Kenneth Hoehn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Data Science at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College. As a computational immunologist with expertise in evolutionary biology, he develops computational evolutionary approaches to trace cellular lineages, particularly B cells, in contexts such as infection, vaccination, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. His research focuses on understanding adaptive immunity in conditions like COVID-19 Food allergies Myasthenia gravis through collaborations with experimental teams. Key projects include: Phylogenetic modeling of B cell responses Evolutionary signatures in immune repertoires Tracking B cell dissemination in autoimmune diseases Epigenetic regulation of memory B cells Recent publications highlight trends in single-cell immunology , phylogenetic inference , and computational tools for analyzing B cell dynamics. His lab at Dartmouth integrates evolutionary genetics with high-resolution immune profiling.
Joel Weadge is an Associate Professor in the Biology Department at Wilfrid Laurier University , Waterloo, Ontario. His research focuses on bacterial biofilms, glycobiology, and protein structure-function relationships. Contact: jweadge@wlu.ca , Office: BA425 (Bricker Academic). Education: PhD in Microbiology (University of Guelph, 2006) BSc (Hons) in Microbiology (University of Guelph, 2000) Research Interests center on bacterial biofilms as virulence factors in pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella . Key areas include: Structural and functional characterization of biofilm proteins (cellulose, curli fimbriae) Enzymology of carbohydrate modifications (acetylation, phosphoethanolamine transfer) Developing therapeutics targeting biofilm synthesis Biopolymer applications for medical/industrial use Publications highlight studies on Pseudomonas and Salmonella biofilm mechanisms, glycosyltransferases, and carbohydrate-active enzymes, with methodologies spanning X-ray crystallography to high-throughput biofilm profiling. Labs and Teams: The Weadge Lab investigates biofilm roles in food/water security and oral health, utilizing enzymology, mass spectrometry, and structural biology. Current members include graduate students, technicians, and research assistants.
Raphael Franzini serves as Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Utah, actively contributing to the Biological Chemistry PhD Program. His research pioneers innovative chemical approaches for therapeutic development, with dual focus on DNA-encoded library technologies and bioorthogonal drug delivery systems. His educational foundation includes an M.S. from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (Lausanne) and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. This training underpins his group's multidisciplinary methodology combining organic synthesis, bioconjugation, computational modeling, and advanced imaging techniques. Dr. Franzini's research program centers on two transformative areas: First, advancing DNA-encoded library screening through computational integration to identify leads for challenging targets like Tankyrase and Sirtuin 6, with recent work addressing false negatives in machine learning prediction. Second, developing novel bioorthogonal release chemistry using isonitrile-tetrazine reactions for spatiotemporally controlled drug activation, validated in zebrafish models. His group emphasizes both technological innovation and therapeutic translation, with chemistry designed to minimize off-target effects in solid tumors. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals escalating integration of computational methods with experimental library screening, alongside refinement of bioorthogonal release kinetics. The work spans chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmaceutical sciences, with growing emphasis on machine learning for library data interpretation and in vivo validation of drug-release systems. Dr. Franzini maintains an active research laboratory that provides comprehensive training in cutting-edge drug discovery methodologies. His group culture prioritizes both scientific innovation and researcher development, with projects spanning from fundamental reaction kinetics to therapeutic applications. The lab's infrastructure supports organic synthesis, molecular imaging, and computational analysis for advancing precision therapeutics.
