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Ryan S. GrayView profile

Associate Professor

• Musculoskeletal Disease
• Developmental Biology
• Genetics
• +4 more

Ryan S. Gray, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at The University of Texas at Austin , with an adjunct faculty appointment in the Department of Nutritional Sciences within the College of Natural Sciences . Education: Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from UT Austin Postdoctoral Training: Washington University School of Medicine Gray's research focuses on musculoskeletal diseases , particularly adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and cartilage degeneration . His lab employs a multi-tiered approach combining zebrafish , mouse , and cell culture models informed by human genomics to uncover mechanisms of spine development and disease. Key areas include: Genetic regulation of spine morphogenesis Role of cilia in cerebrospinal fluid dynamics Protein assembly in vertebrate evolution ADGRG6 and SOX9 signaling in cartilage homeostasis His publications highlight novel genetic pathways in AIS, including Kif6 , Inppl1a , and dysregulated dynein genes . Awards include the Early Investigator Podium Award (2017) and Best Poster Award (2015) from leading orthopedic societies. Gray leads the Gray Lab , which emphasizes translational research for musculoskeletal disorders. The lab's work spans from basic science (e.g., kinesin motor proteins) to clinical applications in scoliosis diagnosis and treatment.

Robert R ClarkeView profile

Professor

• Breast cancer
• Drug resistance
• Systems biology
• +5 more

Robert R Clarke serves as Executive Director and Director of The Hormel Institute, and holds a Professor position in the Chemical and Structural Biology department at the University of Minnesota Medical School. His research focuses on breast cancer mechanisms, drug resistance, and systems biology approaches to understanding hormone receptor signaling. Dr. Clarke's research interests center on breast cancer biology with specific emphasis on drug resistance mechanisms, hormone receptor signaling pathways, and systems biology approaches to cancer. His work integrates molecular biology, computational approaches, and structural analysis to understand cancer progression and treatment resistance. He has developed several computational tools including CAM3.0 for cell type deconvolution and DDN3.0 for network analysis, demonstrating his interdisciplinary approach spanning wet lab and computational biology. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on breast cancer mechanisms, particularly TXNIP's anti-tumor role and antiestrogen resistance. His research increasingly incorporates computational biology approaches for analyzing complex biological data, including RNA-seq analysis, network rewiring in cancer, and cellular composition determination from bulk tissues. The work spans basic molecular mechanisms to translational applications, including nanoparticle-based cancer therapies. Dr. Clarke leads multiple significant research projects including 'Novel functions of ESRRB in glioblastoma' funded by NIH (2024-2026), 'CryoEM Support Technology' from NIST (2023-2025), 'Cell communication in antiestrogen resistance' from the Department of Defense (2021-2023), 'Development of a Cancer Immune Therapy Paradigm with Iron Oxide Nanoparticles' from Johns Hopkins University (2020-2023), and 'Integrative analysis of exitrons in metastatic prostate cancer' from the Department of Defense (2019-2024). As Executive Director of The Hormel Institute, Dr. Clarke leads a major cancer research center focused on understanding cellular mechanisms of cancer. His team employs diverse approaches including molecular biology, structural biology, computational analysis, and animal models to investigate cancer progression and treatment resistance. The institute has produced significant research output with over 360 publications attributed to Dr. Clarke's work.

Edoardo SozziView profile

Research Fellow

• Neuroscience
• Neurobiology
• Stem Cell Research
• +6 more

Edoardo Sozzi is a Visiting Research Fellow and PhD student at Lund University's Faculty of Medicine, specializing in the Developmental and Regenerative Neurobiology group under Prof. Malin Parmar. He earned a BSc in Biotechnology (2018) and a dual MSc in Neuroscience (2020) from the University of Pisa and Scuola Normale Superiore, Italy. His research focuses on the development, functionality, and diversity of human dopaminergic neurons using 3D cell culture systems like brain organoids and xenograft models, with heavy reliance on single-cell RNA sequencing. His work intersects neuroscience, developmental biology, and regenerative medicine, targeting neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Key publication trends include innovations in organoid technology , single-cell transcriptomics , and WNT signaling modulation . He has contributed to 11 scientific outputs , including a 2025 doctoral thesis, peer-reviewed articles in Nature Methods and Development , and a 2023 Horizon Europe grant (OpenMIND project) for opto-electronic neural modeling in neurodegenerative diseases. Sozzi actively participates in academic events, organizing conferences like Neuroscience Day 2024 and UniStem Day 2024 , and serves as a presenter in multidisciplinary initiatives (MultiPark). His work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for Medical and Health Sciences and Neurosciences .

