Kyle Biggar is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Carleton University. His research bridges functional proteomics, post-translational modifications (particularly lysine methylation), and their roles in cancer and hypoxia. He leads a multidisciplinary lab with expertise in biochemical techniques, peptide array synthesis, and computational modeling of enzyme-substrate interactions. Education: B.Sc. (St. Francis Xavier), Ph.D. (Carleton) Research Themes: Regulation of protein interaction networks by lysine methylation, hypoxia signaling, therapeutic peptide design, and environmental stress adaptation Collaborations: Co-supervises students with Dr. James Green, partners with NuvoBio for cancer therapeutics His publications focus on enzyme specificity, methyllysine proteomics, and stress-responsive microRNA mechanisms. The lab trains students in advanced cellular and biochemical methods, with alumni contributing to fields like neurodegenerative disease and DNA repair. Recent work includes AI-driven protein interaction prediction, exploring lysine PTM competition in cancer, and developing KDM5C/SETD6 inhibitors. The lab also investigates mTOR-IGFBP-1 signaling in intrauterine growth restriction and employs peptide arrays for drug discovery. Lab Members & Students: Current: Francois Charih (NSERC PGS-D), Ruofan Wang, Mullen Boutler, Mitch Allen, Ella De Nicola, Johanna Enright Alumni: Dr. Hemanta Adhikary (KMT/KDM inhibitors), Viktoria Xing (methyl-binding domains), Ryan Collins (MLL4 substrates)
Michael Hildebrand is a Professor in the Department of Neuroscience at Carleton University and an Affiliate Investigator at The Ottawa Hospital. He serves as Associate Vice-Provost (Graduate Student Affairs), overseeing graduate policies, student crisis mediation, and thesis defense processes across the university. His educational background includes a PhD in neurophysiology from the University of British Columbia (UBC), followed by an industrial R&D fellowship at NeuroMed Pharmaceuticals and an academic postdoctoral fellowship at Sick Kids Hospital. Hildebrand's research focuses on spinal mechanisms of pain processing using molecular, pharmacological, electrophysiological, and behavioral approaches. His lab bridges translational gaps between basic science and clinical needs by studying acute/chronic pain states in both rodent and human spinal cord models. Key interests include sexual dimorphism in pain pathways , T-type calcium channel functions , and NMDA receptor subunit contributions to identify novel pain treatment targets. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in sex-specific pain mechanisms, human spinal cord translational models, and molecular targets like calcium channels and NMDA receptors. His work consistently integrates rodent and human tissue studies to address chronic pain's clinical challenges. Scientific recognition includes: Ronald Melzack, Canadian Journal of Pain Paper of the Year Award (2023) Hildebrand mentors undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers while securing major funding from NSERC, CIHR, MITACS, and industry partners. His leadership extends to national roles including Chair of the Canadian Pain Society's Scientific Program Committee. The Hildebrand Lab operates within Carleton's Health Sciences Building, utilizing pioneering human spinal cord preclinical assays alongside animal models to investigate pain mechanisms and therapeutic interventions.
Jennifer Evans is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Marquette University . She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, and completed postdoctoral research at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Her lab investigates neural circuits driving circadian rhythms using molecular, cellular, and behavioral approaches, with a focus on sex differences and light-induced plasticity. Research Interests include: Neural circuit organization in the suprachiasmatic nucleus Biological sex influences on circadian systems Light exposure effects on clock function Molecular signaling in clock synchronization Pathological consequences of circadian disruption Recent Publications reveal trends in: SCN circuit mapping , sex-based clock variability , neuropeptide signaling , and environmental entrainment . Her work has uncovered sex-specific responses to light and roles of somatostatin/VIP in clock regulation. Scientific Contributions include Faculty Fellowship from University of California Key discoveries about SCN intercellular coupling Establishing sex differences in circadian plasticity Defining non-photic entrainment mechanisms Elucidating seasonal GABA signaling Advising : Graduate student Sydney McGraw works in her lab. The Evans Laboratory explores circadian network dynamics and their health impacts, with ongoing projects on clock neuron specialization and downstream tissue regulation.