Xiaoyu Cai is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, specializing in lung regeneration, aging biology, and stem cell plasticity. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing alveolar type 2 (AT2) stem cell dynamics during aging and chronic lung diseases. Education: Bachelor of Medicine (Peking University, 2012), Master of Science (Peking University, 2015), PhD in Biology of Aging (USC & Buck Institute, 2021) Key Research Areas: Lung regeneration, inflammation resolution, stem cell aging, 3D organoid cultures Methodologies: Single-cell multiome, mouse genetics, multicellular organoid systems Collaborations: Translational partnerships with clinical teams for bench-to-bedside applications Dr. Cai's recent work explores lineage plasticity in aged lung stem cells, ferroptosis suppression via CRISPR screens, and cellular aging atlases across species. She previously held a postdoctoral position at Genentech Inc. and maintains a professional lab website. Contact: xcai2@luc.edu | Office: CTRE 123
Dana Pe'er is a Professor and Chair of the Computational and Systems Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and holds the Alan and Sandra Gerry Endowed Chair. Dr. Pe'er leads an interdisciplinary research group that combines advanced genomics approaches with machine learning to address fundamental questions in biomedical science, with particular focus on cancer biology, developmental biology, and immunology. Dr. Pe'er earned her PhD from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Her academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship with George Church at Harvard Medical School. Before joining Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2016, she held faculty positions at Columbia University. Dr. Pe'er's research focuses on understanding cellular plasticity, the consequences of intra-tumor heterogeneity, cancer evolution and metastasis, and the mechanisms by which regulatory circuits go awry in disease. Her lab combines single-cell and spatial profiling technologies with machine learning approaches to investigate gene regulation, cellular plasticity, and cell-cell communication in the contexts of cancer, immunity, and development. They are particularly interested in how organisms develop from a single cell to generate diverse cell types, how epigenetic control rewires during development, and how cells communicate to execute multicellular responses. Analysis of Dr. Pe'er's recent publications reveals a strong focus on developing computational methods for single-cell and spatial genomics data analysis. Her work spans cancer types including pancreatic, prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer, with emphasis on tumor heterogeneity, metastasis mechanisms, and cellular plasticity. A significant portion of her research involves creating novel algorithms and tools like CellRank, REUNION, and SEACells that enable researchers to extract meaningful biological insights from complex genomic datasets. 2023 Class of 2023 Inductee - American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) Academy 2023 Innovator Award - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) 2021 Fellow - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2021) 2019 Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2016 Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award - Columbia University 2014 Director's Pioneer Award - National Institutes of Health 2014 Overton Prize - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Dr. Pe'er is known for her dedicated mentorship approach, describing herself as "a mama bear" who cares deeply about her trainees while expecting independence, innovation, and hard work. She mentors numerous PhD students and postdocs in her lab. Her HHMI Investigator award provides approximately $9 million over seven years, enabling ambitious research directions. She also collaborates extensively with the Single-cell Analytics and Innovation Lab (SAIL) at MSK to generate new data from emerging technologies, working closely with wet-lab collaborators at MSK and beyond to apply computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across multiple disease areas. The Pe'er Lab is an interdisciplinary group of computational biologists with diverse backgrounds ranging from pure mathematics to clinical medicine. They work closely with wet-lab collaborators to apply their computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across cancer, immunology, and developmental biology. The lab is described as open, supportive, collaborative, and fun, with access to world-class facilities at the Sloan Kettering Institute. Dr. Pe'er's work continues to push the boundaries of computational biology and cancer research, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, personalized therapies for cancer patients.
Dr. Igor V. Pivkin is a Full Professor at the Institute of Computing within the Faculty of Informatics at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland. His academic journey includes degrees from Novosibirsk State University (B.Sc./M.Sc. Mathematics), Brown University (M.Sc. Computer Science and Ph.D. Applied Mathematics), and postdoctoral research at MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research focuses on multiscale/multiphysics modeling , numerical methods , and large-scale simulations of biological and physical systems. Key areas include biophysics, cellular/molecular biomechanics, stochastic modeling, and coarse-grained molecular simulations. He leverages high-performance computing (HPC) and particle-based methods to address complex biological phenomena. His work spans diverse applications, from understanding cellular mechanosensitivity and biofilm engineering to modeling cancer cell behavior and red blood cell dynamics in the spleen. His contributions bridge computational science, biotechnology, and biomedical research. He has published extensively in top-tier journals, with recent work advancing automated biofilm analysis, deep learning for microbial classification, and systems biology approaches to metal bioleaching. His lab collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, emphasizing computational innovation for real-world biological challenges.
Konstantinos Kalogeropoulos is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), leading research at the Cell Diversity Lab. His work bridges proteomics, computational biology, and snake venom research. Current projects: "The Proteomic Landscape during Influenza Infection" (2022-2025) Supervisor for PhD projects on protease network rewiring in psoriasis and wound exudate degradomics Research interests include: Proteomic analysis of inflammatory diseases Snake venom toxin structure prediction Extracellular matrix biomechanics De novo peptide sequencing algorithms Computational modeling of protease networks Recent article trends demonstrate his work in • Database-free proteomics (InstaNovo/InstaNexus) • Snake venom pathophysiology (V-ToCs clustering) • Inflammatory disease biomarkers (psoriasis, impaired healing) • Extracellular matrix mechanics (fibronectin tension, gut inflammation) Advising: Supervises PhD students Polhaus, C. J. M. and Haack, A. M., focusing on protease networks and wound healing.
