ANNA THAM (SANDERS)

ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST

anna.tham@nyulangone.org

Originally from Brockton, Massachusetts, Anna has traveled extensively around the world and chose to pursue her academic journey in Scotland. She earned both her BSc in Physiology and Sport Science and her MSc in Immunology and Inflammatory Disease from the University of Glasgow.

Her research career began at the Institute of Infection and Immunity, where she worked in the Parasitology department under Professor Maizels. There, she contributed to important research on how helminth parasites manipulate host immune responses to their advantage. She later joined Professor McCulloch’s laboratory, where she focused on Leishmania research, specifically investigating the origins of replication.

Anna is joining the Liddelow Lab as a laboratory manager, where she looks forward to supporting daily operations and contributing to the team’s research goals. She is excited to help out wherever needed and deepen her understanding of astrocyte biology and their role in neurological disease.

Outside of research, Anna is an avid traveler who enjoys discovering new corners of the world and sampling new cuisines.

KEY PUBLICATIONS

  1. Ntang EY, Cunningham KT, Singh SP, Ciancia C, Sanders A, Lilla S, Mukundan A, Ghogomu SM, Hinck AP, Maizels RM (2025) Structural and functional analysis of the TGF-β mimic, TGM-2: an immunomodulatory helminth protein. Genes Immun. PMID: 41413252.

  2. Singh SP, Smyth DJ, Cunningham KT, Mukundan A, Byeon CH, Hinck CS, White MPJ, Ciancia C, Wąsowska N, Sanders A, Jin R, White RF, Lilla S, Zanivan S, Schoenherr C, Inman GJ, van Dinther M, Ten Dijke P, Hinck AP, Maizels RM (2024) The TGF-β mimic TGM4 achieves cell specificity through combinatorial surface co-receptor binding. EMBO Rep 26(1):218-244. PMID: 39609640.

  3. Singh SP, Smyth DJ, Cunningham K, Mukundan A, Byeon CH, Hinck CS, White MPJ, Ciancia C, Wosowska N, Sanders A, Jin R, Lilla S, Zanivan S, Schoenherr C, Inman G, van Dinther M, Ten Dijke P, Hinck AP, Maizels RM. The helminth TGF-β mimic TGM4 is a modular ligand that binds CD44, CD49d and TGF-β receptors to preferentially target myeloid cells. bioRxiv 2023.11.13.566701. PMID: 38014296.