Matthew Stachler is a Physician Scientist at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) , where he focuses on Molecular Pathology and Personalized Medicine in cancer diagnostics and treatment. His research explores the progression of Barrett’s Esophagus and Gastroesophageal Cancers using advanced genomics, proteomics, and digital imaging technologies. Stachler’s work centers on understanding the genomic instability , molecular biomarkers , and immune microenvironment in upper gastrointestinal tract cancers , particularly Barrett’s Esophagus and its transformation into Esophageal Adenocarcinoma . He aims to develop novel screening strategies , biomarkers , and early interventions to improve patient outcomes. His recent publications highlight TP53 mutations , chromosomal instability , and multi-omics approaches to study cancer progression. Stachler is a Principal Investigator on NIH grants focused on Barrett’s Esophagus risk stratification and genomic consequences in cancer development. Current research projects include collaborations on digital spatial profiling , phosphoproteomic analysis , and functional studies to model cancer progression. His work bridges clinical pathology with translational research , emphasizing the importance of integrating molecular data into clinical practice .
Dr. John George Lock is a Senior Lecturer and Head of the Cancer Systems Microscopy lab within the Department of Pharmacology at the School of Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales (UNSW). He also serves as Associate Director of Research for the School of Biomedical Sciences, Deputy Chair of the School's Research Strategy Committee, and Chair of the HDR review panel. Dr. Lock is affiliated with multiple research networks including the UNSW Artificial Intelligence Institute, Data Science Hub, and AI & Data Science Network, as well as the Garvan Institute of Medical Research Imaging Platform Strategic Advisory Committee. Dr. Lock earned his PhD from the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland (2001-2006), preceded by First Class Honours in Biochemistry (2000-2001) and a BSc in Biochemistry (1997-2000). His postdoctoral research began at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm with fellowships from the Wenner-Gren Foundation and Swedish Cancer Foundation. He was accelerated to Assistant Professor for pioneering Systems Microscopy and leading a 9-person multidisciplinary team before returning to Australia to work with Professor Katharina Gaus at UNSW. Dr. Lock's research centers on Systems Microscopy, an innovative approach that integrates imaging-based methods with computational analysis to advance cancer treatment outcomes. His Cancer Systems Microscopy (CSM) lab focuses on three main areas: Precision Diagnostics using automated multiplexed quantitative imaging of circulating tumor cells; Targeted Therapies through novel high-content strategies for drug discovery; and Fundamental Insights into cancer progression mechanisms. The CSM lab has established collaborations with fundamental and translational cancer researchers, clinicians, commercial technology developers, and data science experts, creating a truly multidisciplinary ecosystem. Analysis of Dr. Lock's extensive publication record reveals a strong focus on advancing cancer diagnostics and treatment through the integration of imaging technologies and artificial intelligence. His work consistently bridges fundamental cell biology with clinical applications, particularly in prostate cancer and metastasis research. A significant trend across his recent publications involves developing computational methods to analyze cell state plasticity, tumor heterogeneity, and signaling pathways using advanced imaging techniques. Eva & Alex Wallestroms Foundation Award (2008) Karolinska Institute Young Researcher Award (2010) Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award (2017) Finalist in Shenzhen Innovation & Entrepreneurship International Competition (Australasia), 3rd place (2021) UNSW Scientia Fellow (2023) Dr. Lock actively supervises research students as Primary supervisor of 4 HDR students and Joint Supervisor of 1 HDR student. His grant portfolio demonstrates substantial funding success, with recent awards including NHMRC Ideas grants (2024), an NHMRC Equipment Grant (2024), a UNSW Scientia Fellowship (2023-2027), and multiple NHMRC and ARC grants spanning from 2016 to present. These grants support his work on liquid biopsy for personalized medicine, AI-driven image analysis, and drug discovery platforms. Dr. Lock co-founded the Systems Microscopy Australia Network and co-organizes the Functional High Throughput Technologies Australia meeting, demonstrating leadership in building national research capacity. The Cancer Systems Microscopy lab operates as a cutting-edge facility that has grown significantly since its initiation in 2018. Dr. Lock helped conceive and fund Australia's first dedicated Systems Microscopy facility with $2.5M funding from the Australian Research Council and the Ramaciotti Biomedical Research Award. The lab's multidisciplinary team integrates expertise in cell biology, microscopy, statistics, machine learning, and data visualization to tackle complex cancer research questions. The CSM lab has established strategic partnerships with the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, PeterMacCallum Cancer Centre, and various commercial technology developers, creating a robust ecosystem for translating basic research into clinical applications.