Jessica Rouge is an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Connecticut. Her research focuses on engineering enzymes and nucleic acids to develop targeted chemical and biological systems for sensing, diagnostics, and therapeutics. She earned a B.S. in Biochemistry from Boston College (2006), a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Colorado (2012), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Northwestern University (2013–2015). Her group investigates nucleic acid nanocapsules for drug delivery, including CRISPR-based assays and endosomal escape mechanisms. Recent work explores viral mimicry in nanocarrier design and stimuli-responsive systems for controlled release of therapeutics. Key projects include Alzheimer’s miRNA biomarker sensors and enzyme-responsive drug delivery platforms. Rouge leads the Rouge Group, advancing interdisciplinary approaches at the interface of chemistry and medicine.
Suresh Kumar, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW). He serves as Scientific Director for both the Children’s Wisconsin Research Institute's Imaging Core and MCW’s Neuroscience Research Institute Imaging Core. He holds a PhD in Biochemistry from Osmania University, India (1998). His research focuses on endothelial cell dysfunction in vascular anomalies, oxidative stress mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases, and congenital heart disease. He also develops imaging tools for translational research, managing advanced microscopy facilities including confocal, multiphoton, and laser-based systems. Research interests include studying infantile hemangioma, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and Cobb syndrome through proteomic, imaging, and biochemical approaches. His lab investigates nitric oxide synthase and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase pathways, linking fatty acid deficiencies to heart disease progression. Collaborations span multiple disciplines, leveraging imaging cores to advance experimental design and data analysis in 2D/3D/4D formats. Teaching responsibilities include microscopy and analytical methods training. The imaging facilities he oversees support high-resolution imaging for researchers across institutions, emphasizing accuracy and reproducibility. His work integrates basic science discoveries with clinical applications through multi-investigator collaborations.
Prof. Dr. Britta Trappmann is a newly appointed Professor for Complex 3D Cellular Systems at TU Dortmund University since April 2023. Her position is affiliated with the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and the Dortmund Life Science Center (DOLCE). She holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge (2011) and a diploma in Chemistry from TU Dortmund (2007). Her research focuses on 3D tissue models, artificial blood vessel development, cell-ECM interactions, and biomaterial design. Professional Journey: 2016-2023: Group Leader at Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine (Münster) 2013-2016: Postdoc at Boston University & Harvard Wyss Institute (USA) 2012-2013: Postdoc at University of Pennsylvania (USA) Research Highlights: Pioneering work on biomimetic hydrogels mimicking ECM properties Development of tunable materials for studying vascular formation Investigations into mechanotransduction mechanisms in endothelial cells Creation of ex utero embryo-trophoblast co-culture systems Publications Trends: Recent work emphasizes hydrogel-based models for angiogenesis and mechanobiology. Key themes include ECM design principles, force-regulated signaling pathways, and biomaterials enabling controlled cell behavior. Over 20 scientific articles published since 2010 span materials science, cell biology, and biomedical engineering disciplines. Lab & Collaborations: Leads the Complex 3D Cellular Systems group at TU Dortmund, focusing on interdisciplinary research combining chemistry, engineering, and biology. Active collaborations with Max Planck Institutes and institutions in the U.S. on regenerative medicine applications.
