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Kuka MirelaView profile

Associate Professor

• Immunology
• Virology
• Cancer Biology
• +5 more

Kuka Mirela is an Associate Professor of Pathology at Vita-Salute San Raffaele University and a tenure-track Project Leader in the Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases (DITID) at the San Raffaele Scientific Institute in Milan. She holds a PhD from the University of Siena/Novartis Vaccines and completed postdoctoral training at the NIH (USA) and San Raffaele Scientific Institute. Her research focuses on immune responses to viral infections, B/T cell interactions, and tumor immunology. Research interests include: (1) Regulation of B cell responses by T cells and innate immune cells during viral infections, (2) Role of inflammatory monocytes in suppressing humoral immunity, (3) B cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity and tumor-associated lymphoid structures. She has pioneered studies on how viral infections modulate T follicular helper cells and discovered novel mechanisms of B cell suppression via inflammatory monocytes. Recent publications (2023-2025) investigate T cell therapy efficacy improvement via LSD1 inhibition, antibody-independent SARS-CoV-2 protection, and novel TDC cell biology models. Awards include AAI Early Career Grant (2022) and PRIN2020 coordination (2021). Teaching roles include courses in pathology and immunology for medicine and biomedical programs. Active in professional organizations: Vice-coordinator of the PhD Program in Molecular Medicine, member of AAI, SIICA, and NIBIT. Serves on editorial boards for Frontiers in Immunology and Faculty Opinions .

Hisham M. Abdel-AzimView profile

Professor

• Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
• Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
• Cellular Therapy
• +5 more

Hisham M. Abdel-Azim, MD, MS is a Professor at the School of Medicine with appointments in three divisions: Pediatrics (Hematology/Oncology Division), Medicine, and Basic Sciences (Biochemistry Division) at New York Medical College. His work focuses on pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation, leukemia research, and cellular therapy development. Dr. Abdel-Azim's research interests span multiple areas of pediatric hematology and oncology: Pediatric Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Leukemia Biology and Treatment Strategies Stem Cell Transplantation Complications and Management Novel Immunotherapies for Pediatric Cancers Genomic and Molecular Mechanisms in Hematologic Malignancies Transplant-Related Toxicities and Late Effects His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate a strong focus on improving outcomes in pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation, with particular emphasis on managing complications like veno-occlusive disease, optimizing conditioning regimens, and developing novel cellular therapies. His work spans from basic science investigations of molecular mechanisms in leukemia to large multi-center clinical trials through the Children's Oncology Group and other consortia. A significant portion of his research addresses the unique challenges of treating pediatric patients with hematologic malignancies, with publications covering acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and severe combined immunodeficiency. Dr. Abdel-Azim serves as Principal Investigator for numerous research projects funded by prestigious organizations including the National Cancer Institute, Children's Oncology Group, National Marrow Donor Program, and industry partners. His work often involves multi-center collaborations across the United States and internationally. He serves as a key investigator in multiple clinical trials focused on: Novel cellular therapies for relapsed/refractory leukemias Optimizing conditioning regimens for hematopoietic cell transplantation Understanding and preventing transplant complications Genomic mechanisms of treatment resistance International registry studies for cellular therapy outcomes

Sabesan YoganathanView profile

Associate Professor

• Medicinal Chemistry
• Drug Discovery
• Natural Products
• +5 more

Sabesan Yoganathan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at St. John's University, part of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. He joined the faculty in 2014 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University under Professor Scott Miller. His research focuses on developing chemical and biological approaches to discover novel medicinal natural products and their analogs, targeting infectious diseases and cancer. Dr. Yoganathan holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Alberta and a BS in Chemistry (Biological Specialization) from McMaster University. His educational background includes undergraduate training at McMaster University as an NSERC research fellow, followed by doctoral research under Professor John Vederas at the University of Alberta. His postdoctoral work at Yale advanced peptide-based catalysis for site-selective modification of natural products like daptomycin and vancomycin, enabling the creation of drug analogs. Research Interests: The Yoganathan lab integrates chemistry and biology to design new drug candidates, including studies on multidrug resistance mechanisms, peptide-based catalysis, and natural product synthesis. Key areas include benzimidazole derivatives for cancer therapy, nanoparticle-based antimicrobials, and overcoming ABC transporter-mediated resistance in cancer cells. Teaching Contributions: He teaches advanced medicinal chemistry courses (e.g., PHS 3508, PHR 5106) to Pharm.D. students and mentors graduate/undergraduate researchers. His team explores topics like synthetic methodologies for drug analogs and drug delivery systems. Labs & Teams: The interdisciplinary Yoganathan Lab emphasizes translational research, with recent successes in preclinical drug development, nanomedicine, and drug repurposing strategies. The lab collaborates on projects such as novel BMP receptor agonists and inflammation-modulating agents for preterm birth prevention.