Florian Muller is a Group Leader and Researcher at the Photonic BioImaging (UTechS PBI) , Pasteur Institute, Paris. His work integrates advanced microscopy, image analysis, and single-RNA imaging to study spatial transcriptomics and gene regulation. Institution: Pasteur Institute Department: Photonic BioImaging (UTechS PBI) Role: Group Leader (Principal Investigator) His research focuses on quantitative imaging , spatial transcriptomics , and bioimage analysis , with an emphasis on developing computational tools for cell segmentation and RNA localization. He leads projects such as Fish&Chips and autoFISH , and develops open-source software including RNA2seg and Comseg . The recent publications highlight a strong trend in machine learning for image analysis , spatial omics , and high-throughput RNA imaging , particularly using smFISH and point cloud methods. His work bridges biology, computer science, and microscopy. He mentors a team including a PhD student and post-doctoral researchers, contributing to training and collaborative science at the Pasteur Institute.
Srivatsan Raghavan, MD, PhD, is a medical oncologist and physician-scientist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and holds an academic appointment as an Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He leads an independent research laboratory within the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, focusing on translational oncology in gastrointestinal malignancies. Institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute School: Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Department: Department of Medical Oncology Academic Rank: Instructor Dr. Raghavan's research centers on understanding cell state regulation and plasticity in pancreatic and biliary cancers, with a focus on how tumor microenvironmental signals influence therapeutic response and resistance. His lab employs cutting-edge technologies including single-cell RNA sequencing, patient-derived organoids, and functional genomic screens to dissect mechanisms of tumor evolution. The recent publications highlight a strong trend in leveraging clinical specimens and preclinical models to uncover transcriptional heterogeneity, identify novel therapeutic targets such as in sulfur metabolism and DCLK1, and explore combination strategies to overcome resistance. His work bridges basic science with clinical translation, particularly in targeting FGFR alterations and modulating TGF-beta signaling. Dr. Raghavan has contributed to several high-impact studies in journals like Cell , Cancer Discovery , and Nature Chemical Biology , often in collaborative, multi-institutional teams involving the Broad Institute, MIT, and Harvard. While no specific awards are listed, his co-first authorship on major papers indicates significant recognition in the field. He mentors within his research group and collaborates widely across computational, clinical, and laboratory sciences. His work is supported by institutional and collaborative grants, though specific funding sources are not detailed. The lab actively participates in the broader mission of improving outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients through innovative science. The Raghavan Lab operates within the Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, a multidisciplinary hub that integrates clinical care, genomics, and experimental therapeutics. The team works closely with experts in oncology, chemical biology, and bioinformatics across Dana-Farber, the Broad Institute, and MIT to accelerate discovery and translation.
PD Dr. Jakob Matschke is a researcher at the Institute of Neuropathology of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). With over 187 publications, his work spans critical areas in neuropathology , neuroimmunology , and neurodegenerative diseases . Current Affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, UKE Research Themes: Brain tumor biology, post-COVID-19 neurological effects, prion diseases, immune-tumor interactions, and neurodegenerative tauopathies His research on malignant gliomas explores somatic mutations in HLA class genes and antigen presentation mechanisms, while recent studies on SARS-CoV-2 examine neuroinflammatory scars and blood-brain barrier dysregulation. Collaborations include teams in clinical immunology (C3i) and the Neuro-Immune Network Hamburg . Key trends in his 15 most recent articles (2022-2025) include: Neuro-oncology: Tumor growth kinetics, glioblastoma survival disparities, spinal cord tumors Neuro-immunology: CD4 T cell responses, MPXV immune evasion, post-COVID-19 microglial activation Neurodegeneration: Prion protein shedding, TDP-43 cross-seeding, anti-IgLON5 disease pathology Prominent methodologies involve epigenomics , spatial immune mapping , and RT-QuIC assays for prion detection. His work often intersects clinical case studies with translational research, particularly in postmortem analyses of infectious and degenerative neurological conditions.