Anant Menon, PhD, is a Professor of Biochemistry at Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, since 2005. He holds a PhD from Cornell University (1986), MS from Cornell (1982), and MSc from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (1980). His research focuses on cellular membrane biogenesis, lipid biosynthesis, and phospholipid scrambling mechanisms. Key areas include translocation of lipids across bilayers, membrane transport proteins, and ER membrane dynamics. His work employs biochemical, biophysical, and genetic approaches to study lipid scramblases, GPCRs, and membrane protein dysfunction in diseases like congenital disorders of glycosylation. Recent studies include cholesterol regulation of phospholipid scrambling, mitochondrial lipid import via VDAC, and molecular simulations of MTCH2 insertases. Menon has secured grants from NIH (e.g., Scramblases for protein glycosylation, 2022-2026) and NSF (Biology and mechanism of ancestral opsin function, 2024-2027). He collaborates with the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics. His lab’s contributions span over 200 publications, including landmark studies on lipid topogenesis and membrane homeostasis.
Heidi Hehnly is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Syracuse University's College of Arts & Sciences. She serves as Associate Director of the BioInspired Institute and Director of the Blatt Imaging Center. Her research focuses on cellular mechanisms connecting cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane transport, and centrosome function to control essential cellular processes such as cell division, fate, and polarity. Education: Ph.D., Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa (2009) B.S., Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester (2003) Dr. Hehnly's laboratory investigates the interface between cytoskeletal dynamics and membrane transport, with particular focus on how these systems co-regulate one another during cellular processes. Her research program addresses the fundamental question: how are ciliated tissues assembled during tissue development? Using zebrafish, mammalian tissue culture, C. elegans, and murine models, her lab employs cell biology, biochemistry, live cell imaging, and high-resolution imaging techniques to study centrosome function, Rab GTPases, and their roles in cellular organization. A major focus is understanding how membrane trafficking events controlled by Rab11 interact with the centrosome to regulate cellular processes. Analysis of Dr. Hehnly's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on the relationship between membrane trafficking (particularly Rab GTPases) and centrosome function. Her work has increasingly incorporated advanced imaging techniques and expanded into studying cellular mechanics, particularly the role of vimentin intermediate filaments. Key themes include the coordination of lumen and cilia formation during development, mechanisms of centrosome positioning, and the role of pericentriolar matrix integrity in cell division. Scientific Awards: Renée Crown Professor in the Sciences & Mathematics, Syracuse University (2022-2025) Inaugural member of the Women in Leadership Cohort, Syracuse University (2022) James K. Dual-Agyeman Award for Outstanding faculty (2022) New Investigator Idea award, DOD (2020) Dr. Hehnly has mentored numerous graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and undergraduate students, many of whom have gone on to prestigious medical and graduate programs. Her research is supported by multiple significant grants including an NSF NRT-URoL grant (2024-2029) as Co-PI, and several NIH grants as PI including 'Cell Cycle Dependent Mechanisms Triggering Lumen Formation in vivo' (2021-2025) and 'Four-Dimensional Prediction and Quantification of How Physical Forces Impact Organogenesis in Zebrafish' (2020-2025). She has also pioneered BioArt initiatives at Syracuse University, including the CHIMERA Art and Science Exhibition Programming. The Hehnly Laboratory, established in 2015, operates the Blatt Imaging Center at Syracuse University. The lab brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds to study cellular mechanisms using cutting-edge techniques including live cell imaging, optogenetics, and biosensor assays. The lab has developed novel methodologies for in vivo experimentation and maintains strong collaborative relationships with researchers across disciplines to gain novel perspectives on centrosome protein interactions during development.
Dr. Dong U Ahn is a Professor at Iowa State University, specializing in poultry product science and functional food components. His research focuses on lipid oxidation mechanisms, pathogen reduction in meat, and the development of bioactive peptides from egg proteins. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1988), and degrees from Seoul National University (M.Sc. 1983; B.Sc. 1978). His work spans food chemistry, immunology, and material science, with a strong emphasis on translating egg-derived components into functional foods and medical applications. Notable research includes improving food quality via enzymatic interventions, enhancing calcium absorption through phosvitin phosphopeptides, and creating antimicrobial biomaterials from eggshell membrane hydrolysates. Dr. Ahn’s recent studies (2023–2025) explore immunomodulatory peptides, wound-healing biomaterials, and the structural-functional relationships of proteins like ovalbumin. His articles highlight advancements in nutrient delivery systems, food safety, and osteogenic scaffold development. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided information. His advising and team collaborations are not detailed here, but his extensive publication record reflects a highly active research profile in food science and biotechnology.
