Zhenyu Zhong is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. His research focuses on inflammation, mitochondrial stress responses, tumor immunology, and obesity-associated liver disorders . He leads the Zhong Lab, which investigates mechanisms linking metabolic dysfunction to chronic inflammation and cancer development. Education: Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago (2013) Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pharmacology, UC San Diego (2013-2018) Research Interests include: Role of mitochondrial DNA in inflammasome activation Macrophage metabolism in liver diseases Immunosuppressive mechanisms in cancer Therapeutic targeting of NLRP3 inflammasome Key Publications (2016-2022) highlight discoveries in: NF-κB regulation of inflammasome activity Metabolic reprogramming in tumor immunity Role of TREM2 in NASH pathogenesis Macrophage nucleotide catabolism as a tumor suppressor Professional Activities include: Laboratory Director: Zhong Lab at UT Southwestern Collaborations with cancer immunology and hepatology groups Active in translational research for liver diseases Lab Members: Current team focuses on PhD and postdoctoral training in immunology and liver disease research.
Maura Boldrini is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Quantitative Brain Biology (Brain QUANT) Institute at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. She leads the Human Neurobiology laboratory within the Department of Psychiatry at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. Her research focuses on neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying depression, suicide, and brain aging. She is affiliated with the Center for Computing Systems for Data-Driven Science and Health Analytics. Dr. Boldrini’s lab employs cutting-edge multi-omic technologies (single-cell, spatial transcriptomics, proteomics) to study brain cell function and regulatory networks. Recent work includes investigating neuron regeneration, the impact of stress and neuroinflammation on brain health, and the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on neurobiology. She has pioneered studies demonstrating persistent adult neurogenesis in humans and its implications for mental health and aging. Her team’s computational methods and large multi-omic datasets are widely used by the scientific community. She mentors predoctoral/postdoctoral fellows in bioengineering and data sciences, emphasizing culturally aware mentoring practices to foster inclusivity and career development. Key research interests include: Neurobiological mechanisms of depression and suicide Neurogenesis and brain regeneration COVID-19’s impact on neural function Multi-omic profiling of brain tissues Gene regulatory networks in psychiatric disorders Publications highlight advancements in understanding transcriptome/epigenome interactions, hippocampal dysfunction in depression, and spatially resolved molecular signatures of brain health.
Assoc. Prof. Nadia Zatsepin is an Associate Professor at Swinburne University's School of Science, Computing and Emerging Technologies. She leads research on serial crystallography using XFELs and synchrotrons to study biomolecules at atomic resolution. Her work focuses on membrane proteins, structural dynamics, and drug discovery. Zatsepin holds an ARC Future Fellowship and has pioneered techniques like viscous jet delivery and time-resolved XFEL methods. Education: PhD in X-ray physics (Monash University, 2011). Postdoctoral work at Arizona State University (2011–2015) and senior roles at La Trobe University and the ARC Centre for Advanced Molecular Imaging before joining Swinburne in 2024. Research interests include XFEL applications, microcrystallography, radiation damage mitigation, and structural analysis of medically relevant proteins. Key projects involve studying cytochrome c oxidase, chloride pumps, and GPCRs. Publications span crystallography instrumentation, protein dynamics, and structural biology. Awards include the ARC Future Fellowship. Active in supervising PhD students and leading grants like 'Developing serial crystallography for room temperature structure & dynamics.' Labs/Teams: Zatsepin Lab (https://sites.google.com/view/zatsepinlab). Collaborations include international XFEL facilities and structural biology networks.
Sarah Huen, M.D., Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and a member of the Division of Nephrology. She leads the Huen Lab, which investigates metabolic adaptations during inflammation and sepsis. Dr. Huen’s research focuses on understanding how metabolic pathways protect tissues during acute injuries and infections, with a particular emphasis on kidney health and sepsis pathophysiology. Dr. Huen received her medical degree from Northwestern University and completed residency training at New York University. She pursued postdoctoral studies in nephrology and immunobiology at Yale University, where she studied macrophage roles in kidney injury. Her work bridges metabolism, immunology, and critical care, addressing unmet clinical needs in acute kidney injury (AKI) and sepsis management. Her research interests include metabolic tolerance mechanisms, kidney injury biomarkers, and macrophage biology in tissue repair. Recent studies explore how fasting-induced pathways influence disease tolerance during infections and how ketogenesis impacts survival during starvation or inflammation. Publications highlight her contributions to understanding XBP1 signaling in sepsis-induced AKI, the role of protein translation in kidney protection, and macrophage-driven repair processes. Collaborative efforts emphasize translational research to improve outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis-associated organ dysfunction. Dr. Huen actively contributes to the nephrology community through clinical practice, research mentorship, and leadership in academic medicine. Her lab fosters interdisciplinary approaches to tackle challenges in metabolic and kidney diseases.
