Dr Samuel Lara Reyna BSc, MSc, PhD

• PhD in Medicine (Immunology), University of Leeds, 2020
• MSc in Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, 2016
• BSc in Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 2014

Samuel started his medical training at the faculty of Medicine UJED in Mexico, where he developed an interest in immunology. He obtained his BSc in Biology with Highest Honours and International Distinction at the University of Texas at San Antonio, with a concentration in immunology & microbiology. During his studies in Texas, Samuel gain fundamental research insight at Dr LeBaron’s laboratory of molecular biology. 

He was awarded a CONACyT scholarship in 2015 and moved to Birmingham, UK, where he obtained his MSc in Immunology and Immunotherapy at the University of Birmingham. He obtained experience in innate immunity with Professor Andy Clark, where he completed his MSc research project investigating glucocorticoid effects in macrophage function at the Institute of inflammation and ageing. 

After his studies at the University of Birmingham, he was awarded the CONACyT/Leeds Graduate Fellowship to accomplish his doctoral studies in Medicine, at the University of Leeds. Samuel’s doctoral research focused on understanding the dysregulated molecular mechanisms of macrophages in autoinflammatory disorders. He studied cystic fibrosis and the dysregulated pathways affecting macrophages in this disease, with interest in inflammation, ER stress and cellular metabolism. He obtained his PhD in Medicine in 2020 at the University of Leeds under the supervisor of Dr Sinisa Savic, Professor Daniel Peckham, and Professor Michael McDermott.

Samuel is currently a postdoctoral research fellow working with Dr Eva Frickel at the Institute of Microbiology and Infection (IMI) at the University of Birmingham. His research focuses on understanding IFNg-driven innate immune responses, mainly in macrophages. He studies the function of guanylate binding proteins (GBPs) in macrophages and how these proteins defend immune cells against different pathogens.

• Mechanisms of immune-mediated host protection against pathogens and other insults.
• The role of guanylate binding proteins (GBPs) in innate immune cells.
• Inflammation, metabolism and ubiquitination in innate immune cells.
• The mechanisms driving sterile inflammation (autoinflammation) in macrophages.