Brenna Kiniry, Ph.D. Email & Phone Number

Sacramento, Ca

● Providing project management services and support to the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), Managed Care Operations Division (MCOD) to support the State in efficiently providing managed care to Medi-Cal beneficiaries. ● Worked with the DHCS, MCOD on managing the transition to the new 10-year, Health Care Options (HCO) Program contract.

Davis, Ca

● Investigated biomarkers of CD8+ T-cell exhaustion in human rectal mucosa in the context of chronic HIV infection using hypothesis-driven experimentation and data analysis.● Designed multicolor flow cytometry panels to characterize expression of exhaustion markers by blood and gut CD8+ T-cells isolated from HIV-infected and seronegative adults.● Assessed functionality of CD8+ T-cells expressing exhaustion markers using in vitro antigen-specific and polyclonal stimulation assays.

● Elucidated CD8+ T-cell responses to HIV infection in the human rectal mucosa using hypothesis driven experimentation and data analysis, resulting in peer-reviewed publications and a travel award to present findings at an international conference. ● Isolated immune cells from peripheral blood and rectal biopsy samples obtained from HIV+ and seronegative adults.● Characterized protein and transcript expression of cytotoxic molecules and associated transcription factors in blood and mucosal T-cells using multicolor flow cytometry and RT-qPCR.● Determined cytotoxic ability of blood and mucosal CD8+ T-cells using an in vitro redirected cytotoxicity assay.● Assessed the effect of TGF-β on protein expression of cytotoxic molecules using an in vitro TGF-β neutralization assay and flow cytometry.● Designed multicolor flow cytometry panels to assess the abundance, phenotype, and functionality of tissue-resident T-cells in the rectal mucosa.● Assessed in vitro T-cell responses to antigen-specific and polyclonal stimulation.● Developed RNA extraction and RT-qPCR protocols for the lab.● Trained and supervised new graduate students in lab procedures and techniques until they reached self-sufficiency.● Collaborated with clinicians and research coordinators to obtain peripheral blood and tissue biopsies from HIV-infected and healthy adults.

Davis, Ca

● Collaborate with Kyle House Group consulting firm to leverage the UC system to advocate for global health funding.● Organize global health funding advocacy events on the UC Davis campus and within the community.

Santa Maria, California

Analyzed produce, water, and environmental samples for foodborne pathogens and sanitation indicators, generating and communication results to clientele. As supervising microbiologist, I trained and lead lab personnel, performed inventory, maintained lab accreditation, oversaw FDA-detention sample testing, and worked on cross-departmental teams alongside customers and commercial developers to develop customer-specific testing schemes.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Microbiology, General

Dissertation: Elucidating CD8+ T-cell Responses in the Rectal Mucosa During HIV Infection

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Microbiology, General