Yevgeny Brudno, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Eshelman School of Pharmacy (UNC-Chapel Hill) with a joint appointment in Biomedical Engineering (UNC and NC State University). He is a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and leads the Brudno Lab, which specializes in drug delivery and biomaterials for cancer immunotherapy, particularly CAR T cell therapy. Research Focus: Development of implantable biotechnologies for in vivo CAR-T cell production, biomaterials for therapeutic delivery, and click chemistry-based drug targeting. Education: PhD (unspecified institution). The lab’s research bridges chemical and biomaterials science with clinical needs, emphasizing on-demand drug release , solid tumor targeting , and autoimmune disease treatments . Recent work includes bioinstructive scaffolds and tissue-reactive drug depots , leveraging click chemistry and nanomedicine . His scientific contributions are highlighted by 15 publications (2009–2025) in fields like biotechnology, cancer immunotherapy, and epigenetics. Notable awards include the NCI MERIT Award , University Faculty Scholar (NC State), and Outstanding Teacher Award (NC State). Advising: Mentored 13 PhD and Master’s students, including Sharda Pandit (2023), Chris Moody (2021), and Emily Joe (2024). Lab announcements highlight student achievements like NSF and NIH fellowships. The Brudno Lab collaborates with UNC Lineberger and NC State, focusing on streamlining therapy production , enhancing efficacy in solid tumors , and autoimmune disease applications , supported by grants from NCI and CMI.
Rahul Mangharam is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering and Applied Science, with a secondary appointment in Computer and Information Science. He directs the Safe Autonomous Systems Lab (mLAB) and is a founding member of the PRECISE Center. Mangharam serves as Penn Director for the Safety21 DoT National University Transportation Center ($20MM), Director of the Autoware Center of Excellence, and leads the F1Tenth Autonomous Racing Community. Education: Ph.D. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University M.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University B.S. in Electrical & Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University His research bridges formal methods, machine learning, and control systems with applications in medical devices, autonomous systems, and energy-efficient buildings. Key focus areas include safety verification for autonomous vehicles, real-time control systems, and patient-specific cardiac modeling for clinical applications. Recent work explores conformal prediction for safe perception, differentiable control barrier functions, and explainable autonomous systems. Mangharam's publication trends show strong emphasis on autonomous systems safety (control synthesis, uncertainty quantification) and biomedical applications (cardiac modeling, clinical decision support). His 2022-2023 publications demonstrate cross-disciplinary approaches combining control theory, machine learning, and formal methods for robust autonomous systems. Awards and Honors: Presidential Early Career Award (PECASE) 2016 IEEE Benjamin Franklin Key Award 2014 NSF CAREER Award 2013 Intel Early Faculty Career Award 2012 National Academy of Engineers US Frontiers of Engineering (2012, 2018) Stephen J. Angelo Term Chair (2008-2013) He leads multiple major grants including NSF CAREER, DoT Safety21 Center ($20MM), DoE Energy-Efficient Building Hub ($160MM), and DARPA HACMS. Current PhD students include Zirui Zang. Mangharam founded the F1Tenth autonomous racing platform used globally for education and hosts international competitions through the Autoware Center of Excellence.
Dr. Michael J. Katz is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. He leads an active research group focused on porous materials, particularly metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with applications in gas storage, chemical separation, and catalysis. His work is well-recognized in the field of materials chemistry, with numerous publications in high-impact journals spanning from 2005 to 2025. Dr. Katz's primary research interests lie in the synthesis, properties, and applications of porous materials. His work specifically focuses on: Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) design and synthesis Gas storage technologies, particularly low-pressure methane storage Chemical separation processes including removal of harmful molecules from air Catalysis using porous materials Adsorption properties of various porous frameworks Environmental applications of porous materials Analysis of Dr. Katz's publication record from 2017-2025 reveals a strong emphasis on zirconium-based MOFs, particularly the UiO-66 family. His research spans fundamental characterization techniques like NMR spectroscopy to practical applications in carbon capture, gas separation, and environmental remediation. A notable trend is the increasing focus on real-world implementation of MOFs, including biochar-based materials for CO 2 capture and frameworks for air pollutant removal such as nitrous acid. His work demonstrates a progression from fundamental materials science toward practical environmental applications. Dr. Katz actively supervises graduate students and postdoctoral researchers in his research group. His laboratory at Memorial University is equipped for the synthesis and characterization of novel porous materials, with particular expertise in metal-organic framework development. His research is supported by various grants that enable the exploration of structure-property relationships in porous materials and their practical applications.