Sandra E. ReznikView profile

Professor

• Preterm Birth Prevention
• Inflammation Biology
• Pharmaceutical Excipients
• +3 more

Sandra E. Reznik is a full Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at St. John’s University’s College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. She holds dual degrees (M.D./Ph.D.) from Mount Sinai School of Medicine and a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University. Her research focuses on inflammation-driven preterm birth mechanisms, particularly investigating the anti-inflammatory properties of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA) and its clinical translation. Reznik has secured over $700,000 in NIH and industry grants, including principal investigator roles on projects exploring DMA’s efficacy and environmental influences on preterm birth. She serves on the NIH Pregnancy and Neonatology Study Section and the Preterm Birth International Collaborative. Education: B.A. Harvard (1984), M.D./Ph.D. Mount Sinai (1991) Residency: Anatomic Pathology at New York Hospital/Cornell (1994) Fellowships: Perinatal Pathology at Einstein College of Medicine (1996–1998) Her lab’s groundbreaking work revealed DMA’s potential as a tocolytic agent, now under clinical trial consideration. Recent studies extend to dietary effects on preterm birth via immune tolerance mechanisms. Over 50 peer-reviewed publications and frequent invited lectures (e.g., Society for Reproductive Investigation) underscore her national/international impact. Awards include consecutive St. John’s Faculty Recognition Awards (2010–2018) and best poster honors at institutional research days.

• Bioinformatics
• Computational Biology
• Pharmacogenomics
• +5 more

Giuseppe Agapito is a Professor at the Department of Law, Economics and Sociology (DiGES) at the University of Camerino, where he teaches courses such as Elements of Computer Science and Data Analysis. He specializes in computational biology, bioinformatics, and health informatics, focusing on genomic data analysis, machine learning applications in healthcare, and parallel computing methodologies. His research integrates multi-omics approaches, pathway enrichment analysis, and predictive modeling for drug response and disease mechanisms. Notable contributions include tools like BioPAX-Parser and cPEA, which enhance genomic data interpretation. He actively collaborates in international studies, such as the 4CE consortium analyzing SARS-CoV-2 impacts. His work addresses challenges in privacy-aware bioinformatics, high-performance computing for genomics, and AI-driven medical diagnostics. Education details are not explicitly provided in the texts, but his academic profile reflects extensive expertise in interdisciplinary fields bridging computer science and biomedical research. He maintains an active research agenda with over 50 publications since 2018, emphasizing scalable data analysis, drug biomarker discovery, and computational methods for clinical outcomes prediction. His teaching responsibilities include IT management and data analysis modules within social science curricula, reflecting a commitment to digital literacy across disciplines. Research interests span bioinformatics tool development, genomic data preprocessing, and AI applications in healthcare, with a focus on translational research. Recent articles highlight advancements in fMRI classification using graph neural networks, privacy-preserving genomic pipelines, and edge-based deep learning for medical signal analysis. Awards and grants are not explicitly listed, but his sustained contribution to international research consortia underscores his field influence. He advises students and researchers on computational methodologies and hosts weekly office hours for academic consultations.

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Nitric Oxide Signaling
• Redox Biology
• +3 more

Mark Crabtree is a University Research Lecturer and British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, leading the Channon Group focused on cardiovascular functional genomics and redox signaling. His research integrates metabolomic and proteomic approaches to study nitric oxide mechanisms in cardiovascular disease models. Education: BSc (Hons) from the University of Surrey (2001), followed by a collaborative PhD at the University of Surrey and Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Postdoctoral training under Professor Keith Channon began in 2006, supported by a BHF Centre of Research Excellence Transition Fellowship (2012–2015). Research interests include nitric oxide delivery systems for cardiovascular therapies, redox signaling in cardiac injury, and tetrahydrobiopterin's role in metabolic regulation. His work bridges nanomaterials development (e.g., graphene-based NO-releasing coatings) with clinical applications in ischemia-reperfusion injury and atherosclerosis. Notable contributions include advancements in pH-sensitive NO delivery systems and mechanistic insights into myocardial nitroso-redox imbalance post-cardiac surgery. He chairs the 2018 International Nitric Oxide Society Conference and serves on the society's council. Scientific awards: British Heart Foundation Intermediate Basic Science Research Fellowship. Active grants include BHF funding for redox signaling studies. His lab collaborates internationally, with recent publications spanning NO-based therapies, metabolic reprogramming in macrophages, and vascular biology.

