Ekta Khurana is an Associate Professor at Systems and Computational Biomedicine , Weill Cornell Medical College, with a focus on computational methods to identify non-coding cancer drivers, chromatin architecture, and integrative genomics. Her work bridges machine learning with cancer biology to uncover regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Education Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (2008) M.Sc., Indian Institute of Technology (2002) B.Sc., University of Delhi (2000) Research Interests center on non-coding variants in cancer, 3D chromatin conformation, lineage plasticity, and regulatory network modeling. She pioneers tools like FunSeq2 and RegNetDriver to prioritize functional mutations in cancer genomes. Recent Articles (2023–2025) highlight her contributions to understanding TAD hierarchy disruptions, chromatin accessibility in prostate cancer, and machine learning applications for 3D genome analysis. Keywords: cancer driver discovery, non-coding mutations, chromatin structure, regulatory networks. Awards WorldQuant Foundation Research Scholar (2025) Grants include NCI-funded projects on non-coding oncogenic regions (2024–2029), Starr Cancer Consortium support for prostate cancer lineage plasticity (2024–2026), and NINDS funding for glioblastoma regulatory nodes (2024–2029).
Esther Klingler serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Neuroscience at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine and leads the Laboratory for Emotional Circuit Development at the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain and Disease Research since September 2023. She holds additional memberships in the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain Research, KU Leuven Brain Institute (LBI), and KU Leuven Institute for Single Cell Omics (LISCO). Her academic foundation includes a PhD from Université Pierre & Marie Curie (Paris) investigating cytoskeleton-associated proteins in axon guidance using transgenic mice, followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Geneva under Prof. Denis Jabaudon where she pioneered the ConnectID barcoding method for neuronal projection mapping. Dr. Klingler's research focuses on developmental mechanisms of emotional circuits , examining how intrinsic genetic programs and environmental experiences shape neuronal diversity in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Her lab integrates cutting-edge experimental techniques (transgenic models, single-cell sequencing) with computational approaches to identify neural cell types vulnerable in disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and dementia, with particular emphasis on sensorimotor connectivity governed by genes such as Sox11. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in single-cell and spatial transcriptomics applied to cortical development, with increasing emphasis on cross-species data integration (via pipelines like humous.org) and multi-omics approaches to model human brain diseases. Her work consistently bridges molecular identity with neural connectivity, uncovering principles of developmental timing and regional specification in emotional circuit formation. Dr. Klingler has not received any publicly listed scientific awards according to available information. She actively mentors three doctoral students, one master's student, and one postdoctoral researcher while securing substantial grant funding as promoter or co-promoter on seven active projects including Building Fear Circuits (2025-2028), Addressing Synaptic Dysfunction in Dementia (2025-2031), and Role of Amygdala in ASD Etiology (2024-2026), demonstrating strong leadership in both basic and translational neuroscience research. The Laboratory for Emotional Circuit Development employs innovative methodologies including ConnectID barcoding, MAPseq, and scRNA-Seq to investigate how genetic and environmental factors interact during emotional network development, with current work exploring the developmental origins of anxiety-related behaviors and neural circuit vulnerabilities in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Kwon Seong-won is a Professor at the Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, where he has held continuous faculty appointments since 2005. His academic foundation was established entirely at Seoul National University, culminating in a PhD in Pharmacy in 2001 after completing BS (1996) and MS (1998) degrees there. Prior to his faculty appointment, he conducted postdoctoral research at Indiana University (2001-2002) and Southwestern Medical Center (2002-2005). Education PhD in Pharmacy, Seoul National University (2001) MS in Pharmacy, Seoul National University (1998) BS in Pharmacy, Seoul National University (1996) Professor Kwon's research centers on advanced mass spectrometry applications in biological systems. His primary focus areas— Mass Spectrometry-Based Metabolomics , Single Cell Spatial Lipidomics , and Bioanalytical Method Development —converge on understanding metabolic and lipidomic alterations at cellular and molecular levels. His work bridges analytical chemistry with disease mechanisms, particularly in oncology, immunology, and nanotoxicology, emphasizing translational applications for drug analysis and disease diagnostics. Analysis of his 2018-2024 publications reveals a consistent trajectory in multi-omics approaches to complex biological problems. His research spans thyroid cancer metabolic phenotyping, nanoparticle toxicity mechanisms, tumor microenvironment remodeling, and rheumatoid arthritis lipidomics. A unifying theme is the application of spatial lipidomics and metabolomics to uncover disease-specific metabolic signatures, with strong emphasis on nanomaterial-biological interactions and immune-metabolic crosstalk. Scientific Awards No specific awards were documented in the source materials. While student mentorship details are absent from the provided information, his prolific publication record in high-impact journals (including Nature Communications and ACS Nano) indicates active supervision of graduate researchers. His laboratory operations, referenced by lab fax (886-7844), support advanced mass spectrometry workflows for lipidomic and metabolomic analyses at Seoul National University.