Anne BrunetView profile

Professor

• Aging
• Longevity
• Neural Stem Cells
• +7 more

Anne Brunet holds the Michele and Timothy Barakett Endowed Professorship in the Department of Genetics at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is a leading researcher in the field of aging and longevity with extensive affiliations across multiple Stanford institutes including the Bio-X Program, Cardiovascular Institute, Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance, Stanford Cancer Institute, and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. Dr. Brunet's research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of aging and longevity, with special emphasis on the nervous system. Her lab investigates pathways involved in delaying aging in response to external stimuli such as nutrient availability and mates, mechanisms influencing the rejuvenation of old stem cells, and has pioneered the use of the naturally short-lived African killifish as a model to explore aging regulation and age-related diseases. She has a long-standing interest in the insulin-FOXO transcription factor pathway, which regulates lifespan from worms to humans, and studies how longevity genes maintain adult neural stem cells and cognitive function during aging. Analysis of her recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on spatial transcriptomics of brain aging, CRISPR-Cas9 screening for aging regulators in neural stem cells, protein aggregation in aging vertebrates, and the development of the African killifish as a model organism. Her work integrates cutting-edge technologies including single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, high-throughput genetic screening, and multi-omics approaches to study aging across tissues. Scientific Awards: Transformative Research Award, NIH Directors' Fund (2018) Pioneer Award, NIH Director's Fund (2012) Senior Scholar Award, Ellison Medical Foundation (2009) Alfred P. Sloan Fellow, Sloan Foundation (2006) Multiple awards for mentoring and aging research Dr. Brunet actively mentors numerous graduate students and postdocs, serving as Doctoral Dissertation Advisor, Co-Advisor, and Reader for over 15 students, and sponsoring 7 postdoctoral fellows. She teaches courses including Current Issues in Aging and multiple directed reading/research courses in Genetics, Neurosciences, and Stem Cell Biology. Her lab, the Brunet Lab, is part of the Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging and focuses on understanding the genetic mechanisms of aging through multiple complementary approaches including mammalian models, C. elegans, and the African killifish.

Rongxin FangView profile

Assistant Professor

• Genomics
• Neuroscience
• Computational Biology
• +6 more

Rongxin Fang is an Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery and Genetics (by courtesy) at Stanford University. He received his Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology from UC San Diego (2015-2019) and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Spatial Genomics at Harvard University (2019-2024). His work bridges high-throughput genomic technologies, computational tools, and transcriptome imaging to unravel the molecular architecture of the brain across species and developmental stages. Research Highlights: Developed 3D MERFISH imaging for thick tissues (2024), enabling spatial genomics at unprecedented resolution. Led cross-species MERFISH studies (2022) revealing conserved cortical organization with human-specific glia-neuron interactions. Created SnapATAC (2021), a pivotal tool for large-scale single-cell ATAC-seq analysis. Scientific Awards: Damon Runyon-Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists (2024) Next Generation Leader, Allen Institute (2024) Rising Star in Health in Engineering (2022) Advising and Collaborations: Doctoral Dissertation Advisor for Eduardo Chaparro Barriera Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor for Ya Jiang Collaborated with Xiaowei Zhuang (Harvard), Adam Cohen (Harvard), and Bing Ren (UCSD)

• inflammatory bowel disease
• mucosal immunology
• innate immunity
• +2 more

Laurence Chapuy, MD, PhD is an Associate Investigator at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University. He is affiliated with the Infectious Diseases and Immunity in Global Health Program and the Centre for Translational Biology at RI-MUHC. Dr. Chapuy's research focuses on immunological mechanisms underlying inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). His work specifically examines the role of innate immune cells, particularly mononuclear phagocytes, in the inflammatory and fibrotic processes of patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including single-cell RNA sequencing, transcriptomic analysis, and high-dimensional phenotypic mapping to characterize immune cell populations in intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes. Analysis of Dr. Chapuy's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on cellular immunology in IBD, with particular emphasis on mononuclear phagocytes, CD14+ subsets, and Th17/Th1 responses. His work demonstrates significant differences in immune cell profiles between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, providing insights into disease mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. His research spans both adult and pediatric IBD populations, with recent work examining very early onset and early onset IBD in pediatric cohorts. As an Associate Investigator at RI-MUHC, Dr. Chapuy leads a research program investigating mucosal immunology in inflammatory bowel diseases. His work bridges basic immunology with clinical applications, aiming to translate findings into improved understanding and management of IBD. His research is conducted in collaboration with multiple investigators at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre.