Stephen RamseyView profile

Associate Professor

• Computational Systems Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Precision Medicine
• +6 more

Stephen Ramsey, an Associate Professor at Oregon State University, holds dual appointments in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (College of Engineering) and the Department of Biomedical Sciences (Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine). With a PhD in Physics from the University of Maryland, his postdoctoral training in computational genomics at the University of Washington, and professional experience at the Institute for Systems Biology and Center for Infectious Disease Research, Ramsey bridges computational methods with biomedical applications. Education : Ph.D., Physics, University of Maryland; M.S., Physics, University of Maryland; Sc.B., Mathematical Physics, Brown University Ramsey specializes in computational systems biology , focusing on bioinformatics , biomedical knowledge graphs , and precision medicine . His research integrates machine learning , gene regulatory network modeling , and multi-omics data analysis to address challenges in rare disease diagnostics , drug monitoring , and inflammatory disease mechanisms . Current work includes AI-driven biomedical translation and electrochemical biosensor development for non-invasive diagnostics . Recent publications highlight knowledge graph applications in translational biomedicine , causal network inference in clinical-environmental data integration , and cross-species cancer transcriptomics . His team develops tools like RTX-KG2 and PloverDB to standardize biomedical data sharing and semantic reasoning . Scientific Awards : 2019 Zoetis Award (Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine) 2016 NSF CAREER Award 2016 PhRMA New Investigator Award 2010 NIH K25 Mentored Quantitative Research Award Ramsey advises in computational biology courses (CS 446/546) and contributes to biomedical AI through projects like mediKanren for rare disease diagnostics . His NSF-funded research explores gene expression noise and regulatory network dynamics , while NIH and PhRMA grants support his translational medicine initiatives. He leads the Ramsey Laboratory , which develops graph-based reasoning tools for biomedical data translation and multi-omics integration . The lab's work spans comparative oncology models, electrochemical biosensors , and knowledge graph infrastructure for clinical decision support .

Yufang ShiView profile

Professor

• Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) and immune regulation
• MSCs and tumor microenvironment
• Activation-induced cell death (AICD) in T cells
• +3 more

Dr. Yufang Shi is a tenured Professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata since 2019, serving as Secretary of the TOR Centre of Excellence. He also holds leadership roles at Soochow University (Vice President of its First Affiliated Hospital and Director of Translational Medicine Institutes since 2014) and Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS (Professor since 2008). His career spans institutions in North America, China, and Europe. Professor, University of Rome Tor Vergata (2019-present) Vice President, First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University (2014-present) Director, Soochow University Institutes for Translational Medicine (2014-present) Editor-in-Chief, Cell Death & Disease (2010-present) Dr. Shi's research focuses on immune regulation by mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) , including their role in tumor microenvironments and inflammatory disease therapies. He pioneered the "inflammation licensing" and "cell empowerment" theories for MSC-based treatments, with groundbreaking work on T cell apoptosis, opioid-induced immunosuppression, and neuro-immune interactions. His publications in Nature , Science , and Cell journals reveal MSC plasticity in immunomodulation (2014), species-specific mechanisms of MSC immunosuppression (2009), and tumor-MSC-macrophage interactions (2012). Articles consistently address apoptosis pathways , inflammatory signaling , and metabolic reprogramming in immune cells. Scientific accolades include: 2019 - Distinguished Professor, University of Rome Tor Vergata 2016 - Excellence in Translational Stem Cell Research Award 2012 - Excellence Award, All-China Federation of Overseas Chinese 1999 - Outstanding Young Scholar, Chinese Natural Science Foundation As policy advisor and journal editor, he shaped China's 973 National Research Plan on Reproduction and Development (2010-2019) and led international collaborations between European and Chinese institutions. He has organized 12 global conferences and serves on PhD committees at Tor Vergata since 2015.