Judith Agudo, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Immunology at Harvard Medical School and a Principal Investigator in the Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Her research focuses on the immune surveillance of tissue-resident stem cells and cancer stem cells, with implications for cancer immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. Her research interests include understanding how normal and cancerous stem cells evade immune detection, the molecular mechanisms behind immune privilege, and the development of strategies to protect regenerative tissues or enhance immune targeting of metastatic cancer cells. She explores the role of quiescence, antigen presentation, and niche formation in immune evasion. Dr. Agudo's recent publications reveal groundbreaking insights into immune escape mechanisms in quiescent and cancer stem cells, utilizing innovative models like the Jedi mouse and PADME-seq for spatial transcriptomic analysis. Her work spans immunology, cancer biology, and stem cell research, with a strong emphasis on translational applications. Her scientific achievements have been recognized with several prestigious awards: Mary Kay Foundation Award Susan G. Komen Career Catalyst Award Pathway Award from the American Diabetes Association Smith Family Foundation Award for Excellence Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program Era of Hope New York Stem Cell Foundation – Robertson Investigator Member of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Dr. Agudo leads an active research lab investigating immune interactions with stem cells, with ongoing projects in tumor initiation, dormancy, metastasis, and regenerative medicine. She has secured significant research funding and collaborates with leading labs such as the Yilmaz lab. Her lab continues to develop novel technologies to dissect the tumor microenvironment and immune evasion pathways. Her lab, the Agudo Lab, is based at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and is dedicated to uncovering fundamental mechanisms of immune surveillance with therapeutic applications in cancer and autoimmune diseases.
Luke A. Gilbert is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine. He leads an independent research program focused on functional genomics, epigenetic engineering, and cancer biology, supported by multiple NIH grants including an R01, DP2, and R41 awards. His research centers on developing and applying CRISPR-based technologies to dissect gene regulation, chromatin dynamics, and cancer vulnerabilities. Key areas include epigenetic memory editing using CRISPRoff, combinatorial chromatin perturbations, and identifying regulatory elements in cancer. His work spans glioblastoma, prostate cancer, and acute myeloid leukemia, with a strong emphasis on therapeutic translation. The recent publications reveal a strong trend in high-throughput functional genomics, single-cell and spatial analyses, and integrative multiomics to uncover mechanisms of drug resistance, immune evasion, and oncogenic signaling. His team leverages cutting-edge tools like perturb-seq and engineered CRISPR systems to interrogate complex biological systems in vivo and in vitro. Scientific Awards: Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Graduate Research Fellow Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Postdoctoral Fellow NIH/NCI Pathway to Independence Award Gabrielle's Angel Foundation Medical Research Fellow NIH Director's New Innovator Award (2019–2023) Pew-Stewart Scholar for Cancer Research (2020) AAAS / Martin and Rose Wachtel Cancer Research Award (2022–2023) Prostate Cancer Foundation Challenge Award (2022–2027) CRUK/NCI Cancer Grand Challenge Award (2022–2027) NIH NHGRI UM1 HG012660 Luke Gilbert has secured significant grant funding as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH projects, including a DP2 New Innovator Award and R01 grants focused on DNA methylation editing and genetic interaction mapping in the human nucleus. These grants support his lab’s innovative work in functional genomics and cancer biology. He is actively involved in collaborative science, as seen through his participation in large consortia such as the MorPhiC Consortium, and his research is conducted within state-of-the-art facilities at UCSF, leveraging the university’s strengths in biomedical research, genomics, and translational medicine.