Kathleen S. Wilson, MD, is a Professor in the Department of Pathology and member of the McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She is board-certified in Clinical Pathology and Clinical Cytogenetics and serves as Director of the Cytogenomic Microarray Analysis (CMA) laboratory, which she founded in 2008 as the first clinical CMA service in North Texas. Dr. Wilson obtained her undergraduate degree with honors from Amherst College (1986) and her MD from UT Southwestern (1991), followed by residency in Pathology and fellowship in Genetics, both at UT Southwestern. Her research integrates high-resolution genomic technologies with clinical diagnostics, focusing on chromosomal abnormalities in pediatric leukemias and solid tumors, constitutional genomic disorders, and the policy framework governing reimbursement for complex genetic tests. She has contributed to national proficiency-testing guidelines for cytogenomic microarray analysis and served on key policy committees of the College of American Pathologists and the American College of Medical Genetics. Across more than two decades her publications trace the evolution of cytogenomics: early works defined recurrent chromosomal alterations in uncommon lymphomas and leukemias, while recent studies exploit array-CGH to uncover cryptic driver lesions in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and to characterize dramatic chromothripsis events in pediatric AML. A parallel line of investigation explores the clinical impact of copy-number variants in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism and PTEN-related cancer predisposition syndromes. Dr. Wilson has received teaching awards for her sustained commitment to medical and graduate education. She currently chairs the UT Southwestern Medical School Admissions Committee and co-directs the Medical Student Genetics Course, roles that complement her active mentorship of residents, fellows, and junior faculty. She maintains professional leadership positions including fellowship in the College of American Pathologists and the American College of Medical Genetics, and she continues to shape national laboratory standards through committee service and policy development.
Anibal Diogenes, D.D.S./Ph.D., is a clinician scientist and Clinical Professor at the Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, UT Health San Antonio. He completed his dental training in Brazil, followed by an M.S. in Molecular Biology at the University of Nebraska and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology at UT Health San Antonio, specializing in Endodontics. His research focuses on understanding how peripheral nociceptors interact with immune cells, bone metabolism cells, and mesenchymal stem cells during inflammation and repair processes, particularly in dental infections and pain management. He balances patient care, administrative duties, and research while mentoring students to train the next generation of clinicians and scientists. Education: D.D.S./Ph.D. dual degree, M.S. Molecular Biology, Ph.D. Pharmacology Research Themes: Pain modulation in infections, neuro-immune interactions, regenerative endodontics Teaching Philosophy: Passionate about nurturing scientific curiosity and clinical excellence Diogenes emphasizes translational research to bridge clinical challenges with scientific discovery, aiming to improve regenerative therapies and pain management strategies in dentistry. His work explores how neuronal signals influence inflammation resolution and tissue regeneration, with potential applications in spinal cord repair using dental stem cells.
Claude Chapman, PhD is a Professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine , Department of Medicine. Their research focuses on cellular senescence , pulmonary fibrosis , and TGF-β/Wnt signaling in lung diseases. Education: PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology (1996), Universite de Provence Training: MENG (Microbiology & Biotechnology), MS (Cell and Molecular Biology), BS (Biochemistry & Microbiology) Key research themes include: Mechanisms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) initiation via senescent alveolar epithelial cells Role of senolytic drugs in fibrosis resolution HLA-E-mediated immune evasion by senescent cells Interplay between TGF-β , Wnt pathways , and LOXL2 in fibrotic processes Recent publications analyze: 2024 - Fibroblast-driven epithelial metaplasia in IPF via noncanonical Wnt signaling 2023 - BCL-2 modulation of ER stress in fibrosis 2021 - LOXL2 inhibition promoting collagen turnover in IPF Awards include: 2025 - ATS Fellow 2014 - Carol Basbaum Award 2012 - Young Investigator Award Grants: NIH R21AG052744 (2016-2019) on senescent cells in aging lungs.