Qian Zhu is an Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in the Department of Molecular Genetics . He earned a BSc in Computer Science and Biochemistry from the University of Ottawa , a PhD in Computational Biology from Princeton University , and completed postdoctoral training at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School . Research Focus : Computational Biology, Cancer Genomics, Spatial Transcriptomics Key Projects : Spatial Multiomic Integration, Triple Negative Breast Cancer Disparities, Chromatin Structure Analysis, Software Development Recent Trends : His 15 most recent publications (2025-2018) focus on spatial transcriptomics tools ( Giotto , Xenomake ), cancer disparities research, chromatin structure analysis, and computational methods for single-cell data integration. These works reflect expertise in machine learning application to biomedical imaging, tumor microenvironment characterization, and epigenetic regulation. 2025 : Spatial omics analysis of racial disparities in TNBC 2024 : BCL11A tetramer function, xenograft data processing 2023 : CRISPR screening in leukemia 2022 : Chromatin regulators in developmental disease Awards : 2025 - Marion R. Wright Award for Scientific Excellence 2022 - CPRIT Tenure-Track Faculty Recruitment Award Collaborations : Works with experimental biologists on tumor progression, therapy resistance, and hematopoietic development. His lab includes bioinformatics programmers and graduate students.
Liming Pei, Ph.D., serves as Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), where he directs a research program focused on inter-organ communication in metabolic homeostasis. His laboratory investigates how the heart functions as an endocrine organ, employs single-cell multiomics to decode cardiac development and disease, and elucidates cell-type-specific metabolic regulation through nuclear receptors like ERRγ. Dr. Pei earned his B.S. from the University of Science and Technology of China (2000) and Ph.D. from UCLA (2006), followed by postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute. He joined CHOP/UPenn in 2013 as Assistant Professor before promotion to Associate Professor. His research spans three synergistic domains: (1) Cardiac endocrinology, where his team discovered GDF15 as a heart-derived hormone regulating body growth and liver metabolism, explaining failure-to-thrive in pediatric heart disease; (2) Single-cell multiomics, pioneering snRNA-Seq in cardiac research to build human heart atlases through NIH HuBMAP and study Fontan-associated liver disease; (3) Mitochondrial metabolism, identifying ERRγ as a master regulator of cell-type-specific energy pathways essential for cardiac, neuronal, and renal function. His work employs proximity labeling, single-nucleus sequencing, and transgenic models to uncover fundamental mechanisms with therapeutic implications. Recent publications reveal his lab's dominance in cardiac multiomics, with 2024-2025 studies on Fontan physiology, mitochondrial heteroplasmy, and ERRγ-targeted heart failure therapies appearing in Science Translational Medicine and Nature Cell Biology. His work demonstrates consistent innovation in linking molecular mechanisms to clinical metabolic and cardiac disorders. Funded by multiple NIH grants and Department of Defense awards, Dr. Pei actively mentors postdoctoral fellows and graduate students through CHOP/UPenn training programs. His lab offers rotation projects in cardiac hormone discovery, single-cell atlas development, and mitochondrial disease modeling, emphasizing computational and experimental integration. The Pei Lab operates within CHOP's Center for Spatial and Functional Genomics, collaborating with UPenn's Institute for Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism and the Cardiovascular Institute. Current initiatives include developing ERRγ-based therapies for kidney disease and expanding the understanding of heart-liver metabolic crosstalk through clinical-translational partnerships.
