Marouba Cisse

Research

My research focuses on understanding socioeconomic status (SES) associated immune signatures and their impact on vaccine responsiveness. Within the ERC-funded "REVERSE" project, I investigate the mechanisms underlying vaccine “hyporesponsiveness” in Global South populations. Using high-parameter spectral flow cytometry, we developed and validated a high-throughput profiling approach to map over 300 cell surface proteins across diverse cell subsets. We utilize these high-dimensional techniques to compare immune profiles across SES gradients, aiming to identify immune markers that vary by SES which may affect vaccine effectiveness and disease outcomes. Additionally, I am interested in how these immunological profiles and metabolic dependencies shift across different population settings, as well as unveiling aging-related immune markers across diverse populations.

Curriculum Vitae

After obtaining my Doctorate in Pharmacy (Biology Option) and an MSc in Immunology and Infection from Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, I joined the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). My previous work included serving as an Associate Research Scientist at the Institute of Health Research Epidemiological Surveillance and Training, where I focused on COVID-19 immune profiles and geographical influences on the immune system through the LUMC-UCAD collaboration. In 2023, I began my PhD in the Mucosal and Systems Immunology group under the supervision of Dr. Simon Jochems and Prof. Dr. Maria Yazdanbakhsh. My doctoral research leverages spectral flow cytometry and multi-omics integration to unveil immune signatures associated with socioeconomic and environmental factors, as well as population diversity in inflammaging.