Simon Sharpe is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Toronto and a Senior Scientist at The Hospital for Sick Children. His research focuses on the structural and dynamic properties of self-assembling proteins, particularly those involved in degenerative diseases, elastomeric proteins, and biological phase separation. The Sharpe Lab utilizes advanced biophysical techniques such as NMR spectroscopy, X-ray scattering, and electron microscopy to investigate these phenomena. BSc: Memorial University of Newfoundland (Cell Biology and Biochemistry, 1997) PhD: University of Western Ontario (Biochemistry, 2002) Postdoctoral Training: NIH (Solid-State NMR, 2002-2006) Research interests include: Protein self-assembly mechanisms Amyloid formation in neurodegenerative diseases Elastin and resilin biophysics Lipid-protein interactions Biological phase separation Structure-function relationships Lab members include Research Associate Dr. Sean Reichheld and PhD students James Otis, Asal Nady, and Robert Lu. The lab has dedicated access to 600 and 700 MHz NMR spectrometers and collaborates with SickKids facilities including the SBC Facility and Imaging Facility. Scientific awards: Canada Research Chair (2006-2016) Ontario Early Researcher Award (2010) Dr. Sharpe has taught courses including BCH374Y1 (Research Project in Biochemistry) and BCH425H (Structural Biology: Principles and Practice). His recent publications examine topics ranging from serum amyloid A structure to bacterial phase separation defenses, with methodologies combining solid-state NMR, fluorescence microscopy, and computational approaches.
Dana Pe'er is a Professor and Chair of the Computational and Systems Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and holds the Alan and Sandra Gerry Endowed Chair. Dr. Pe'er leads an interdisciplinary research group that combines advanced genomics approaches with machine learning to address fundamental questions in biomedical science, with particular focus on cancer biology, developmental biology, and immunology. Dr. Pe'er earned her PhD from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Her academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship with George Church at Harvard Medical School. Before joining Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2016, she held faculty positions at Columbia University. Dr. Pe'er's research focuses on understanding cellular plasticity, the consequences of intra-tumor heterogeneity, cancer evolution and metastasis, and the mechanisms by which regulatory circuits go awry in disease. Her lab combines single-cell and spatial profiling technologies with machine learning approaches to investigate gene regulation, cellular plasticity, and cell-cell communication in the contexts of cancer, immunity, and development. They are particularly interested in how organisms develop from a single cell to generate diverse cell types, how epigenetic control rewires during development, and how cells communicate to execute multicellular responses. Analysis of Dr. Pe'er's recent publications reveals a strong focus on developing computational methods for single-cell and spatial genomics data analysis. Her work spans cancer types including pancreatic, prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer, with emphasis on tumor heterogeneity, metastasis mechanisms, and cellular plasticity. A significant portion of her research involves creating novel algorithms and tools like CellRank, REUNION, and SEACells that enable researchers to extract meaningful biological insights from complex genomic datasets. 2023 Class of 2023 Inductee - American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) Academy 2023 Innovator Award - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) 2021 Fellow - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2021) 2019 Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2016 Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award - Columbia University 2014 Director's Pioneer Award - National Institutes of Health 2014 Overton Prize - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Dr. Pe'er is known for her dedicated mentorship approach, describing herself as "a mama bear" who cares deeply about her trainees while expecting independence, innovation, and hard work. She mentors numerous PhD students and postdocs in her lab. Her HHMI Investigator award provides approximately $9 million over seven years, enabling ambitious research directions. She also collaborates extensively with the Single-cell Analytics and Innovation Lab (SAIL) at MSK to generate new data from emerging technologies, working closely with wet-lab collaborators at MSK and beyond to apply computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across multiple disease areas. The Pe'er Lab is an interdisciplinary group of computational biologists with diverse backgrounds ranging from pure mathematics to clinical medicine. They work closely with wet-lab collaborators to apply their computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across cancer, immunology, and developmental biology. The lab is described as open, supportive, collaborative, and fun, with access to world-class facilities at the Sloan Kettering Institute. Dr. Pe'er's work continues to push the boundaries of computational biology and cancer research, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, personalized therapies for cancer patients.