Dr. Anthony Shum is a Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine. He leads a laboratory-based basic-translational research program focused on the intersection of autoimmunity and pulmonary disease, with particular emphasis on conditions like rheumatoid arthritis that manifest in the lung. Dr. Shum received his M.D. from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago. His educational background laid the foundation for his current research in autoimmune pulmonary disorders. Dr. Shum's research program aims to understand the mechanisms controlling lung function as both an immune target in autoimmune disorders and a factor in propagating autoimmune inflammation. His laboratory enrolls patients for next-generation sequencing studies to uncover molecular pathogenesis of disease, with a focus on COPA syndrome and related disorders. The lab has developed a whole exome sequencing pipeline to identify rare genetic variants that cosegregate with disease in Mendelian disorders of autoimmunity, and conducts functional validation of candidate mutations using animal models and cellular/molecular investigations. Analysis of Dr. Shum's recent publications reveals a strong focus on COPA syndrome, STING pathway biology, and the relationship between autoimmunity and interstitial lung disease. His work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to clinical applications, with particular attention to genetic variants, autoantibodies, and thymic tolerance mechanisms that contribute to disease pathogenesis. Dr. Shum has received numerous prestigious awards and honors: Innovative Research Award, Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2025 Elected Member, American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2022 Lee Howley Sr. Prize for Arthritis Scientific Research, Arthritis Foundation, 2015 Innovative Research Award, Rheumatology Research Foundation, 2015 Robert L. Kroc Chair in Rheumatic and Connective Tissue Diseases II, UCSF, 2015 Young Physician-Scientist Award, American Society for Clinical Investigation, 2014 American Thoracic Society Career Development Award, American Thoracic Society, 2007 Will Rogers Institute Fellowship, Will Rogers Institute, 2005 Dr. Shum currently leads multiple NIH-funded research projects, including "Validating interferon score and phospho-STING level as disease biomarkers of COPA syndrome" (2025-2027), "Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of impaired central tolerance in COPA syndrome" (2022-2027), and several other projects focused on COPA syndrome and autoimmune lung disease. His laboratory, known as the Shum Lab, actively recruits patients with COPA syndrome and related autoimmune/lung diseases for research studies. The Shum Lab operates at the intersection of immunology, pulmonology, and genetics, with a particular focus on COPA syndrome. The lab collaborates with the UCSF Immunology Program and the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, and maintains strong connections with clinical teams treating patients with autoimmune and pulmonary disorders.
Robert Dantzer is a Professor in the Department of Symptom Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, with adjunct professorships at UT Health Science Center Houston (Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences) and Rice University. His work bridges psychoneuroimmunology and cancer-related symptomology, focusing on neuroimmune mechanisms of fatigue, pain, and depression. He co-founded the Neuroimmunology Laboratory to study cancer survivorship symptoms in animal models. Education: DVM and PhD from French institutions, with early career work in veterinary pharmacology and stress physiology. Research emphasizes inflammation's impact on brain function, transitioning from basic psychobiology to clinical applications in oncology. Key contributions include unraveling cytokine effects on behavior and identifying molecular pathways (e.g., GDF15/GFRAL axis) driving chemotherapy-induced fatigue. Recent publications (2023-2025) explore neuroimmune signaling in cancer-related fatigue, immunopsychiatry, and mechanistic links between inflammation and mental health. His lab investigates therapeutic targets for pain, cognitive impairment, and motivational deficits in cancer patients.
Dr. Andrew J. Shepherd is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Symptom Research at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on neuroimmune interactions in chronic pain states, particularly mechanisms linking inflammation to pain caused by nerve injury, chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, and joint damage. He investigates the renin-angiotensin system and macrophage roles in pain modulation, aiming to develop interventions for chronic pain associated with cancer and systemic inflammation. Dr. Shepherd holds a B.Sc. and Ph.D., though specific educational details are not disclosed in the provided text. His work emphasizes pre-clinical models, including mouse studies, to elucidate pain pathways. Collaborations with clinical teams at MD Anderson likely extend his research into translational applications for cancer pain management. No formal advising or grant details are provided in the available information. Key research themes include: Macrophage-nerve crosstalk in neuropathic pain Renin-angiotensin system signaling in pain pathophysiology Therapeutic nanomedicine targeting inflammatory pain Dr. Shepherd has published extensively on topics such as neuroimmunology, pain mechanisms, and drug delivery systems, with over 30 peer-reviewed articles since 2003. His work bridges basic science and clinical oncology, addressing unmet needs in cancer-associated pain management.
Frederick Maxfield, PhD, is the Vladimir Horowitz and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz Distinguished Professor in Neuroscience and Professor of Biochemistry at Weill Cornell Medical College. He holds a PhD (1977) and MS (1973) from Cornell University, and a BS (1971) from Union College. His research focuses on cellular imaging and biophysical techniques to study lipid metabolism, membrane dynamics, and macrophage function in cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Research Interests: His lab investigates cholesterol trafficking, lysosomal function, and extracellular digestion processes in diseases like atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's. Key areas include the role of STARD4 and NPC1 proteins in sterol transport, microglial clearance of amyloid-beta, and high-throughput drug screening platforms. Publications: Recent work highlights novel imaging probes (ApHID), pharmacological chaperones for NPC1 disease, and mechanisms of macrophage lipid catabolism. Over 300 peer-reviewed articles reflect expertise in cellular imaging, lipid metabolism, and neuroinflammation. Awards/Grants: Active grants include NIH-funded studies on STARD4 in foam cell formation (American Heart Association), lysosomal roles in amyloid degradation (NIA), and NPC1 treatment strategies (ARA Parseghian Foundation). Labs/Teams: The Maxfield Lab collaborates on microscopy-based drug discovery and lipid biology, with ongoing projects on macrophage-lipoprotein interactions and neurodegenerative mechanisms.
