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Steve N. GeorasView profile

Professor

• Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
• Asthma
• Immune Cell Activation in the Lung
• +11 more

Steve N. Georas, M.D., is a Professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) in the School of Medicine and Dentistry, with primary appointments in the Department of Medicine (Pulmonary Diseases and Critical Care), and joint appointments in Environmental Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology. He is a board-certified specialist in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, actively practicing at the Mary Parkes Center for Asthma, Allergy & Pulmonary Care, and serving as an attending physician in the Medical Intensive Care Units at Strong Memorial and Highland Hospitals. His research is centered on the immunological mechanisms of asthma and lung inflammation. Key areas include epithelial barrier dysfunction , type 2 immune responses , the role of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and autotaxin , and the impact of air pollution and environmental exposures on lung health. He leads the Study of Asthma in Rochester (SOAR2) and is involved in the national PrecISE asthma network. His recent publications highlight a strong focus on asthma pathogenesis, the use and de-escalation of biologic therapies, the effects of environmental factors like air pollution and climate change on asthma, and the critical issue of race-based interpretation of pulmonary function tests, advocating for more equitable diagnostic practices. His work spans basic science, translational research, and clinical trials. Scientific Awards: Walter & Carmina Mary Parkes Family Distinguished Professorship Research and Mentoring: Dr. Georas directs an active research laboratory investigating immune cell activation in the lung. He mentors postdoctoral fellows (Maggie Connolly, Patrick Donohue), research staff (Kyle Norton), and graduate students (Traci Pressley). His lab is involved in multiple clinical trials and has received significant grant funding for research on lung disease and environmental health. Research Lab: The Georas Lab at URMC is dedicated to understanding airway inflammation and lung function in asthma, with specific projects on epithelial barrier dysfunction, airway oscillometry, and the implications of race in pulmonary function testing.

Yi-Fen LeeView profile

Professor

• Cancer Biology
• Extracellular Vesicles
• Exosomes
• +17 more

Yi-Fen Lee, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. Her research focuses on extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly exosomes, in the context of urological cancers such as bladder and prostate cancer. She leads an active research laboratory investigating the roles of EVs in cancer development, progression, and treatment response. Department: Department of Urology School: School of Medicine and Dentistry University: University of Rochester Dr. Lee earned her Ph.D. in Endocrinology/Molecular Oncology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed by post-doctoral training in the Department of Pathology at the University of Rochester. Her research expertise spans molecular oncology, cancer biology, and biomarker discovery. Her primary research interests include extracellular vesicles, exosomes, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, cancer immunotherapy (particularly BCG), chemoresistance (especially to cisplatin), proteomics, gene arrays, and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Her lab studies how EVs mediate cell-cell communication in the tumor microenvironment, influence treatment response, and can serve as biomarkers for disease prognosis and therapy monitoring. The analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on the molecular mechanisms by which extracellular vesicles contribute to bladder and prostate cancer progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Her work integrates proteomics, functional studies, and clinical collaboration, particularly in the context of BCG immunotherapy and cisplatin chemotherapy. A recurring theme is the potential of EVs as liquid biopsy tools for precision medicine. Research Scholar Edwin Beer Fellowship Award (2003-2005) Cap CURE Award, Third Prize (2002) Dr. Lee has been awarded grants, including a 2-year grant from The Hope Foundation. She actively mentors graduate students such as Md. Mahmudul Hasan Akash and Chia-Hao Wu. Her lab collaborates with URMC investigators and participates in the SWOG S1602 clinical trial. She utilizes advanced technologies like the Nanosight nanoparticle tracking system for EV analysis. Her future work aims to establish rapid body fluid biopsy assays to predict patient response to therapy and advance personalized medicine for urological cancers. Her laboratory investigates several key projects: the role of EVs in bladder cancer metastasis, their involvement in cancer cell immunogenicity following BCG therapy, their contribution to cisplatin resistance, and their role in the bladder cancer field cancerization effect, where EVs reprogram normal cells to become malignant.