Leonardo Chamorro is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), with affiliations in Earth Science and Environmental Change, Aerospace Engineering, and Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research focuses on fluid dynamics, renewable energy systems, and turbulence modeling. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota (2010) and has held academic positions at UIUC since 2013, advancing to Full Professor in 2024. Chamorro's work spans experimental and theoretical investigations of wind and hydrokinetic energy, geophysical flows, and particle dynamics. His research group, the Renewable Energy & Turbulent Environment Group (RE-TE-G), explores topics like tidal flow multifractality, vortex dynamics, and bio-inspired robotics. Key achievements include Nature and Lab on a Chip cover articles, and contributions to turbulence modeling for tidal energy systems. He has received awards such as the Best Paper Award in Energies (2018) and recognition for pandemic-related research (2021). His editorial roles include associate editorships at journals like Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy and Frontiers in Energy Research . Chamorro has supervised numerous graduate students and postdocs, contributing to over 150 peer-reviewed publications since 2009.
Prof. Dr. Stefan Luther is a Max Planck Research Group leader (W2, tenured since 2013) at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, and an Honorarprofessor at the Faculty of Physics, University of Göttingen. He holds adjunct roles as Adjunct Associate Professor at Cornell University (2009–2012) and Northeastern University (2016–2018), and serves as DZHK-Professor at the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Medical Center Göttingen. His research focuses on nonlinear spatiotemporal dynamics in excitable biological media, particularly cardiac arrhythmias. He pioneered 4D imaging of heart function and developed algorithms for optogenetic and electrical control of arrhythmias. Translational efforts span basic research to preclinical and clinical studies. Education includes a Diplom in Physics (1997) and PhD (2000) from Georg-August-University, Göttingen. Postdoctoral training followed at the University of Twente (2001–2004) and Cornell University’s LASSP (2004–2006). His lab, the Biomedical Physics group, explores electromechanical coupling in cardiac systems and develops novel therapeutic approaches. Collaborations include work on computational modeling, uncertainty quantification in dynamical systems, and fluid dynamics of multiphase flows.
Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), leading research at the Cell Diversity Lab. His work bridges proteomics, computational biology, and snake venom research. Current projects: "The Proteomic Landscape during Influenza Infection" (2022-2025) Supervisor for PhD projects on protease network rewiring in psoriasis and wound exudate degradomics Research interests include: Proteomic analysis of inflammatory diseases Snake venom toxin structure prediction Extracellular matrix biomechanics De novo peptide sequencing algorithms Computational modeling of protease networks Recent article trends demonstrate his work in • Database-free proteomics (InstaNovo/InstaNexus) • Snake venom pathophysiology (V-ToCs clustering) • Inflammatory disease biomarkers (psoriasis, impaired healing) • Extracellular matrix mechanics (fibronectin tension, gut inflammation) Advising: Supervises PhD students Polhaus, C. J. M. and Haack, A. M., focusing on protease networks and wound healing.