Anto Sam Crosslee Louis Sam TitusView profile

Assistant Professor

• Biomedical Engineering
• Proteomics
• Molecular Biology
• +5 more

Anto Sam Crosslee Louis Sam Titus is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Houston. Their research focuses on biomarker discovery, molecular mechanisms of diseases (e.g., lupus nephritis, breast cancer), and advanced diagnostic technologies using imaging mass cytometry, proteomics, and microfluidic devices. They also explore neurodegenerative diseases and epigenetic regulation of genes like Bdnf and MeCP2. Key research areas include: Biomarker development in kidney disease and cancer Machine learning applications in medical diagnostics Multiphoton lithography for flexible bioelectronics Neurological disorders and gene expression modulation Publications span 2017–2024, emphasizing translational research at the intersection of engineering and medicine. While no awards are explicitly listed, their work demonstrates impactful contributions to neuropsychiatric lupus, bladder cancer diagnostics, and HDAC3-mediated gene repression. Advising and grant details are not provided in the text, but their lab focuses on interdisciplinary biomedical engineering challenges.

Marjorie C. Gondre-LewisView profile

Professor

• Neuroscience
• Addiction
• Brain Reward Pathways
• +7 more

Marjorie C. Gondre-Lewis, Ph.D. is a tenured Professor of Neuroscience at the Howard University College of Medicine , where she also serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Chief Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Officer . Her research focuses on Precision Brain Health approaches for underserved communities, particularly addressing addiction mechanisms, early life stress, and health disparities. Education: B.A. in French Civilization/Chemistry, New York University (1990) M.S. in Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1998) Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine (2002) Postdoctoral Fellow, NICHD/NIH (2005) Research Interests: Neuroscience Addiction and Substance Use Disorders Brain Reward Pathways (nicotine, alcohol, opioids) Early Life Stress and Toxic Stress Effects Health Disparities and Social Determinants Precision Medicine for Underserved Populations Grants & Funding: NIH/NICHD (U54 HD090257) NIH/NIMHD (R41 MD012318, G12MD007595) VA/CSRD (I01 CX000479) NIH (R01HD70888) University New York Research Foundation (Q0942016) Leadership: Director of the Developmental NeuroPsychoPharmacology Laboratory Mentor at all career stages

Linda TroebergView profile

Associate Professor

• Molecular Pathogenesis
• Osteoarthritis
• Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycans
• +6 more

Dr. Linda Troeberg is an Associate Professor at the Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia. Her research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying chronic degenerative diseases like arthritis, emphasizing the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans and the LRP1 receptor in regulating anabolic growth factors and metalloprotease inhibitors. She investigates how changes in heparan sulfate structure influence disease progression in osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and age-related macular degeneration. Her academic background includes roles as a University Research Lecturer (2012–2018) and Versus Arthritis Career Development Fellow (2011–2016) at the University of Oxford, and postdoctoral research at Imperial College London. She holds two fellowships: the Arthritis Research UK Career Development Fellowship (2011) and St Hilda’s College Associate Research Fellowship (2016). Research interests span: Heparan sulfate proteoglycan dynamics in health and disease LRP1-mediated endocytic trafficking of extracellular ligands Role of TIMP-3 and metalloproteases in cartilage degradation Immunomodulatory functions of heparan sulfate in macrophages Recent articles highlight advancements in understanding TIMP-3 accumulation mechanisms, LRP1 receptor dysfunction in Sorsby fundus dystrophy, and the therapeutic potential of suramin analogues. Her work bridges basic science and translational medicine, targeting novel therapies for degenerative conditions. Grants and projects include funding from Fight for Sight, The Big C Appeal, Royal Society, and Medical Research Council. She is actively involved in editorial roles for the Journal of Biological Chemistry and serves on advisory boards for Versus Arthritis and Advance HE. Key collaborations focus on musculoskeletal disorders, ophthalmic degeneration, and inflammatory diseases, with international partnerships in proteomic and pharmacological research.

• Virology
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• +3 more

Megan Horn Orzalli is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School, with secondary appointments in the Immunology and Microbiology Program and MD/PhD Program at the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Her primary role resides within the Division of Infectious Diseases of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine. Her educational background includes: BS in Microbiology from the University of Washington, Seattle PhD in Virology from Harvard University, Cambridge Dr. Orzalli's research centers on viral pathogenesis and host immune responses, particularly herpes simplex virus mechanisms and innate immunity. She investigates DNA sensing pathways (cGAS, IFI16), inflammasome activation, and viral evasion strategies, with significant contributions to understanding pyroptosis and cell death in barrier tissues. Her work bridges fundamental virology with clinical implications for infectious and inflammatory diseases. Analysis of her publication trends reveals expanding focus on dermatological contexts since 2022, particularly psoriasis and skin immunity through studies of SLC46A2 transporters and methotrexate mechanisms, while maintaining core herpesvirus research on cGAS pathway inhibition and NLRP1 inflammasome regulation. Dr. Orzalli conducts research within UMass Chan's Division of Infectious Diseases, collaborating across immunology, microbiology, and dermatology disciplines to investigate host-pathogen interactions at mucosal and epithelial barriers using advanced models including human skin explants and organoids.