Chia George HsuView profile

Assistant Professor

• Immunometabolism
• Ferroptosis
• Neuroinflammation
• +7 more

Chia George Hsu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP). His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of innate immunity, inflammation, and immunometabolism, particularly in the context of injury and disease. Education: Ph.D. in Applied Physiology, Georgia Institute of Technology M.S. in Exercise Science, National Taiwan Sports University B.S. in Chemistry, National Cheng Kung University His research interests include ferroptosis , immunometabolism , neuroinflammation , and NLRP3 inflammasome activation. He investigates how immune cells, particularly macrophages, regulate inflammation through metabolic reprogramming and cell death pathways. His lab uses integrative approaches from cellular to human levels to study immune fitness and its impact on performance and recovery. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in understanding the regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by metabolites like 4-hydroxynonenal and proteins like Pnpt1, as well as the role of PDE10A in neuroinflammation and lung injury. His work spans immunology, neuroscience, and metabolism, with implications for spinal cord injury, long COVID, and chronic inflammatory diseases. Scientific Awards: No awards explicitly listed in the provided texts. Dr. Hsu mentors several students, including Jinmin Zhang, Elias Muguerza, Camry Gonzalez, and Xavier Chavarria, and offers research opportunities for undergraduates and graduate students through independent study and thesis projects. His lab, the Immune Fitness Lab , investigates biomarkers of immune function related to exercise and injury, aiming to develop predictive panels and therapeutic strategies. Research is supported by methodologies such as RNA-Seq, proteomics, lipidomics, and transgenic mouse models.

Liao ChenView profile

Professor

• Biophysics
• Theoretical Physics
• Computational Physics
• +7 more

Liao Chen is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), College of Sciences. He conducts interdisciplinary research at the interface of physics, biology, and computational science, focusing on the mechanistic understanding of membrane transport proteins and molecular interactions using high-performance computing. Ph.D. in Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Academia Sinica M.S. in Physics, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Academia Sinica B.S. in Physics and Education, Xingyang Teachers College His research interests lie in biophysics , theoretical and computational physics , with a focus on in silico modeling of biological macromolecules. He specializes in molecular dynamics simulations to study membrane transporters such as aquaporins (AQP1, AQP3, AQP4, AQP5), glucose transporters (GLUT1), and aquaglyceroporins (PfAQP). His work aims to uncover how structural fluctuations and cellular environments modulate protein function, with applications in drug discovery and disease mechanisms. The 15 most recent articles reflect a strong trend in quantitative biophysics , particularly in computing binding affinities, membrane permeability, and gating dynamics with chemical accuracy. His methodological innovation, hSMD (hybrid steered molecular dynamics), enables reproducible and efficient free energy calculations. Research spans from fundamental physical principles to biomedical applications, including studies on malaria parasite proteins and potential channel blockers. Liao Chen has secured research funding from the NIH, enabling extensive computational studies on supercomputers like Frontera and Lonestar 5, as well as experimental validation using in-lab instruments. He actively supervises graduate and undergraduate researchers, mentoring students in both computational and experimental techniques. NIH grants support ongoing research Utilizes Frontera, Lonestar 5, and in-lab high-performance computing cluster Employs in vitro assays such as hemolysis, stopped-flow, and microfluidics to validate computational predictions His lab has produced numerous publications in reputable journals, contributing to the understanding of protein function, nanoparticle interactions, and electronic transport in nanostructures. He has developed open-source software (hSMD) for the academic community, promoting reproducible and accurate binding free energy computations.

Margherita MalanchiniView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Child development
• Learning
• Non-cognitive skills
• +3 more

Dr. Margherita Malanchini is a Senior Lecturer at the Queen Mary University of London within the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences . She directs the Cognition, Development, and Education research laboratory and contributes to the Centre for Brain and Behaviour and Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Genomics . Her work integrates developmental psychology , genetics , education , and social sciences to study child development, learning, and behavioral problems. Research Focus: Gene-environment interplay, non-cognitive skills, neurodevelopmental disorders, socioemotional development Grants: £943,596 from Medical Research Council (2025-2028), £133,787 from Jacobs Foundation (2025-2027), £103,229 from Baily Thomas Charitable Fund (2023-2025) Students: Supervises PhD researchers including Tom Falkenstein, Yuanyuan Huang, and Wangjingyi Liao Email: m.malanchini@qmul.ac.uk Notable Research Trends: Analysis of polygenic scores in educational outcomes, telomere biology and cognitive aging, gene-environment correlations in behavioral problems, and epigenetic markers of social disparities in mental health. Lab Involvement: Leads the Cognition, Development, and Education research laboratory, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams on projects involving the Twins Early Development Study (TEDS) and EU-ACTION consortium.