Dr. John Lee is a Senior Research Fellow and Group Leader at the University of Queensland's School of Biomedical Sciences, focusing on innate immune pathways and neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases. His work investigates the complement system, inflammasomes, and metabolic-immune crosstalk in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS/MND), Huntington's disease, and Parkinson's disease. He has demonstrated the therapeutic potential of anti-inflammatory drugs in reducing neuronal death in animal models. PhD in Neuroscience, University of Queensland (2014) Senior Research Fellow, UQ School of Biomedical Sciences (2015–present) Research Interests: Neuroimmunology in neurodegenerative diseases Immunometabolism and energy metabolism Complement system and inflammasome pathways Immune-stress response interactions Immunosenescence and neurological aging Recent Research Trends: His recent publications highlight therapeutic targeting of complement receptors (C5aR1, C3aR), metabolic alterations in neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammatory mechanisms in ALS and Huntington's disease. Collaborative work extends to COVID-19 angiopathy and inflammatory bowel disease. Supervision: Dr. Lee mentors multiple PhD students in projects related to complement signaling, neutrophil activity, and astrocyte involvement in neurodegeneration, often collaborating with Professor Trent Woodruff and Dr. Jenny Fung.
Douglas Strand, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Urology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He leads a translational research program focused on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), and prostate cancer pathogenesis. Ph.D. from Molecular and Cellular Biology at Baylor College of Medicine Postdoctoral training in Urology at Vanderbilt University Joined UT Southwestern faculty in 2014 His work develops human tissue biorepositories using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to create cellular atlases of the urinary tract. Current projects include: Molecular characterization of BPH cellular pathogenesis Development of mouse models for human urinary tract diseases Investigating epithelial-mesenchymal interactions in prostate cancer progression Dr. Strand contributes to major collaborative initiatives including: GenitoUrinary Development Molecular Atlas Program (GUDMAP) Human Cell Atlas (HCA) Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) HUman BioMolecular Atlas Program (HUBMAP) His recent publications focus on: 5-alpha reductase inhibitor resistance mechanisms Immune cell interactions in BPH Multi-omic approaches to urinary tract pathology Advancements in hyperspectral imaging technology
Kara Davis is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, specializing in Hematology/Oncology. Her research focuses on pediatric blood cancers, particularly B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), using single-cell and high-dimensional analysis to study tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance. Education: B.A. from Pennsylvania State University, D.O. from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pediatrics residency at A.I. DuPont Children’s Hospital, and Heme/Onc fellowship at Stanford. Her research integrates single-cell technologies like mass cytometry (CyTOF) and computational tools to: Model healthy B cell development vs. leukemic divergence Predict relapse risks via signaling signatures (e.g., mTOR activity) Investigate antigen escape mechanisms in CAR-T therapy Develop metabolic vulnerability-targeting strategies Design interpretable machine learning algorithms for clinical outcomes Key trends in her 15 most recent publications include: Advancing single-cell data ecosystems (tidyomics, TidyTOF, CyTOFIn) Optimizing CD22-CAR T cell manufacturing and safety Characterizing microbial DNA post-CAR-T therapy Modeling chromosomal translocations in KMT2A-AFF1 fusion leukemias Addressing glucocorticoid resistance via kinase inhibitors Scientific Awards : Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Endowed Faculty Scholar (2018) Zelencik Scientist (2021) She leads clinical trials on immunotherapies for relapsed/refractory pediatric cancers and mentors students in the Davis Lab, which emphasizes collaborative science and translational research. Lab members include postdocs, doctoral students, and research analysts working on projects spanning neuroblastoma, metabolic reprogramming, and computational biology.
Sian Faustini is a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham's Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy within the College of Medical and Dental Sciences. Her research focuses on translational immunology with emphasis on vaccine responses, infectious diseases, and diagnostic development. Her educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Immune responses to pneumococcal immunisation in HIV-infected adults from the University of Birmingham (awarded 2018), a Master of Research in How does CD8 loss impact the immune response to systemic Salmonella infection (2013), and a Bachelor of Science in Cellular Co-receptors required for HIV-1 entry from Washington College (2009). Dr. Faustini's research spans multiple critical areas including SARS-CoV-2 immunology, HIV vaccine responses, autoantibody detection in diabetes, and lateral flow diagnostic development. Her work integrates cellular immunology with clinical applications, particularly examining T cell responses in infectious disease contexts and developing point-of-care diagnostic tools. Current projects focus on maternal vaccination, rapid saliva testing for vaccine monitoring, and monoclonal gammopathy surveillance. Her publication record shows consistent productivity with 79 research outputs including 58 articles, with significant recent contributions in 2024-2025 focusing on multi-omic approaches to COVID-19 pathogenesis, T cell regulation in liver disease, and innovative diagnostic platforms. Her research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across immunology, diagnostics, and clinical medicine. British Society for Immunology Travel Grant (2018) British Society for Immunology Travel Grant (2019) BSI Communicating Immunology Public Engagement Award (2019) BSI Early Career Researcher Grant (2023) BSI Travel Grant (2024) Dr. Faustini serves as Co-Investigator on multiple major research projects including IRONMUM (maternal vaccination), MPXV serosurveillance, Diabetes 4ward, and rapid saliva testing for LMICs. Her collaborative activities include the FLARE Investigators network and PITCH Consortium. She has presented at significant venues including the Multiplex Immunoassay Network Meeting and chaired sessions for visiting researchers.