Suradip Das is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, where he serves as a Senior Research Investigator. His work bridges neural engineering and regenerative medicine to address critical challenges in nerve and muscle repair. His academic training includes: B.Tech in Biotechnology from Heritage Institute of Technology (2010) PhD in Biosciences and Bioengineering from Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (2016) Dr. Das specializes in biomaterials development , peripheral nerve injury models , neuromuscular interface engineering , and stem cell-based regeneration . His research pioneers innervated tissue-engineered muscle constructs, demonstrating how motor neurons and endothelial cells synergistically enhance skeletal myocyte maturation. He innovates custom mechanobioreactors that apply tensile forces to guide nanofiber alignment for optimal myofiber formation, significantly advancing volumetric muscle loss treatments. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a dominant focus on neuromuscular regeneration (75% of articles), with emerging exploration of psychedelic compounds in neural repair. His work consistently integrates human iPSC-derived models , multi-cellular co-cultures , and large-animal validation to address translational gaps. Key trends include optogenetic control of motor units (2023), porcine nerve injury models (2020), and the critical role of pre-innervation in creating pro-regenerative microenvironments (2020-2022). As a core member of the Cullen Lab, Dr. Das collaborates on developing biofabricated neural microtissues for delayed nerve fusion and rapid functional recovery. His research directly informs clinical strategies for peripheral nerve repair and muscle regeneration through rigorous mechanistic studies and innovative engineering solutions.
Dr. Rong Fan is the Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Pathology at Yale University. His research focuses on developing and applying single-cell and spatial omics technologies to study immune systems, cancer, and aging. His lab has pioneered technologies like the IsoCode microchip for high-throughput protein profiling, and spatial multi-omics platforms (e.g., DBiT-seq, spatial-ATAC-seq) to analyze tissue complexity at cellular resolution. He co-founded IsoPlexis, Singleron Biotechnologies, and AtlasXomics to commercialize these innovations. Education: PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley (2006), B.S. in Applied Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China (1999). Postdoctoral training at Caltech before joining Yale in 2010. Research interests include CAR-T cell therapy optimization, spatial epigenomics, and multi-omics integration. Key achievements include discovering biomarkers predictive of CAR-T efficacy and defining spatial genomic landscapes in cancer and neuroinflammation. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Packard Fellowship, election to AIMBE, CASE, and NAI. Serves on advisory boards for Bio-Techne and Yale Ventures. Active in training future scientists via the Yale Biomedical Engineering and Yale School of Medicine programs.
Wei-Jen Tang is a Professor at the University of Chicago, affiliated with the Ben May Department of Cancer Research. His work integrates structural biology and biochemistry to study protein interactions critical to human health, particularly in Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and bacterial pathogenesis. Education: B.S. in Zoology, National Taiwan University; Ph.D. in Biological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin; Postdoctoral training in Virology and Pharmacology at University of Texas Southwestern. His research focuses on: Amyloid Peptide-Degrading Proteases: IDE and PreP for Alzheimer's and diabetes. Chemokines: CCL5 and CCL3 in inflammation and HIV. Bacterial Toxins: Edema factor in anthrax and bio-defense. Recent publications highlight structural insights into IDE, PreP, and anthrax toxins, with keywords spanning Structural Biology , Biochemistry , and Therapeutics . Funding includes NIH and American Heart Association grants. Awards include AHA Established Investigator and Cancer Research Foundation Young Investigator. Lab updates note new members and a 2025 publication on PreP.
Donald Rio holds the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Chair in the Biological Sciences and is a Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology. He is affiliated with the Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Center for Integrative Genetics. His lab focuses on nucleic acid transactions, including transposable element mobilization (P elements) and RNA binding protein mechanisms controlling alternative splicing. Research highlights include studies on THAP9 proteins in humans/zebrafish, cryo-EM structural analysis of transposase-DNA complexes, and splicing regulation in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and Parkinson’s. His work combines biochemical, genetic, and computational approaches, including the development of the Junction Usage Model (JUM) for splicing analysis. Research interests span transposition mechanisms linked to HIV integration, immune system recombination, and evolutionary genome dynamics. His team investigates how RNA binding proteins like hnRNPA1 influence splicing in disease contexts, with projects involving CRISPR-based models and patient RNA-seq data analysis. Collaborations include studies on splicing accuracy across tissues and age, and the impact of splicing defects in neurodegenerative disorders. Key awards include the Goldman Chair. His lab’s contributions bridge fundamental molecular mechanisms with translational applications in genetic disease modeling and drug discovery. Recent work focuses on isogenic stem cell models (iSCORE-PD) for Parkinson’s research and structural biology insights into transposase function. Grants and projects involve NIH funding for ALS splicing studies and collaborations with institutions like the Buck Institute. His lab actively publishes in top journals such as Genome Research , PNAS , and Nature , with a strong emphasis on cryo-EM and bioinformatic methods.