• Bipolar Disorder
• Psychiatric Genetics
• Proteomics
• +5 more

Lina Jonsson is a researcher at the Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg. Her work bridges psychiatric genetics, proteomics, and neurochemistry to advance understanding of bipolar disorder and related conditions. Key Research Areas: Bipolar disorder genomics, cerebrospinal fluid proteomics, polygenic risk scores, and longitudinal studies via the St. Göran Project Recent Contributions: 2025 studies on fine-mapping risk genes, proteome mapping, and multi-omics approaches for bipolar disorder; 2024 work on ADCY1 gene implications and cohort profiling Contact: Lina.Jonsson@neuro.gu.se

Russell FinleyView profile

Professor

• Regulatory networks
• Cell cycle regulation
• Drosophila development
• +3 more

Russell Finley is a Professor at Wayne State University, with joint appointments in the Departments of Molecular Medicine and Genetics and Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology. He serves as Division Director for Education and Graduate Officer in CMMG and is a member of the Karmanos Cancer Institute. His research focuses on regulatory networks controlling cell proliferation, using high-throughput technologies like yeast two-hybrid systems and RNAi screens. PhD in Molecular Biology from SUNY Upstate Medical University (1990) Postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital (1990-1995) Research keywords include protein interaction networks, Drosophila development, cancer biology, and systems biology. His 2024-2010 publications highlight work on cell cycle regulators, pathogen interactions, and bioinformatics methodologies. He teaches advanced courses in cancer biology, molecular genetics, and systems biology.

Jonathan D. MarmurView profile

Professor

• Hemostasis and Thrombosis
• Cardiovascular Biomarkers
• Genomics
• +4 more

Dr. Jonathan D. Marmur is a Professor of Medicine and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. A leading expert in Interventional Cardiology and Hemostasis, he has held key leadership roles and contributed extensively to cardiovascular research and education. His educational background includes an MD from Laval University (1982), followed by residency in Internal Medicine at McGill University, and Cardiology Fellowship at the University of Toronto and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Marmur's research spans Hemostasis and Thrombosis, Cardiovascular Biomarkers, Genomics, and Interventional Cardiology. He pioneered gene therapy applications for arterial disease and currently directs the Downstate Cath Lab GeneBank initiative, which integrates genomic, proteomic, and clinical data to predict cardiovascular events. Analysis of his recent publications (2009-2013) reveals a strong focus on biomarker discovery for risk stratification in coronary artery disease, particularly in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Key themes include the prognostic value of hematologic indices (RDW, neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio), metabolic markers (ADMA, PLTP), and genetic factors in diverse patient populations including diabetics and African Americans. His scientific recognition includes: Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) As an educator, Dr. Marmur has trained hundreds of physicians in Interventional Cardiology. His research program is supported by numerous grants including current funding from Pfizer ($600,000 as PI), NIH (as collaborator), and the American Heart Association. Past grants totaling over $1.2 million include awards from the Ontario Heart and Stroke Foundation, Medical Research Council of Canada, and NIH. He leads the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the Downstate Cath Lab GeneBank team, fostering translational research that bridges genomic discoveries with clinical cardiology practice.

• Gene regulation
• Bioinformatics
• RNA Biology
• +6 more

Albin Gustav Sandelin is a Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in bioinformatics and RNA biology. With a PhD in Functional Genomics from Karolinska Institute (2004) and an MSc in Molecular Biology from Stockholm University (2000), his career spans roles at institutions including RIKEN Yokohama Institute and Tokyo Medical and Dental University. His research focuses on Gene regulation mechanisms Transcription start site dynamics RNA sequencing methodologies Promoter architecture analysis Cancer microenvironment interactions . Recent publications highlight his work in pancreatic cancer adaptation to acidic environments (2024-2025), TLDR-seq for RNA analysis, and JASPAR database development. He supervises PhD students including Eivind Valen and Eric Man-Hung, with a history of teaching bioinformatics courses at Karolinska Institute and Copenhagen University. Key collaborations involve institutions in Japan, Canada, and Sweden, with ongoing contributions to open-access genomic resources like JASPAR.