• Radiation Oncology
• Artificial Intelligence in Oncology
• Molecular Oncology
• +5 more

Jonathan D. Tward is a tenured Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Utah and directs the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) Genitourinary Cancers Center (GUCC). With expertise in prostate, bladder, and penile cancers , he pioneers AI-driven digital-molecular oncology through innovations in precision radiation therapy , multimodal imaging , and prognostic biomarker development . Education: BS in Biology (UCLA), PhD in Biochemistry, MD (Tufts University), Residency in Radiation Oncology (University of Utah) Leadership: Director of GUCC, Utah ASTRO State Captain, NCCN Guideline Panel Member His research integrates machine learning with genomic/transcriptomic profiling to optimize radiation workflows and validate molecular signatures in clinical trials. He is a globally recognized authority in AI-enabled cancer discovery and digital pathology , holding the Vincent P. and Janet Mancini Endowed Chair. Dr. Tward’s work emphasizes resource-stratified oncology solutions for low/middle-income settings. Scientific awards include the Vincent P. and Janet Mancini Presidential Endowed Chair and Fellowship in the American Society for Radiation Oncology (FASTRO) . His 100+ peer-reviewed publications focus on AI-guided treatment adaptation , cell-cycle risk modeling , and multimodal prognostication in GU malignancies. Patient testimonials highlight his empathetic care , technical precision , and global leadership in radiation oncology.

Hong S. LuView profile

Associate Professor

• Cardiovascular Diseases
• Atherosclerosis
• Aortic Aneurysms
• +4 more

Hong S. Lu, MD, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky , affiliated with the Department of Physiology and the Saha Cardiovascular Research Center . His work focuses on cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis and aortic aneurysms , with an emphasis on renin-angiotensin system mechanisms and genomic editing strategies. He collaborates with institutions including Baylor College of Medicine and University of Maryland . Doctor of Philosophy, Kanazawa University (2003) Doctor of Medicine, Zhejiang University (1993) His research explores pharmacological inhibition of angiotensinogen, Lipoprotein regulation , and vascular biology of receptors like LRP1 and PAI-1. Current projects include studying Etv5-mediated elastic fiber generation in aortic dissection and myeloid thrombospondin-1 roles in ECM suppression. Recent grants supported by the American Heart Association and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute address cardiovascular system heterogeneity and myocardial infarction models. Awards include ATVB Top Reviewer (2014, 2016) and New Investigator Travel Awards (2004, 2006). His 160+ research outputs since 2004 span topics like mouse models of coronary atherosclerosis, metformin effects on aneurysms, and complement component 4 suppression in liver steatosis. Collaborations with Dr. Alan Daugherty and others drive innovations in vascular pathology and cardiometabolic disease research.

• Virology
• Veterinary virology
• Zoology
• +4 more

Fernando Vicosa Bauermann, DVM, MSc, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Veterinary Pathobiology , Oklahoma State University . Originally from Brazil, he holds degrees from the Federal University of Santa Maria (DVM 2008, PhD 2013) and conducted postdoctoral research at USDA-APHIS (2013-2016) and South Dakota State University (2016-2018). His academic career focuses on virology , pathogenesis of bovine respiratory viruses , and biosecurity protocols for veterinary pathogens. Education : DVM, MSc, PhD in Veterinary Medicine (Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil) Research interests span virus-host interactions , bovine respiratory disease complex , emerging pestiviruses , and viral inactivation methods . His work addresses survivability of viral pathogens in feed ingredients , swine viral diagnostics , and cross-border disease surveillance . Key funding sources include USDA-NIFA , National Pork Board , and Swine Health Information Center . Current projects focus on vaccine adjuvants for ruminants , single-cycle vaccine development , and thermal virus inactivation protocols . He serves as peer reviewer for journals like Journals of Virology , Frontiers in Veterinary Science , and PLoS Pathogens . His teaching activities include Veterinary Virology and PhD Research Supervision , emphasizing diagnostic virology and viral pathogenesis .