Małgorzata Szczuko is a Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition and Metabolomics at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Her research focuses on metabolic disorders, nutritional interventions in chronic diseases, and immune-endocrine interactions. Key areas include inflammatory mechanisms in autoimmune thyroiditis (Hashimoto's disease), lipid mediator pathways in pregnancy and stroke, and dietary modulation of metabolic syndrome and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She has extensively studied short-chain fatty acids in gastrointestinal health, SCFA's role in infant metabolism, and trace element dynamics in renal disease. Her work integrates clinical nutrition with biomarker discovery, emphasizing translational research. Research interests span inflammation resolution pathways, gut-brain axis interactions, and the impact of environmental factors (e.g., carrageenan) on bowel disorders. She collaborates widely with clinicians and researchers, evidenced by 30+ co-authored publications with experts like Ewa Stachowska and Maciej Ziętek. Her studies on probiotics in PCOS, anti-inflammatory diets in Hashimoto's, and SCFA in pregnancy metabolism demonstrate a focus on evidence-based dietary solutions for complex health conditions. Notable contributions include investigating lipid mediators like resolvins and maresins in stroke recovery, thromboxane's role in ischemic events, and oxidative stress markers in cardiovascular risk assessment. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges nutritional science with endocrinology, immunology, and clinical pharmacology.
Dr. Luke Mortensen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Animal & Dairy Science at the University of Georgia, with a joint appointment in Regenerative Medicine and Engineering. He holds a B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Toledo (2003) and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester (2011). His postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School focused on developing advanced microscopy techniques and stem cell therapies for bone regeneration. His research integrates regenerative medicine, biomedical engineering, and advanced imaging technologies. Key areas include developing super-resolution microscopy for imaging through bone, leveraging lipidomics to optimize mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapies, and investigating mechanisms of muscle and bone regeneration. His work bridges engineering innovations with clinical applications in tissue repair. Publications highlight advancements in multiphoton microscopy, MSC potency metrics, and in vivo imaging of collagen and cellular processes. Collaborative projects include developing perovskite-based contrast agents and optimizing stem cell delivery strategies for musculoskeletal disorders.
Professor Joanne Masterson is a leading academic in immunology and gastroenterology at Maynooth University's Department of Biology. She holds a BSc and PhD from Maynooth University and has extensive postdoctoral experience at the University of Colorado Denver. Her academic roles include Professor (since 2024), Associate Professor (2020–2024), and Assistant Professor (2018–2020). She is also a Science Foundation Ireland Future Research Leaders Awardee (2019). Her research focuses on mucosal inflammation mechanisms, particularly eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Key areas include hypoxia signaling, epithelial biology, and microRNA regulation. She leads the Allergy, Inflammation and Remodelling Research (AIRR) lab and collaborates with clinical institutions like St. James's Hospital and Crumlin Children's Hospital Dublin. Her work has been funded by organizations including NIH, Health Research Board Ireland, and NASPGHAN. Professor Masterson chairs the Health Research Board-Public and Patient Involvement Ignite Network and serves on editorial boards (e.g., American Journal of Physiology ). She teaches Molecular Biology of the Cell and Applied Immunology courses and advises Mature & Access Students (MAP). Her awards include the NASPGHAN Balistreri Prize (2016), Young Investigator Awards (2011–2013), and multiple research fellowships. She oversees research projects totaling over €1.9 million, including studies on steroid non-responsiveness in EoE and epithelial metabolism dysfunction.
Laurens Raes is a researcher at the Nuclear Medicine department of the Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy , Vrije Universiteit Brussel , with a focus on molecular imaging, single-domain antibodies, and radiopharmaceutical applications. His work bridges nuclear medicine with virtual reality and advanced dose optimization strategies. Research Interests: His research spans HER2-positive breast cancer imaging , alpha-emitting radiopharmaceuticals (e.g., At-211), and virtual reality integration in medical imaging . He has published extensively on PET/CT and SPECT methodologies, including reconstruction algorithms and fluorophore development. Scientific Contributions: 2024: Developed frameworks for radiopharmaceutical therapy dose reporting (Kiess et al., Journal of Clinical Oncology ). 2024: Optimized blood pool SPECT protocols for clinical efficiency (Raes, European Journal of Nuclear Medicine ). 2023: Investigated VR headset effects on PET/CT quality and fluorescence lifetime imaging for tumor detection. Awards: 2024: ARCANE fellowship for computer-aided neurodegenerative disease evaluation. 2024: Henry H. Wagner, Jr. Symposium highlight for alpha-emitter research. Activities: Active in conferences (e.g., Alphavision 2025, International Workshop on Alpha Nuclides 2024) and collaborative projects like ARCANE 2025-2028 , integrating AI with neuroimaging workflows.