Marissa WechslerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Biomaterials
• Tissue Engineering
• Stem Cell Engineering
• +5 more

Dr. Marissa Wechsler, a first-generation Hispanic biomedical engineer, returned to her alma mater The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) in 2021 as an Assistant Professor in the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. As UTSA's first biomedical engineering undergraduate student (class of 2015), she now leads a 12-member research team in her biomaterials and cell engineering lab while teaching advanced courses like BME 4443: Stem Cell Engineering. Academic Journey: UTSA BME program pioneer (2015) → NSF Graduate Research Fellowship → Ph.D. from UT Austin Leadership Roles: Founding faculty member of UTSA Sigma Xi chapter (2023), SWE faculty advisor, ESTEEMED mentor Research Focus: Specializes in biomaterials engineering with emphasis on: Stimuli-responsive hydrogels for drug delivery and tissue regeneration Stem cell engineering through controlled microenvironments Biosensing platforms using nanoparticle-hydrogel hybrids Regenerative medicine applications for vascular diseases Recent publications demonstrate expertise in RNA-based vaccine delivery systems , nanoparticle engineering , and mitochondrial dysfunction analysis in peripheral artery disease. Her work combines material science innovation with clinical translation potential. Award Highlights: 2023: Sigma Xi Grant-in-Aid of Research 2021: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (during studies) Mentorship Impact: As a former participant in federal research programs (RISE, MARC), she now mentors through: Leading 12-member research team (undergraduate to postdoctoral) Sigma Xi leadership (President-elect) Faculty advisor for Society of Women Engineers ESTEEMED program mentor

Nadine H. AbdallahView profile

Assistant Professor

• Geriatric Oncology
• Multiple Myeloma
• Hematology
• +5 more

Nadine H. Abdallah, M.D., serves as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, holding a primary appointment as Senior Associate Consultant in the Division of Hematology within the Department of Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Her clinical and research focus centers on improving care for older patients with multiple myeloma and related plasma cell disorders. Dr. Abdallah's research program investigates the critical intersection of geriatric assessment and hematologic malignancies, with particular emphasis on how frailty, body composition, and social determinants of health impact treatment outcomes in elderly patients with multiple myeloma. Her work aims to personalize treatment strategies through comprehensive geriatric assessments while evaluating methods to reduce treatment-related toxicity and enhance quality of life for older cancer patients. Key focus areas include comprehensive geriatric assessment implementation in hematology practice using digital health technologies, body composition analysis in multiple myeloma, and risk stratification incorporating cytogenetic abnormalities. Analysis of Dr. Abdallah's recent publication record reveals a strong emphasis on geriatric oncology within hematology, particularly focusing on frailty assessment, treatment personalization for elderly patients, and the impact of body composition on outcomes in multiple myeloma. Her work bridges clinical hematology with geriatric medicine, creating novel approaches to risk assessment that incorporate both biological and functional parameters. Kern Health Care Delivery Scholar, Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Mayo Clinic (2023-2026) Outstanding Hematology and Oncology Fellow, Mayo Clinic in Rochester (2023) Student Award of the Naji Sahyoun Endowed Memorial Fund, American University of Beirut (2015) Dr. Abdallah maintains active professional engagement with multiple organizations including the Cancer and Aging Research Group, International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG), European Society for Medical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and American Society of Clinical Oncology. Her research program continues to advance the integration of geriatric principles into standard hematology practice, with particular focus on improving care delivery for older adults with plasma cell disorders.

• Neuroscience
• Stem Cell Biology
• Biophysics
• +3 more

Alicia González Díaz is a College Research Associate at the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, where she works as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (mapped to "Research Fellow" academic rank). Her research bridges neuroscience, stem cell biology, and biophysics to advance translational models for neurodegenerative diseases. Education: Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of Cambridge (2024). Her work focuses on engineering stem cell systems to model sporadic Alzheimer’s and ALS, leveraging AI-guided multiplexed functional genomics and patient-derived transcriptomic fingerprints. She develops scalable platforms for creating preclinical models that capture molecular diversity, with applications in drug discovery and therapeutic target prediction. Recent publications highlight her expertise in biomolecular condensates, Aβ peptide aggregation, TDP-43 inhibition, and lipid-protein interactions. These studies employ iPSC-derived neurons and multiomic approaches to unravel neurodegenerative disease mechanisms and identify novel interventions. Scientific Awards: La Caixa Postdoctoral Fellowship Alfonso Martín Escudero Fellowship She has collaborated with Wavebreak Therapeutics on drug discovery programs and continues to integrate interdisciplinary methodologies to address Alzheimer’s and ALS pathologies. Her research emphasizes scalable platforms and patient-specific molecular profiling to enhance preclinical model accuracy.

