Madison Schank, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate | Internal Medicine
VA Building 6, Room 203
+1 423 439-7188
Graduate: Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, East Tennessee State University, 2022
Undergraduate: B.S. in Chemistry, The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, 2018
BRIEF BIO
Dr. Schank received her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in Immunology,
Inflammation, and Infectious Diseases. She is a member of Dr. Zhi Q. Yao’s lab in
the Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease & Immunity. Her area
of expertise involves human primary cell culture and manipulation and investigation
of telomere-metabolism crosstalk during premature T cell aging. Her research aims
to investigate the mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction in T cells during chronic
viral infection to regulate deleterious phenotypes, such as immunosuppression and
advanced aging, in infected individuals.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Dr. Schank’s research interests include infectious diseases, with a particular focus on HIV and HCV. Her research focuses on investigating the underlying mechanisms of T cell dysfunction, elevated oxidative stress, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage, and impaired immunometabolism during chronic viral infection with the aim to develop effective therapeutics and improve host immune responses. Furthermore, Dr. Schank’s research focuses on identifying pathways responsible for elevated inflammation and failed immune reconstitution in people living with HIV despite successful pharmacological viral control.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:
1. Schank M, Zhao J, Wang L, Nguyen LNT, Zhang Y, Wu XY, Zhang J, Jiang Y, Ning S, El Gazzar M, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. ROS-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in CD4 T Cells from ART-Controlled People Living with HIV. Viruses. 2023 Apr 26;15(5):1061. doi: 10.3390/v15051061. PMID: 37243148; PMCID: PMC10224005.
2. Schank M, Zhao J, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. The Impact of HIV- and ART-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Cellular Senescence and Aging. Cells. 2021 Jan 16;10(1):174. doi: 10.3390/cells10010174. PMID: 33467074; PMCID: PMC7830696.
3. Schank M, Zhao J, Wang L, Nguyen LNT, Cao D, Dang X, Khanal S, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Wu XY, Ning S, Gazzar ME, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Oxidative Stress Induces Mitochondrial Compromise in CD4 T Cells From Chronically HCV-Infected Individuals. Front Immunol. 2021 Dec 8;12:760707. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.760707. PMID: 34956192; PMCID: PMC8692574.
4. Schank M, Zhao J, Wang L, Li Z, Cao D, Nguyen LN, Dang X, Khanal S, Nguyen LNT, Thakuri BKC, Ogbu SC, Lu Z, Zhang J, Wu XY, Morrison ZD, El Gazzar M, Ning S, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Telomeric injury by KML001 in human T cells induces mitochondrial dysfunction through the p53-PGC-1α pathway. Cell Death Dis. 2020 Dec 2;11(12):1030. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03238-7. PMID: 33268822; PMCID: PMC7710715.
5. Zhao J, Schank M, Wang L, Li Z, Nguyen LN, Dang X, Cao D, Khanal S, Nguyen LNT, Thakuri BKC, Ogbu SC, Lu Z, Wu XY, Morrison ZD, Gazzar ME, Liu Y, Zhang J, Ning S, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Mitochondrial Functions Are Compromised in CD4 T Cells From ART-Controlled PLHIV. Front Immunol. 2021 May 4;12:658420. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.658420. PMID: 34017335; PMCID: PMC8129510.
6. Wang L, Lu Z, Zhao J, Schank M, Cao D, Dang X, Nguyen LN, Nguyen LNT, Khanal S, Zhang J, Wu XY, El Gazzar M, Ning S, Moorman JP, Yao ZQ. Selective oxidative stress induces dual damage to telomeres and mitochondria in human T cells. Aging Cell. 2021 Dec;20(12):e13513. doi: 10.1111/acel.13513. Epub 2021 Nov 9. PMID: 34752684; PMCID: PMC8672791.