Johan Malm is a Professor at Lund University , affiliated with multiple departments including: Clinical Chemistry, Malmö Department of Translational Medicine Clinical Protein Science and Imaging EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health LUCC: Lund University Cancer Centre (Principal Investigator) Research Interests: His work spans Proteomics , Clinical Medicine , and Computational Biology , focusing on: Melanoma proteome dynamics and treatment strategies Tumor microenvironment heterogeneity Biomarker discovery using mass spectrometry Hormonal impacts on metabolism and immunity AI integration in cancer diagnostics European Cancer Moonshot biobanking initiatives Recent Article Trends: His publications emphasize proteogenomic profiling , mitochondrial-targeted therapies , and AI-driven cancer progression prediction . Key methodologies include mass spectrometry, spatial proteomics, and computational modeling. Projects: He leads research initiatives funded by: Mrs. Berta Kamprad's Cancer Foundation Interreg Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak EU Cancer Moonshot programs Labs & Teams: Active in LUCC (Lund University Cancer Centre) and ReproUnion platforms, with collaborations across European institutions in sepsis and cancer research.
Vilde Olsson Lalun is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis (CEES), University of Oslo. She obtained her BSc and MSc in Molecular Biology at UiO in 2013 and 2015, respectively, and completed her PhD in Genetics in 2020 under the supervision of Prof. Melinka Alonso Butenko. Her current research integrates experimental biology and bioinformatics within the interdisciplinary REPEAT project, focusing on how short tandem repeat (STR) variation influences adaptation and gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana and Atlantic cod. Education 2013 – BSc in Molecular Biology, University of Oslo 2015 – MSc in Molecular Biology (Plant Genetics), University of Oslo 2020 – PhD in Genetics, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo Thesis: "Molecular investigation of receptor kinase signaling specificity in Arabidopsis thaliana" Research Interests Dr Lalun’s work sits at the intersection of molecular plant biology , evolutionary genomics , and functional genetics . During her PhD she dissected peptide ligand–receptor kinase specificity using the IDA–HAE/HSL2 signalling module as a model. Presently, she investigates how STR length polymorphisms modulate gene expression and organismal fitness under environmental stress, leveraging both Arabidopsis and Atlantic cod as complementary model systems. Core methodological strengths include generation of transgenic lines, advanced live-cell imaging, quantitative microscopy, and integrative bioinformatic analyses. She actively contributes to the REPEAT consortium, an interdisciplinary team that addresses fundamental questions of genome plasticity and climate adaptation. By coupling large-scale comparative genomics with targeted experiments, the project aims to clarify how repetitive DNA elements shape regulatory networks controlling development and immunity. Publication Profile Across 11 peer-reviewed papers (2017-2025) in high-impact journals such as Nature Communications , PNAS , eLife , and Plant Cell , her research spans three major themes: Functional dissection of peptide signalling pathways in plant development and immunity. Comparative genomics of short tandem repeats and their impact on gene regulation. Mechanistic studies of receptor kinase activation and signalling specificity. The 2024-2025 outputs include a lead-author review on plant peptide ligands and multi-omics studies that link STR variation to gene body architecture in eukaryotes. Teaching & Outreach Dr Lalun is a committed educator and science communicator. She instructs two undergraduate courses: BIOS1120 – Physiology BIOS3610 – Molecular Plant Science Beyond the classroom she co-hosts the Norwegian-language podcast BioPodden , produces popular-science YouTube lectures, and gives interviews that demystify plant genetics for the public. Collaborations & Networks She is an active member of the Butenko Group at UiO and collaborates extensively within the CEES and the national REPEAT project network. The lab provides cutting-edge facilities for molecular biology, microscopy and bioinformatics, ensuring a vibrant environment for integrative research.