Viktoria WeberView profile

Professor

• Biomedical Engineering
• Immunology
• Hematology
• +4 more

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Viktoria Weber serves as Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainable Development at the University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria. Her work bridges academic leadership and cutting-edge biomedical research, with a focus on biomaterials, extracellular vesicles, and immunothrombosis. Research interests include blood-biomaterial interactions, heparin pharmacology, and the role of extracellular vesicles in disease pathogenesis. She leads studies on stem cell-derived vesicles for regenerative medicine and diagnostic applications. Her lab investigates mechanisms underlying immunothrombosis in sepsis and新冠肺炎. Publications emphasize translational research in biomaterial design, coagulation pathways, and cell signaling. Her work integrates advanced bioreactor systems, flow cytometry standardization, and clinical diagnostics. Current projects explore therapeutic apheresis materials and novel endotoxin detection methods. Her interdisciplinary approach spans bioengineering, immunology, and clinical practice, contributing to innovations in dialysis membranes and blood product safety. She collaborates internationally on MISEV2023 guidelines for extracellular vesicle research standardization.

Patrick SecorView profile

Associate Professor

• Bacteriophages
• Host-Pathogen Interactions
• Infectious Diseases
• +3 more

Patrick Secor is an Associate Professor in Microbiology & Cell Biology at Montana State University, affiliated with the Center for Biofilm Engineering. He holds a PhD (2011) and BS (2006) in Microbiology and Biochemistry from Montana State University. His research focuses on bacteriophages, host-pathogen interactions, and developing phage-based therapies for antibiotic-resistant infections. Key areas include Pf bacteriophage's role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence, Lyme disease spirochete phages, and phage-induced biofilm dynamics. Research highlights include discovering phage impacts on quorum sensing, immune system interactions, and antibiotic resistance in cystic fibrosis patients. Notable publications examine Pf phage effects on bacterial aggregation, nematode interactions, and antiviral immune responses. Secor collaborates on vaccine development targeting filamentous phages and studies phage-driven antibiotic tolerance mechanisms. His work bridges basic microbiology with clinical applications in infectious disease treatment. Recent projects explore prophage-induced transcriptome changes during tick transmission of Lyme pathogens and polyamine-mediated bacterial threat detection. He teaches microbial physiology courses (BIOM 450/451) and contributes to the VIBES bioinformatics workflow for viral genome analysis. His research underscores the sociobiology of phages and their role in bacterial community dynamics.

Christian MetalloView profile

Professor

• Metabolic Biology
• Cancer Metabolism
• Cellular Metabolism
• +3 more

Christian Metallo, PhD, is a Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where he leads the Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory. His research focuses on understanding how metabolic pathways drive diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. Metallo employs cutting-edge techniques like stable isotope tracing and mass spectrometry to map metabolic networks and identify therapeutic targets. Education: Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, University of Pennsylvania Master of Science and PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biological Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Research Interests: Metallo’s work investigates how cellular metabolism influences disease progression. Key areas include the role of serine/glycine metabolism in tumors, the metabolic defects linked to macular telangiectasia type 2, and lipid metabolism in obesity and fatty liver disease. His lab also develops tools like Escher-Trace to visualize metabolic flux. Publications: Over 100 peer-reviewed articles, including high-impact studies on metabolic reprogramming in cancer, drug development targeting metabolic vulnerabilities, and the interplay between immunity and metabolism. Recent work highlights metabolic dependencies in pancreatic cancer and the role of itaconate in immune responses. Awards: Recipient of prestigious awards including the Mark Foundation Endeavor Award (2022), AIMBE Fellowship (2021), and Camille & Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2018). His research is funded by grants from the NIH, NSF, and industry partners. Labs & Teams: The Metallo Lab includes postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and research scientists from diverse backgrounds in engineering, biochemistry, and immunology. Collaborations span academia and industry, focusing on translational applications of metabolic insights. The lab’s Escher-Trace software is widely used for metabolic pathway visualization.