Elizabeth Nowak, PhD

Research Scientist

 

About Me

I graduated from the University of Rochester with a B.S. in Microbiology and Immunology and a B.A. in Psychology. To pursue my research interests, I went to the University of Connecticut and received a Ph.D. in Immunology. I subsequently joined the Noelle lab and worked an array of projects studying changes in immune cell development and differentiation due to retinoic acid signaling, tryptophan metabolism, VISTA deficiency, and anti-VISTA antibody treatment, respectively. In the Huang lab, my work is focused on studying CD8 T cell fate decisions in the context of viral infections. Outside of the lab, I enjoy growing orchids and crocheting blankets and sweaters.

 

Selected Publications

Nowak EC, Li J, Peters ZT, Mendyka LK, ElTanbouly MA, Davis WL 3rd, Sergent P, Lines JL, Smits NC, Mabaera R, Rajanna S, Carriere C, Koehn B, Allred J, Blazar BR, Burns CM, Noelle RJ, Skopelja-Gardner S. The role of VISTA engagement in limiting neutrophil-mediated inflammation. J Immunol. 2025 Sep 1;214(9):2385-2396. doi: 10.1093/jimmun/vkaf132.

Koehn BH, Nowak EC, Skopelja-Gardner S, Saha A, Zaiken MC, Allred J, Peng Y, Davis WL 3rd, Le Mercier I, Schwertner N, Molloy MJ, Rothstein J, Carriere C, Riddle MJ, Eide CR, Tolar J, Panoskaltsis-Mortari A, Smith KD, Hippen KL, Kim TK, Noelle RJ, Blazar BR. Targeting cell-surface VISTA expression on allospecific naïve T cells promotes tolerance. Blood. 2025 Apr 10;145(15):1687-1700. doi: 10.1182/blood.2024025884.

Schaafsma E, Croteau W, ElTanbouly M, Nowak EC, Smits NC, Deng J, Sarde A, Webber CA, Rabadi D, Cheng C, Noelle R, Lines JL. VISTA Targeting of T-cell Quiescence and Myeloid Suppression Overcomes Adaptive Resistance. Cancer Immunol Res. 2023 Jan 3;11(1):38-55. doi: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-22-0116.

Nowak EC, de Vries VC, Wasiuk A, Ahonen C, Bennett KA, Le Mercier I, Ha DG, Noelle RJ. Tryptophan hydroxylase-1 regulates immune tolerance and inflammation.  J Exp Med. 2012 Oct 22;209(11):2127-35. doi: 10.1084/jem.20120408.