Regan Russell

Regan graduated from the University of Arizona where she studied Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math. She attended Graduate School at the University of New Mexico where she researched the role of p53 genetic alterations in melanoma. Once receiving her Master of Science, she began to work with Vanessa Sperandio both as a research scientist and lab manager. The Sperandio lab’s focus is the pathogenesis of Enterohemmorhagic E. coli (EHEC) and its interactions with the gut microbiome. Regan had a hand in several projects over the years in the lab that involved anti-microbial small molecules, gut microbiome signaling, and genetic manipulation effects on E. coli pathogenesis. She spent a significant number of years working on a small molecule LED209 a potent QseC inhibitor that blocks both norepinephrine- and epinephrine-triggered QseC-dependent virulence gene expression at 5 pM in vitro. She also helped describe how serotonin signaling in the gut modulates the virulence of EHEC and its mouse model pathogen Citrobacter rodentium.

Growing up as a daughter of an Air Force Colonel, Regan grew accustomed to moving and meeting new people. As an adult this has grown into of a love of travel and learning about different cultures. She has lived in 8 states and been to many countries. Her absolute favorite is the Cayman Islands. This is her family’s yearly escape from reality. She and her husband, Kent, have two girls 7 and 8 years old. Her time away from the lab is spent at numerous soccer, basketball, baseball, swim, dance and gymnastic venues so her travel normally is centered around that now!