
CELLULAR IMMUNOLOGY SUBCORE DIRECTOR
Service and training provided to CFAR new investigators in state-of-the-art functional immunoassay, assay design,
optimization and validation of new assays as well as provide training for: T cell functional assays (measures of proliferation,
cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion, viral suppression, etc) and NK functional assays (cytotoxicity, cytokine secretion, viral
suppression) http://depts.washington.edu/cfar/discover-cfar/cores/immunology/specialized-cellular-immunity
CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE RESEARCH, SEATTLE, WA 2004 – Present

2. Ana Gervassi,Page 2
Non-profit Institute dedicated to targeted research leading diagnostics, drugs and vaccines for global infectious diseases.
SENIOR SCIENTIST (2015-PRESENT)
Responsible for leading and managing a public and privately funded research laboratory focused in HIV T cell immunology,
infant immunology, characterization and functionality of specific suppressive cells (MDSC and Tregs) and cellular
mechanisms leading to immune T cell exhaustion. Managers and coworkers view me as a very creative scientist.
Selected Achievements
 Management of a group of 6 scientists, including supervision of graduate students
 Oversight of a longitudinal study in South Africa to study the effect of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC)
on infant vaccine responses
 Development and implementation of SOPs to study T cell responses to vaccines, to study T cell responses to HIV,
to measure frequency and functionality of immune suppressive cells such as MDSC and Tregs.
 Development and oversight of a research study to identify markers of T cell exhaustion in humans infected with
HIV
 Development of methods to isolate HIV-infected T cells to characterize functionally and molecularly the HIV
reservoirs.
 Development and management of a research program to test compounds that reverse T cell exhaustion
 Grant management and reporting
POSTOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST (2010-2013)
Development of an in CD8+ T cell in vitro priming system for the preclinical evaluation of candidate HIV immunogens and
characterization of the immune modulatory role of myeloid derived suppressor cells in infants.
PROGRAM MANAGER/SCIENCE EDUCATION FELLOW (2008-2010)
Programmatic management of a multi-year longitudinal behavioral research study that looked at the effect of science
immersion programs on future college and career choices.
POSTOCTORAL RESEARCH SCIENTIST (2004-2007)
Development of Listeria monocytogenes as a live vaccine delivery system for intra-vacuolar pathogens
CORIXA CORPORATION, DIVISION OF VACCINE RESEARCH, SEATTLE, WA, 1995-2004
Biotech company dedicated to the development of immunotherapeutics with a commitment to treating and preventing
autoimmune diseases, cancer and infectious diseases by understanding and directing the immune system.
SENIOR RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIST AND PHD STUDENT
Antigen, adjuvant and delivery system discovery for use in vaccines. Developed and implemented strategies for antigen
discovery of class I-restricted and non class I-restricted CD8+
T cell antigens to Chlamydia trachomatis as part of the
Chlamydia vaccine development team.
EDUCATION

3. Ana Gervassi,Page 3
PhD. Pathobiology, School of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
MS. Nutritional Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Maîtrise in Cell Biology and Human Physiology, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France.
License in Animal Physiology and Cell Biology, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI), Paris, France.
Diploma of General University Studies (DEUG) in Natural Sciences, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris VI),
Paris, France.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
1. Tuefferd M, Kim SE, Cougnaud L, Lejarcegui N,Dross S,GanttS, Jaspan H,Horton H,Gervassi AL. Functional and
Transcriptional Analysis ofNeonatal Granulocytic Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells and Neutrophils. Manuscript in
Preparation.
2. Dross SE,Munson P, Kim SE, BrattD, Gervassi AL, Fuller D and Horton H.Kinetics of myeloid derived suppressor cell
frequency and function during SIV infection, combination antiretroviral therapyand treatmentinterruption. J. Immunol,in
press.
3. Gervassi AL, Lejarcegui N,Dross S,JacobsonA,Itaya G, Kidzeru E, Gantt S, Jaspan H,Horton H.2014 Myeloid derived
suppressor cells are presentathigh frequency in neonates and suppress in vitro T cell responses. PLOS ONE
9(9):107816.
4. Gantt S, Gervassi AL, Jaspan H, Horton H. 2014. The role of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in immune ontogeny.
Front. Immunol. 5:387
5. Gervassi AL, Horton H. Is Infant ImmunityActively Suppressed or Immature? 2014.Virology: Researchand Treatment
5:1-9.
6. Gervassi AL, Collins L,Britschgi TB. 2010. GLOBAL HEALTH: A Successful Contextfor Precollege Training and
Advocacy. PLOS ONE: 5(11):e13814. PMCID: PMC2972213.
7. Gervassi AL, Alderson MR, Suchland R, Maisonneuve JF, Grabstein KH, ProbstP. 2004 Differential regulation of
inflammatorycytokine secretion by human dendritic cells upon Chlamydia trachomatis infection. Infect Immun. Dec;
72(12):7231-9.PMCID: PMC529152.
8. Gervassi AL, ProbstP, Grabstein KH, Hess , Alderson MR, and Fling SP. 2004. Human CD8+ T cells recognize the
60KD cysteine-rich outer membrane protein from Chlamydia trachomatis.J Immunol; 173(11): 6905-13. PMID:
15557186.
9. Gervassi AL, ProbstP, Stamm W, Marrazzo J, Grabstein KH, Alderson MR. 2003.Functional characterization of class Ia
and non-class Ia-restricted Chlamydia-reactive CD8+ T cell responses in humans. J Immunol, 171(8):4278-86. PMID:
14530352.
TEACHING AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION EXPERIENCE
 Teaching Aid, Supplemental curricular teaching once a quarter to supplement the science curriculum in an elementary
school classroom K-5 , 2005-present
 Interpreter, Red Cross Language Bank: On-call language interpreter,1993-present
 Interpreter, Sustainable Sciences Institute: On-call language interpreter for grant proposals and reviews from Latin
America, Jun 1998-present
 Academic Translator, Chicago Science Group, K-5 translation of the science student books from English to Spanish,
2006-2007
 Mentor, BioQuest Science Education Program, Science mentor for high school students , 2004-2006
 Teaching Assistant, BioQuest Summer Program, Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, Seattle, WA , 2005
 Teaching Assistant, Emerging Infectious Diseases Department of Global Health, University of Washington, 2003
 Harborview Medical Center: Emergency Room triage, 1994-1995

4. Ana Gervassi,Page 4
PROFESSIONAL AND ADVISORY BOARDS
 Executive Board Member, Center for AIDS Research, University of Washington 2013-present
 Editorial board PLOS ONE 2014-present
 Treasurer Grupo cultural Guelaguetza 2014-present
 Latona School Associates, Board Member, 2006-2012
 School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Alumni Advisory Board, 2004 -2008
 John Stanford International School Board, Representative, 2006-2009
 Corixa Corporation Health and Safety Committee: 1996-1997
 Pacific Northwest Research Foundation, Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee: 1995-1997