Dr. Carine Gaiser is a Researcher at the School of Life Sciences, FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland. She is affiliated with the Institute for Chemistry and Bioanalytics, focusing on cell biology and in vitro toxicology. Her research employs cell cultures and tissue engineering to investigate disease mechanisms and substance efficacy/toxicity. Key collaborations include work on blood-brain barrier models, neuroregenerative scaffolds, and liver toxicity pathways. Her research interests span regenerative medicine, drug toxicity assessment, and biomarker discovery for fibrosis. She contributes to 'New Approach Methodology' (NAM) initiatives promoting non-animal testing strategies. Dr. Gaiser has published on topics ranging from miRNA roles in liver fibrosis to 3D cell culture platforms for high-throughput screening. Her work emphasizes translational applications, including in vitro models for drug development and tissue engineering innovations. She has presented findings at conferences like the ASHP Midyear Meeting and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to advance alternative toxicology methods.
Steven W. Graves is a Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of New Mexico, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. He serves as the Director of the Center for Biomedical Engineering and has held various leadership roles including Associate Dean for Research for the UNM School of Engineering and Director of the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program. Dr. Graves received his Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University in 1998 and completed postdoctoral research at Los Alamos National Laboratory before joining UNM in 2008. His research spans two primary areas: Biomedical/Environmental Instrumentation and Diagnostics, and Biomolecular Engineering for Protease Studies, Screening, and Molecular Computation. His laboratory develops innovative technologies including low-cost portable flow cytometry systems for resource-limited settings, acoustic focusing methods for high-throughput cellular analysis, and molecular computation approaches for disease detection. Current research projects include enhanced imaging flow cytometry for plankton studies, parallel systems for high-throughput flow cytometry, and computing with biomolecules. Dr. Graves has received significant research funding from NIH, NSF, and USDA, and has been awarded the 2007 R&D100 award for the development of Portable Acoustic Cytometry. He has co-founded two companies, Eta Diagnostics, Inc. and Helion Scientific, Inc., to commercialize his research innovations. 2015-Present: Professor, Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico 2014: Associate Dean for Research, School of Engineering, University of New Mexico 2010-2014: Director, Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of New Mexico 2008-2015: Associate Professor, Department of Chemical & Nuclear Engineering, University of New Mexico 2007-2008: Team Leader, Optical Spectroscopy and Instrumentation, Los Alamos National Laboratory His research group includes postdoctoral researchers, graduate students from multiple disciplines, and undergraduate students working collaboratively on interdisciplinary projects spanning engineering, biology, and chemistry.
Hadley D. Sikes is an Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT, holding the Esther and Harold E. Edgerton Career Development Professorship. She leads the Sikes Lab, focusing on biomolecular engineering, redox biology, and clinical diagnostics. Her research develops innovative diagnostic tools and explores H₂O₂ signaling in cancer therapies. Sikes joined MIT in 2009 after postdoctoral work at the University of Colorado and Caltech. She earned a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from Stanford University (2003) and a B.S. from Tulane University (1997). Education: Ph.D., Stanford University, Physical Chemistry (2003) B.S., Tulane University, Chemistry (1997) Research Interests: Her lab investigates epigenetic modifications, redox-directed cancer therapies, and diagnostic technologies. Key projects include improving medical diagnostics for diseases like malaria and cancer, and developing paper-based assays for rapid disease detection. She emphasizes ethical research practices, student well-being, and fostering an inclusive lab environment. Awards & Recognition: Willard Henry Dow Professorship of Chemical Engineering (2023) MIT Committed to Caring (C2C) Award (2019) ACS Best of BIOT Award (2018) NAE Innovative Young Engineer (2017) Grants & Advising: Sikes mentors students holistically, prioritizing mental health and work-life balance. Her lab has pioneered methods to reduce student isolation and improve lab dynamics. She actively advises on career development, balancing academic rigor with personal growth. Labs & Teams: The Sikes Lab is part of MIT’s Chemical Engineering Department, collaborating with institutions globally on projects like SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and cancer metabolism studies. Their work bridges fundamental research with clinical applications.