Dr. Hiroko Matsunaga is a Senior Researcher (Research Associate Professor) at Waseda University's Research Organization for Nano & Life Innovation since 2025. She previously held positions at Waseda University (1993-2018), Central Research Laboratory at Hitachi, Ltd. (1993-2018), and was a Visiting Scholar at Iowa State University (2001-2003) and Aika State University (1994-1995). She earned her Doctor of Science from Osaka Prefecture University in 1993. Education: PhD (Science) from Osaka Prefecture University (1989-1993) Her research focuses on molecular biology, particularly in single-cell and microtissue transcriptomics, HPV18-related cervical cancers, and spatial gene expression analysis in diseases like Alzheimer's and Marfan syndrome. She has pioneered methods for spatial transcriptomics using FFPE tissues and developed tools for precision medicine in rare cancers. Recent publications highlight her work in spatial transcriptomics, HPV18 infection mechanisms, and applications of organoid models. Her methodologies integrate advanced biotechnology with bioinformatics to address tumor heterogeneity, viral carcinogenesis, and cardiovascular pathologies. She contributes to grants like the JSPS-funded project on personalized lung cancer medicine. She has co-authored patents in nucleic acid analysis, cell collection systems, and gene detection methods. Collaborations span institutions like Osaka University, Iowa State University, and Aika State University.
Dmitrii Bychkov is a Postdoctoral Researcher affiliated with the University of Helsinki through the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) and the Helsinki Institute for Information Technology. His research bridges biomedical science and computational methods, focusing on deep learning applications for cancer prognosis and immune response analysis. University: University of Helsinki Institution: Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM) Role: Research Fellow His work spans biomedicine , deep learning , and cancer research , with a focus on: Single-cell immune profiling in oncolytic virotherapy Microglia detection via convolutional networks Survival prediction in breast and colorectal cancer Leukocyte segmentation in thyroid cancer Recent publications emphasize predictive modeling , tumor heterogeneity , and immunotherapy biomarkers . He participates in projects funded by the Finnish Medical Society (Finska Läkaresällskapet) related to cancer immunology and machine learning.
Dr. Thomas Wälchli is a dual-trained neurosurgeon-neuroscientist serving as Principal Clinical Research Fellow at University College London's Cancer Institute within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. His work bridges clinical neurosurgery with fundamental vascular and cancer biology research. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (M.Sc. Engineering) University of Zurich/Harvard Medical School (Medical training) ETH Zurich/University Hospital Zurich (MD-PhD) University Hospitals Zurich/Geneva (Neurosurgery residency) Toronto Western Hospital/University of Toronto (Clinical fellowships) University of Montpellier (Awake brain surgery fellowship) His research centers on deciphering molecular mechanisms governing brain vasculature across development, adulthood, and disease states. Using single-cell multi-omics approaches, he investigates vascular heterogeneity in brain tumors and vascular malformations, with particular focus on the reactivation of developmental programs (onco-fetal axis) in glioma. His team's landmark Nature 2024 study established the first molecular atlas of human brain vasculature at single-cell resolution. Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on vascular biology through advanced genomic techniques, with increasing emphasis on therapeutic applications for glioma. His work spans fundamental vascular development mechanisms to clinical translation, particularly in targeting angiogenic pathways reactivated in brain tumors. Dr. Wälchli actively supervises undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students in neuroscience and molecular biology at University of Toronto and University of Zurich, while maintaining clinical neurosurgery practice.
Lam Siew Hong serves as Associate Professor and Assistant Head of Department in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore, driving research in environmental toxicology and molecular biology through innovative zebrafish models. Her academic foundation includes a Ph.D. earned at the National University of Singapore, forming the basis for her expertise in molecular response mechanisms. Research interests prominently feature toxicogenomics and molecular toxicology using zebrafish to investigate environmental stressors, alongside studies of ion channels and transporters for biomimetic water purification membranes. Her work extends to enhancing transferable skills development for science graduates, reflecting dual commitment to research and pedagogy. Publication analysis reveals consistent application of zebrafish models across 15 recent studies, with dominant themes in arsenic toxicity , glucocorticoid signaling , and iono-osmoregulation —frequently integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches to map molecular pathways under environmental stress. Scientific recognition includes: Multiple NUS Teaching Excellence Awards (FTEA and ATEA) across academic years 2008-2011 CDTL Education Conference Grant Award (AY2010) HUGO Pacific Fellowship Award (2004) While no student advisement details or major research grants appear in the text, her CDTL award and educational publications demonstrate active engagement in teaching innovation and curriculum development within NUS's Faculty of Science. Collaborative publication patterns indicate membership in a specialized research group focused on zebrafish toxicology and environmental stress response, operating within NUS's Department of Biological Sciences infrastructure.
