Kellen Cavagnero

Kellen’s mission is to define how the immune system works so that diseases involving this system, such as infection, autoimmunity, and cancer, can be more effectively prevented and treated. He completed his bachelor’s degree in pharmacology at UCSB in 2014. He then worked as a research associate in Dr. Taylor Doherty’s lab at UCSD until 2019 when he started his Ph.D. in Dr. Richard Gallo’s lab (also at UCSD). Throughout his career, Kellen’s research has focused on defining the events that occur after initial exposure to an inflammatory stimulus. In the Doherty lab, he made significant contributions to the understanding of innate allergic airway inflammation, including the discovery of unconventional group 2 innate lymphoid cells. In the Gallo lab, his work aims to understand how fibroblasts—a cell type thought to be immunologically inert—contribute to chronic inflammatory conditions and defense against pathogens. When Kellen is not in the laboratory, he enjoys surfing, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.