Craig A. Glastonbury is a Researcher and Research Group Leader at Human Technopole (since 2022), leading the Glastonbury Group. He holds a PhD in computational biology from King’s College London (2013-2017) and previously served as a machine learning researcher at BenevolentAI (2019-2022) and Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Oxford (2017-2019). His work focuses on integrating machine learning with genetic and imaging data to uncover disease mechanisms, particularly in histopathology and cardiovascular phenotypes. He currently advises BenevolentAI and serves as a guest associate editor for AHA Circulation. Research interests include computational biology, histopathology imaging, GWAS, and single-cell RNA-seq. The Glastonbury Group develops methods to extract phenotypic traits from imaging modalities like whole slide imaging (WSI) and links these to genetic data to study disease pathways. Current projects involve analyzing large-scale biobank data to identify genetic contributions to complex diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and oncology. Group members include PhD students Francesco Cisternino, Giuditta Clerici, Emma Esther Didelon, and Emanuel Soda, along with postdoctoral researchers and bioinformaticians. The team actively recruits for positions in machine learning, phenotyping, and genetic discovery. Craig’s work emphasizes scalable pipelines for GWAS and unsupervised phenotype discovery, with applications in cardiovascular and metabolic research. Contact: craig.glastonbury@fht.org
Carlos Bustamante is a Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Structural Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, and an Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator holding the Raymond and Beverly Sackler Chair. His lab develops cutting-edge single-molecule techniques like optical tweezers, fluorescence microscopy, and cryo-electron microscopy to study molecular motors, protein-DNA interactions, and nucleosome dynamics. Key projects include investigating the mechanical properties of RNase H, FtsK translocase, and the bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor. The group also explores transcription through nucleosomes, translation, protein folding, and recombination mechanisms. Affiliated with the departments of Molecular and Cell Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, as well as Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Bustamante’s work bridges biophysics and molecular biology. Research focuses on understanding how molecular machines operate at the single-molecule level, including the mechanochemical coupling in motors like RNA polymerase and the structural basis of protein-DNA interactions. His lab’s innovations include advanced optical tweezers automation (SmartTrap) and high-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM). Awards include HHMI Investigator status, recognizing his contributions to biophysical research. Group meetings and collaborations emphasize translating foundational discoveries into broader biological insights. Awards: Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Raymond and Beverly Sackler Chair Labs: QB3 Institute, Stanley Hall (UC Berkeley) Techniques: Optical tweezers, single-molecule fluorescence, cryo-EM, AFM
Dr. Fengwei Bai is a Professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, specializing in virology and immunology. He manages USDA-certified Biosafety-Level 3 (BSL3) facilities for cell culture and animal research, fostering collaborations with academia and industry. His research focuses on viral recognition by the host immune system and vaccine development against viral pathogens, funded by NIH and research foundations. Dr. Bai holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from Fudan University (2002) and completed postdoctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine. He teaches advanced courses in Immunology, Virology, and Viral Pathogenesis. His work spans antiviral therapies, viral pathogenesis, and exosome-mediated viral transmission, with notable contributions to Zika, West Nile, and Chikungunya virus research. His research highlights include developing live-attenuated Zika vaccines, plant-produced monoclonal antibodies, and understanding immune mechanisms in embryonic stem cells. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and a book on West Nile virus methodologies. Collaborations are welcome for studies involving BSL3 facilities or viral immunology.