Jethro Johnson is an Innovation Track Principal Investigator at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology and Deputy Director of the Oxford Centre for Microbiome Studies (OCMS) at the University of Oxford. His work integrates computational genomics and microbiome research to explore host-microbiome interactions in health and disease. PhD in Nutritional Ecology (University of Auckland, 2012) MRC Career Development Fellowship Former postdoctoral researcher at Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine Research focuses on: Mechanistic understanding of gut microbiome impacts on metabolic diseases Multi-omic data integration for host-microbiome studies Computational approaches to microbiome analysis Methodological developments in 16S rRNA gene profiling Publications emphasize microbiome-disease associations, methodological innovations, and computational genomics applications across human and mouse models. Key themes include metabolic dysfunction, immune interactions, and microbial diversity analysis. Scientific recognition includes: MRC Career Development Fellowship in Computational Genomics As OCMS Deputy Director, he contributes to advancing microbiome research infrastructure and collaborative projects while leading his own computational genomics group at the Kennedy Institute.
Dr. Karen Anderson is a Professor at Arizona State University (ASU), affiliated with the School of Life Sciences, the Biodesign Center for Personalized Diagnostics, and the College of Health Solutions. Her research focuses on tumor biology and immune system interactions in cancer, particularly developing biomarkers for early detection of cancers like breast, ovarian, pancreatic, and HPV-related cancers. She employs molecular techniques such as protein arrays, next-gen sequencing, and functional genomics to identify therapeutic targets and vaccine candidates. Education: Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology (Duke University), M.D. from Duke University School of Medicine, and B.A. in Chemistry (University of Virginia). Research interests include cancer immunotherapy, autoantibody profiling, and translational applications of proteomics. Key achievements include pioneering autoantibody-based biomarker assays and investigating HPV serology in head and neck cancers. Awards include the Health Care Heroes Award and recognition as one of Arizona's Most Influential Women. Teaching responsibilities include courses on research techniques and honors thesis supervision. Grants span biomarker validation, cancer genomics, and point-of-care diagnostics. Active in professional service, including roles in grant review panels and public health initiatives.
Dr. Rong Fan is the Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Pathology at Yale University. His research focuses on developing and applying single-cell and spatial omics technologies to study immune systems, cancer, and aging. His lab has pioneered technologies like the IsoCode microchip for high-throughput protein profiling, and spatial multi-omics platforms (e.g., DBiT-seq, spatial-ATAC-seq) to analyze tissue complexity at cellular resolution. He co-founded IsoPlexis, Singleron Biotechnologies, and AtlasXomics to commercialize these innovations. Education: PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley (2006), B.S. in Applied Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China (1999). Postdoctoral training at Caltech before joining Yale in 2010. Research interests include CAR-T cell therapy optimization, spatial epigenomics, and multi-omics integration. Key achievements include discovering biomarkers predictive of CAR-T efficacy and defining spatial genomic landscapes in cancer and neuroinflammation. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Packard Fellowship, election to AIMBE, CASE, and NAI. Serves on advisory boards for Bio-Techne and Yale Ventures. Active in training future scientists via the Yale Biomedical Engineering and Yale School of Medicine programs.
Vitaly Kheyfets, PhD, serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics-Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus School of Medicine, where he directs research at the intersection of pediatric critical care and cardiopulmonary pathophysiology with emphasis on pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). His primary research focuses on right ventricular adaptation to pulmonary hypertension, utilizing machine learning-driven multi-omics analysis to identify disease biomarkers and molecular networks. He pioneers computational fluid dynamics approaches for hemodynamic modeling in congenital heart conditions like Glenn physiology, while also investigating sleep oscillatory patterns as neurodegenerative biomarkers. His methodology integrates proteomics, spatial transcriptomics, and pressure waveform analysis to dissect vascular remodeling mechanisms. Publication trends reveal a strong emphasis on translating computational models into clinical applications for PAH prognostication, with recent work developing AI-cooperative diagnostic platforms and characterizing microvascular changes in the right ventricle. Cross-disciplinary collaborations span proteomics, imaging, and sleep neuroscience, demonstrating consistent innovation in both pulmonary hypertension and neurodegenerative disease biomarker discovery.