Thomas Winkler is an Associate Professor at the Division of Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, and collaborates with TU Braunschweig, Germany. His research focuses on solving life science challenges using microsystems tools, particularly in neuropsychiatric disorders like schizophrenia. He develops organ-on-chip models, engineered microfluidic platforms, and biosensors for point-of-care diagnostics. Winkler leads an interdisciplinary ERC-funded team addressing metabolic coupling in neurovascular units and oxidative stress biomarkers. Key achievements include the ERC Starting Grant (2023) and work on electrochemical sensors for clozapine monitoring. He teaches courses such as Microsystem Technology (EK2350) and supervises PhD and postdoctoral researchers. Current projects include machine learning-guided robotic organoid maturation and electrochemical technology development for the CHIPzophrenia initiative. His lab actively seeks talent through open positions in Stockholm and Braunschweig. Scientific awards include the ERC Starting Grant and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Fellowship. Research spans sensor development, microfabrication, and biomaterials, with a focus on translating lab technologies to clinical applications. Collaborations bridge engineering and life sciences, emphasizing personalized mental healthcare solutions.
Christopher Buckley is the Kennedy Professor of Translational Rheumatology and Director of Clinical Research at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford. He holds concurrent roles as Director of NIHR Infrastructure for Birmingham Health Partners. His research focuses on fibroblast biology in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), stromal cell interactions, and translational medicine approaches to stratified therapy. He leads the Arthritis Therapy Acceleration Programme (A-TAP), advancing precision medicine strategies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Educations: BSc Biochemistry, University of Oxford (1985) MBBS Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London (1990) DPhil in Molecular Medicine (Wellcome Trust Fellowship) under Prof. John Bell (Oxford) Research Interests: Pathogenic fibroblast subpopulations in RA and systemic sclerosis Tissue-resident memory T cells in chronic inflammation Spatial transcriptomics of synovial and tendon tissues Pro-resolving fibroblast networks during inflammation resolution Development of biomarkers for disease flare/remission Awards & Leadership: MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship (2001) Arthritis Research UK Professorship (2002) Director, Birmingham NIHR Clinical Research Facility (2012-2017) Key Projects: Leading A-TAP's stratified pathology approach for drug development Investigating Wnt signaling in stromal inflammation Developing cellular atlases of joints using spatial transcriptomics
Jennifer Lewis is the Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering and Jianming Yu Professor of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University's Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Her research focuses on bioengineering, materials science, and advanced manufacturing, with emphasis on 3D-printed functional materials, organoids, and soft robotics. She leads the Lewis Research Group, which develops biomimetic technologies for regenerative medicine, energy systems, and robotics. Lewis holds appointments in SEAS, the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, and the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. Her research areas include applied mathematics, fluid mechanics, soft matter physics, and bioengineering applications such as kidney organoid models, vascularized tissues, and programmable materials. Notable innovations include kidney organoid-on-chip systems for drug testing, 3D-printed liquid crystal elastomers, and bioprinted cardiac tissues. Lewis was awarded the 2025 James Prize in Science and Technology Integration for pioneering interdisciplinary research. Her lab's projects span organ building blocks, immune-response modeling in transplanted tissues, and acoustophoretic printing techniques for high-resolution bioprinting. Collaborations include the NIH Somatic Cell Genome Editing Program and industry partnerships for bioprosthetic valve research. She advises on grants totaling over $20M and mentors a multidisciplinary team of postdocs and graduate students in materials science, biomedical engineering, and mechanical engineering. Lewis' lab facilities include the Pierce Hall lab (Cambridge) and Allston SEAS campus, with state-of-the-art 3D printing systems, microfluidics platforms, and bioreactors for organoid culture. Current projects aim to engineer functional human tissues for therapeutic applications and develop smart materials with programmable mechanical/chemical responses.
