Lab Members

Aaron Michels, MD
Principal Investigator
​[email protected]

Frieda and George S. Eisenbarth Clinical Immunology Endowed Chair
Director of the CLIA & CAP Certified Barbara Davis Center – Autoantibody/HLA/Metabolic Laboratory​
Kagan Karakus, MD
Postdoctoral Fellow
​[email protected]
I have a strong interest in translational immunology to better understand the pathogenesis, prediction, and prevention of type 1 diabetes. 

Kristen McDaniel, BS
Lab Manager
[email protected]

I have been part of the laboratory for over a decade, involved in many research projects, and have expertise in many T cell immunology assays including those using peripheral blood and human tissues. 
Halis (Kaan) Akturk, MD
Associate Professor
​[email protected]
I have a strong interest in the immune related adverse events that can occur following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for cancer treatment with a focus on autoimmune type 1 diabetes. ​

Erin Baschal, PhD
Research Associate
[email protected]

I have my PhD in Human Medical Genetics, and my research focuses on using next generation sequencing of T cell receptors to develop a non-cell based biomarker of T cells involved in type 1 diabetes pathogenesis. 
Kimber Simmons, MD
Associate Professor
​[email protected]
My research focuses on understanding the genetics and pathogenic mechanisms in diverse populations of youth with diabetes including a strong collaboration with Life for a Child.
Theo Fleury, BS
Research Assistant
[email protected]
My research projects focus on analyzing complex datasets to generate meaningful insights into the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes development. 
Hyelin Choi, BA
Research Assistant
[email protected]
My research project focuses on using different T cell assays to understand the immune mechanisms following treatment with antigen specific immunotherapy.
Vanessa Langarcia, BS
Masters Student
[email protected]
My research project focuses on studying the role of insulin-specific regulatory T cells in health and type 1 diabetes.