Team

Celestine Wanjalla, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Wanjalla's past research projects have included dendritic cell-based HIV vaccine using Rabies virus as a vector and adipose tissue T cells in patients with HIV and diabetes. 

She provides clinical care at the Comprehensive Care Clinic and the Infectious Disease consult service at the Nashville VA.

Learn more about Dr. Wanjalla.

Xiuqi Zhang 

Lab Manager
Division of Infectious Diseases, Wanjalla Lab

Xiuiqi Zhang’s responsibilities include maintaining laboratory order, assisting students, keeping equipment in good working condition, and ensuring the smooth progress of experiments. Having worked at VUMC for over 20 years, she is passionate about learning new things and enjoys working with colleagues to help them achieve their scientific goals.

Naome Mwesigwa, MD

Postdoctoral Fellow
Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Mwesigwa earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from Kampala International University and completed a graduate-level course in Clinical Trials as part of the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation at Vanderbilt University. She also trained as a research fellow in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Autonomic Dysfunction Center, where she conducted translational research on autonomic disorders and vascular dysfunction. She has published several peer-reviewed articles and received an American Heart Association research grant. Her current research focuses on immune complexes and endothelial mechanisms linking infectious diseases with cardiovascular complications.

Laventa Obare, MBChB

Research Fellow
Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Obare holds a Bachelor of Science in Medicine and Surgery from Moi University College of Health Sciences in Kenya, as well as certificates in Implementation Science from the University of Washington and Foundations of Clinical Research from Harvard Medical University.

Victoria Stephens, PhD

Research Fellow
Division of Infectious Diseases

Dr. Stephens holds a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science with a minor in Chemistry from Albany State University and a PhD in Molecular Pathology and Immunology from Vanderbilt University. 

Currently, her research explores the immune mechanisms underlying the adverse health outcomes seen in individuals living with cardiovascular disease and HIV.

Cassia Labeb, BSc

Research Assistant I
Division of Infectious Diseases

Cassia Labeb recently completed her undergraduate degree at Trevecca Nazarene University, where she majored in biology and minored in chemistry. She is currently working as a research assistant in Dr. Wanjalla's lab, gaining valuable hands-on experience in scientific research with a focus on infectious diseases.

Kisyua Nthenge, BSc

Research Assistant I
Division of Infectious Diseases

KK Nthenge has been a member of Dr. Wanjalla's lab since 2023. He received his bachelor's degree in biology from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama. During the summers of undergraduate training, he had the opportunity to participate in medical research. Following an internship at VUMC and research projects at Oakwood, he developed a greater interest in medical research and plans to apply to medical school.

Alexander Shepp

Undergraduate, VU

Symrin Ranchod

Masters Student