Maria Timofeeva is an Associate Professor in the Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Biodemography (EBB) department at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), with additional affiliation at the Danish Institute for Advanced Study (DIAS). She holds an Honorary Fellow position at the University of Edinburgh since December 2019. Her research focuses on cancer prevention and prediction, particularly studying the effects of environmental and genetic factors on cancer risk and progression. Dr. Timofeeva earned her Dr.sc.hum in Epidemiology from Heidelberg University (2005-2009), with a dissertation on genetic polymorphisms as risk factors for early onset lung cancer. Prior to her current position, she worked as a Statistical Geneticist at the University of Edinburgh (2013-2019) and as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (2009-2013). Her research interests center around understanding the genetics of cancer risk through multi-omic analysis. She leads several significant projects, including the Interdisciplinary Project on Adherence to Colorectal Cancer Screening, meta-analysis of factors associated with false-positive and false-negative FOBT results (registered in PROSPERO ID: CRD42022315767), and the COlorectal Cancer screening Among RElatives (CoCARE) twin-family study in Denmark. Her methodological expertise spans observational epidemiological studies (case-control, population-based cohort studies, twin studies), meta-analysis, umbrella reviews, and multi-omics data analysis. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on colorectal cancer genetics, with particular emphasis on genome-wide association studies, Mendelian randomization approaches, and trans-ancestry analyses. Her work frequently leverages large datasets including the UK Biobank and international consortia, with applications in cancer risk prediction and understanding gene-environment interactions. Dr. Timofeeva has an extensive publication record with 73 publications listed in her profile. Her research has been cited across multiple platforms, with mentions in news outlets, social media, and academic readership platforms like Mendeley. She is actively involved in academic service, serving as a peer reviewer for journals including BMC Cancer and Scientific Reports, and participating in conferences such as the 26th Nordic Congress of Gerontology. She also serves on evaluation committees, including with the World Cancer Research Fund International (April-May 2024). Her teaching activities include courses on evidence-based drug utilization and biostatistics, as well as supervision of research projects on gene expression in twins. Dr. Timofeeva has engaged with the public through media contributions, including an interview titled 'Jeg vil forstå, hvorfor vi får kræft' (November 15, 2021), where she discussed understanding why we get cancer.
Dr. Ian Wilson is a researcher at Newcastle University with a focus on medical genetics, nephrology, and genomic analysis. His work spans genetic determinants of kidney diseases, mitochondrial disorders, and biomarker development. Notable contributions include studies on uromodulin genetics in African populations, copy-number variations in rare diseases, and kidney ciliopathies. He has collaborated extensively on projects involving genome sequencing, mitochondrial replacement therapy, and muscular dystrophy biomarkers. Wilson's research integrates computational tools like machine learning for predictive modeling in urolithiasis and employs advanced imaging techniques for disease progression monitoring. Key areas: Genetic epidemiology, renal genomics, mitochondrial DNA analysis Focus on translational applications: Biomarker development for kidney stones and muscular dystrophies Interdisciplinary collaborations in ophthalmology and orthopedics His publications reflect a commitment to advancing diagnostic accuracy and understanding complex genetic disorders through multi-omics approaches.
Ying Ge is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, jointly appointed in the Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology and the Department of Chemistry. Her research integrates chemistry, biology, and medicine, focusing on advanced mass spectrometry-based proteomic and metabolomic technologies to address cardiovascular diseases. Education: B.S., Peking University (1997) Ph.D., Cornell University (2002) Ying Ge's work centers on developing ultra high-resolution mass spectrometry platforms for top-down proteomics and metabolomics, applied to systems biology studies of heart failure and regenerative medicine. Key projects include myofilament protein modification mapping, stem cell therapy evaluation, and biomarker discovery for cardiac conditions. The 15 most recent articles highlight her lab's methodological innovations (e.g., photocleavable surfactants, native mass spectrometry) and biological discoveries in AMPK structural heterogeneity, RBM20-mediated cardiotoxicity, and sarcomere-metabolism cross-talk during regeneration. These publications span proteomics, metabolomics, structural biology, and clinical applications.
Markus Heilig is a Professor of Psychiatry and Head of the Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV) at Linköping University. He serves as Director of the Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN), integrating basic and clinical neuroscience to address addictive and affective disorders. His work bridges neuropharmacology, molecular psychiatry, and clinical trials. Linköping University (Current) Center for Social and Affective Neuroscience (CSAN) (Director) Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine (Collaborator) His research focuses on alcohol dependence mechanisms, stress-neurotransmitter interactions (e.g., CRF, substance P, endocannabinoids), and personalized medicine approaches. Using animal models and human neuroimaging (fMRI), his lab explores epigenetic changes in frontal lobe and amygdala neurons that drive compulsive alcohol use. Recent publications highlight his work on endocannabinoid modulation for PTSD treatment, neural correlates of reward choices, and pharmacological interventions targeting GABA and opioid receptors. His studies often combine brain imaging, behavioral analysis, and pharmacology. Scientific awards include the 2019 Wallenberg Clinical Scholar grant and 2017 CAN/Nordic Drugs prizes. Heilig's research is supported by Vetenskapsrådet (SEK 57 million center funding) and international donations like the Andrew J. Bock Memorial Fund.
.png)