Siva VanapalliView profile

Professor

• Microfluidics
• Cancer
• Aging
• +5 more

Dr. Siva Vanapalli is a Professor at Texas Tech University's Department of Chemical Engineering, holding the Bryan Pearce Bagley Regents Chair in Engineering. His research integrates microfluidics, biophysics, and healthspan studies in the C. elegans model organism, with applications in cancer diagnostics and space biology. Education : PhD (University of Michigan, 2006), MSc (Penn State, 2001), BTech (IIT Kharagpur, 1998) Key Research Areas : Microfluidic device development, tumor cell mechanics, aging research, and C. elegans phenotyping Commercialization : Holds patents in cancer cell detection and aging assays Recent publications demonstrate his leadership in microfluidic cancer diagnostics, aging pathways, and spaceflight biomedical research. His lab has produced 18+ peer-reviewed works since 2018, including 4 in 2023 alone. Notable awards include the 2020 Regents Chair distinction and multiple President's Awards for research excellence and commercialization. Dr. Vanapalli's group has mentored 8 graduate students to completion, with recent graduates like Leila Alizadeh (2020 PhD) and Shamim Ahmed (2020 PhD) making significant contributions to cancer cell mechanics and C. elegans aging studies. The lab maintains active collaborations with NASA for space biology experiments and the Benian Lab for muscle research.

Martin DichgansView profile

Professor

• Stroke
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Neurogenetics
• +5 more

Professor Martin Dichgans serves as the Founding Director of the Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research (ISD) and Chair of the Department of Translational Stroke and Dementia Research at Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich's Medical Center. He has held these positions since 2010 and has been a Professor of Neurology at LMU since 2006. Additionally, he serves as President of the European Stroke Organisation (since 2020) and President of the German Stroke Society (since 2016). Dr. Dichgans' research focuses on the molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms of stroke and cerebrovascular disease, with particular emphasis on cerebral small vessel disease and large artery atherosclerotic stroke. His laboratory employs genetic approaches to identify novel risk genes and explores their functional roles using genome-editing, proteomics, and imaging technology. His team has established genetic mouse models for cerebral small vessel disease derived from genetic discoveries (e.g., HtrA1, Col4A1, Foxf2) to identify key molecular pathways relevant to disease pathogenesis. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on genetic determinants of stroke and vascular disease, with increasing attention to inflammatory pathways in atherosclerosis and cerebrovascular disease. His work spans basic molecular mechanisms, translational research, and large-scale genetic studies across diverse populations. Recent publications demonstrate growing interest in the intersection of vascular disease and neurodegeneration, particularly in vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. Professor Dichgans leads a substantial research team including postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, and technical staff, and has successfully secured numerous competitive grants including the Fondation Leducq Trans-Atlantic Network of Excellence on Brain Endothelium and the Horizon-EIC-2022-Pathfinder Challenges project. His laboratory is part of the Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), reflecting its integration into a broader neuroscience research ecosystem.

Mathias V. SchmidtView profile

Lecturer

• Stress-associated diseases
• Depression
• Anxiety
• +7 more

PD Dr. Mathias V. Schmidt, PhD, is a Research Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry and a Lecturer at Ludwig Maximilians University. His work focuses on the neurobiology of stress resilience, investigating how genetic and environmental factors influence vulnerability to stress-related disorders. Education: University of Bayreuth, University of Delaware, University of Leiden. Dr. Schmidt's research combines behavioral neuroscience , molecular neurobiology , and glucocorticoid signaling to explore stress-induced conditions like depression, anxiety, obesity, and diabetes. His group employs transgenic models, pharmacology, and optogenetics to identify interventions for enhancing resilience. Recent publications highlight his work on sex-specific stress responses , FKBP51 antagonists for metabolic disorders, and machine learning applications in behavioral phenotyping. The group’s studies often bridge neurobiology , genetics , and metabolism . Scientific Awards: OptiMD consortium grant, BioM award, Kids2Health, GUTMOM, SinoDFG, VIP+, FKBP5 project grant. Dr. Schmidt’s lab also contributes to translational projects, including collaborations with the Technical University Darmstadt and clinical trials for diabetes treatments targeting stress proteins.