Christopher M WatersView profile

Professor

• Bacterial Pathogenesis
• Quorum Sensing
• Cyclic di-GMP Signaling
• +5 more

Christopher M Waters is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology at Michigan State University's College of Natural Science. He holds faculty appointments in the Genetics & Genome Sciences Program and Cell & Molecular Biology Program. His research focuses on bacterial chemical signaling mechanisms in pathogens, particularly Vibrio cholerae, investigating how these systems regulate virulence and biofilm formation. Education: B.S., 1997, University of Kansas Ph.D., 2002, University of Minnesota Post-doctoral studies, 2003-2008, Princeton University Research Focus: Dr. Waters' laboratory studies cyclic di-GMP signaling and quorum sensing in bacterial pathogens. His work reveals how these chemical communication systems control critical processes like biofilm formation and virulence factor expression. The lab employs molecular genetics, biochemistry, and microscopy to dissect signaling pathways in Vibrio cholerae, with emphasis on identifying environmental cues that modulate cyclic di-GMP levels and developing anti-infective strategies targeting bacterial communication. Publication Trends: Recent publications demonstrate Waters' leadership in cyclic dinucleotide signaling, with significant contributions to understanding c-di-GMP/phosphodiesterase regulation, biofilm heterogeneity, phage-bacteria interactions, and cross-talk between signaling systems. His work spans fundamental mechanisms in Vibrio cholerae while extending to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and plant pathogens, revealing conserved principles in bacterial signal transduction. Teaching & Mentoring: Dr. Waters teaches Microbial Genetics (MGI 431), Undergraduate Research (MGI 499), and Topics in Microbiology (MGI 991). His laboratory provides training in advanced microbiological techniques while investigating bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms. He maintains an active research program supported by competitive grants focused on bacterial signaling and antimicrobial development. Research Facility: The Waters Lab (https://mmg.natsci.msu.edu/waters-lab/) operates within MSU's state-of-the-art Biomedical and Physical Sciences facility, utilizing specialized equipment for molecular microbiology, live-cell imaging, and biochemical analysis of bacterial signaling pathways.

Ping ChenView profile

Research Fellow

• Biomedicine
• Medical biotechnology
• Stem cell research
• +4 more

Ping Chen is an Academy Research Fellow at the University of Helsinki , affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and the Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program . They also hold an Assistant Professor position at Karolinka Institutet since 2021. Research Interests: Biomedical research focusing on stem cells and metabolism Medical biotechnology applications in disease mechanisms Single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptomics Alternative splicing and gene regulation in cancer Computational methods for sparse data analysis MicroRNA functions in tumor sensitivity Scientific Contributions: Their recent work spans epithelial cell dynamics in organ development, liver immunology in metabolic diseases, glioblastoma signaling pathways, and computational frameworks for cancer subtyping. Articles show strong integration of bioinformatics , genomics , and translational medicine . Awards and Grants: Academy Research Fellow, Research Council of Finland Docent (adjunct professor) title in the Faculty of Medicine Juselius 1-3 Chen 25 project (2024-2026) funded by Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö Academy of Finland grant (2023-2027) for studying RNA editing and macrophage plasticity in metabolic diseases Collaborative Network: Active collaborations include researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nordic Lymphoma Group, and multiple European institutions.

• Computational Biology
• Bioinformatics
• Population Genomics
• +3 more

Yufeng Wu is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Connecticut. He holds a PhD from the University of California, Davis (2007). His research focuses on computational biology and bioinformatics, particularly in population genomics, phylogenetics, and high-throughput sequencing analysis. He is the developer of software tools such as ScisTree, PedMix2, and GTmix, which address challenges in cell lineage tree inference and ancestry analysis. Professional roles include Associate Editor for IEEE/ACM Transactions on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics since 2013, and participation in program committees for conferences like RECOMB, ISMB, and BIBM from 2007 to 2024. His research interests span computational methods for genomic data, including single-cell analysis, phylogenetic network inference, and microbiome studies. Notable contributions include algorithms for detecting genomic variations, ancestry inference, and coalescent-based approaches for population genetics. His work has led to tools widely used in analyzing genetic data from population studies and clinical applications. Recent research highlights include studies on gut microbiome interactions in multiple sclerosis, scalable phylogenetic network methods, and improvements in single-cell lineage tree construction. He advises students on computational biology projects, with notable collaborations on software development and algorithmic innovations.

Michael HendersonView profile

Associate Professor

• Parkinson’s disease
• Neurodegenerative disease models
• α-synuclein pathology
• +4 more

Dr. Michael Henderson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurodegenerative Science at Van Andel Institute (VAI) and Director of the VAI Brain Bank. His research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), investigating protein pathologies (e.g., α-synuclein, tau) and genetic risk factors (e.g., LRRK2, GBA1). He earned his B.Sc. in Biological Science from Florida State University, Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Yale University (under Dr. Sreeganga Chandra), and conducted postdoctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania (with Drs. Virginia Lee and John Trojanowski). Promoted to Associate Professor in 2024, his lab combines primary neuron cultures, animal models, and computational modeling to study disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Key research areas include: (1) Mapping α-synuclein pathology spread via brain connectivity networks, (2) Evaluating LRRK2 kinase inhibitors and glucocerebrosidase modifiers, (3) Identifying cell-type vulnerabilities using spatial transcriptomics, and (4) Translating discoveries into clinical trials. His lab has published over 120 peer-reviewed papers, including 63 in high-impact journals (2024 alone). Notable grants include a $5.8M NIH grant (2025) studying cellular senescence in Parkinson’s and a $9M Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s award (2021). Awards include the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2012) and NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein Award (2017). His team includes 10+ advisees (Ph.D. students, postdocs, and technicians), with active collaborations across institutions like Yale and the University of Pennsylvania. The Henderson Lab aims to accelerate therapies by bridging basic science and clinical applications.

• Cancer Epigenomics
• DNA Methylation
• Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cancer
• +3 more

Peter W. Laird is a Professor and Peter and Emajean Cook Endowed Chair in Epigenetics at Van Andel Institute , Grand Rapids, Michigan. He previously held academic roles at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1996–2014, including directorship of the USC Epigenome Center. His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms in cancer , particularly DNA methylation dynamics and their role in tumor initiation, progression, and translational applications. Education: B.S./M.S. from University of Leiden; Ph.D. (1988) from University of Amsterdam Postdoctoral Training: Netherlands Cancer Institute (Anton Berns), Whitehead Institute (Rudolf Jaenisch) Research Themes include: Mechanisms of DNA methylation in cancer Development of mouse models for epigenetic studies Single-cell epigenomic analysis Clinical applications of epigenetics in prevention/detection Key Contributions : Co-development of all epigenomic data for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), discovery of replication-associated DNA hypomethylation, and creation of tools like BISCUIT for DNA methylation analysis. His work has been recognized through the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list and major grants from NCI. Mentorship includes advising graduate students and postdoctoral fellows such as Nathan Spix, Felicia Ebot Ojong, and Jae Min Park. He has published over 122 peer-reviewed papers in 2024 alone, with 63 in high-impact journals.

Adelheid (Heidi) LempradlView profile

Assistant Professor

• Epigenetics
• Metabolism
• Intergenerational Inheritance
• +3 more

Dr. Adelheid (Heidi) Lempradl is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming at Van Andel Institute, where she leads a research laboratory focused on understanding how parental metabolic states are transmitted across generations. Her work bridges epigenetics, metabolism, and developmental biology to uncover mechanisms of intergenerational inheritance. Dr. Lempradl's research explores how environmental factors like diet impact future generations through epigenetic mechanisms. Her laboratory investigates molecular pathways that underlie phenotype transmission across generations, with particular focus on how parental nutrition affects offspring health. She was the first to demonstrate that paternal diet reprograms offspring metabolism in Drosophila and identified the first epigenetic signature of obesity conserved across species. Her recent publications reveal trends in early embryonic metabolism, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, metabolic programming, and the identification of distinct cell subtypes relevant to metabolic diseases. Her work spans from fundamental mechanisms in Drosophila models to mammalian systems and human relevance. 2002 DOC-fFORTE Ph.D. Fellowship from the Austrian Academy of Sciences Nominated for the Helmholtz Young Investigator Diabetes (HelDi) Award in 2018 Keynote address at SETAC/iEOS Joint Topic Meeting on Environmental and (Eco) Toxicological Omics and Epigenetics Dr. Lempradl mentors several postdoctoral fellows and graduate students including Alix Booms, Eduardo Perez-Mojica, April Rickle, Ellen Stirtz, and Krittika Sudhakar. Her laboratory works closely with the Van Andel Institute Graduate School and collaborates extensively with researchers at Max Planck Institute. The Lempradl Laboratory is part of Van Andel Institute's comprehensive metabolism and nutrition research program launched in 2018.