David Quigley is a faculty researcher at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), where he leads research on prostate cancer genomics and therapy resistance. His work focuses on understanding how genomic and epigenomic alterations in tumors influence patient outcomes and treatment response in advanced prostate cancer. Education: BA in Computer Science, Carleton College, 1998 MA in Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University, 2006 PhD in Genetics, University of Oslo, 2014 Dr. Quigley's research lies at the intersection of cancer biology, genomics, and computational methods. He uses large-scale genome sequencing and machine learning to identify non-coding structural variants, epigenetic changes, and transcriptional drivers associated with resistance to targeted therapies in metastatic prostate cancer. His recent work includes mapping accessible chromatin, studying AR signaling resistance, and developing predictive models for clinical outcomes. His recent publications (2024–2025) span high-impact journals such as Nature Genetics , Nature Cell Biology , Cancer Discovery , and Journal of Clinical Oncology , reflecting a strong focus on epigenomics, therapy resistance, spatial profiling, and health disparities in prostate cancer. Collaborative in nature, his research involves multi-institutional teams and integrates experimental and computational approaches. Scientific Awards: National Merit Scholar B.A. Magna Cum Laude M.A. with honors AACR Scholar in Training Award Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award (2018) BRCA Foundation Young Investigator Award (2024) Robert Sutherland Award, PacRim Breast and Prostate Cancer Meeting (2024) Outstanding Faculty Mentorship Award, UCSF Students of the Graduate Division Dr. Quigley is the Principal Investigator on a DOD-funded project (2024–2027) aimed at discovering transcriptional drivers in therapy-resistant prostate cancer and a co-PI on a Prostate Cancer Foundation grant using machine learning to advance drug development. He is actively involved in mentoring and collaborative science, contributing to major research consortia such as the SU2C/PCF West Coast Prostate Cancer Dream Team. His lab integrates clinical data, tumor genomics, and advanced computational models to improve risk stratification and therapeutic strategies for prostate cancer patients. Labs and Research Teams: His research is conducted in close collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. Felix Feng at UCSF, a leading group in prostate cancer genomics. He is part of the SU2C/PCF West Coast Dream Team and contributes to the Benioff Initiative for Prostate Cancer Research.
Michael Ratz serves as Assistant Professor and Group Leader at Karolinska Institute's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology since 2023, following positions as Visiting Scholar at Stanford University (2023), Researcher at KTH (2021-2023), and Postdoctoral Researcher at Karolinska Institute (2016-2021). His work bridges neuroscience, developmental biology, and genomics through innovative molecular tool development. His educational background includes: PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Germany (2012-2016) Ratz's research focuses on deciphering neural circuit assembly mechanisms in mammalian brain development. He pioneers cellular barcoding and spatial transcriptomics to investigate how genomic information translates into synaptic connectivity, with implications for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. His lab develops scalable approaches for mapping neural networks at molecular resolution, combining lineage tracing with circuit-level analysis. Analysis of his 2021-2025 publications reveals a dominant trend toward integrated spatial and lineage-based genomics. Key themes include neural circuit mapping (60% of recent work), single-cell transcriptomics (25%), and advanced imaging technologies (15%), with increasing emphasis on CRISPR perturbations and in vivo circuit engineering since 2023. Ratz secures major research funding through: Molecular dissection of neural circuit assembly (Swedish Research Council, 2023-2026) Deciphering astrocyte neurogenic potential (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, 2017-2019) He actively participates in doctoral education through KI's Neuroscience Doctoral Programme and NeurotechEU initiatives, including seminar leadership for doctoral students. He directs the Developmental Neurogenomics group, which operates at the intersection of wet-lab molecular engineering and computational analysis. The lab specializes in building endogenous cellular barcoding systems combined with spatial transcriptomics to achieve high-throughput neural circuit mapping, with recent work focusing on cortical circuit assembly algorithms.
Hugh Nimmo is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the School of Molecular Biosciences at the University of Glasgow. He obtained his BA and PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Cambridge and began his career in 1973 as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Dundee, contributing to foundational work on protein phosphorylation. After a lectureship at Dundee, he joined the University of Glasgow in 1977 as Lecturer in Biochemistry and was appointed Professor of Plant Biochemistry in 1992. His administrative leadership includes roles as Assistant Director of IBLS (1999-2001), Head of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (2002-2008), and Head of Biomolecular Sciences (2009-2014). Since 2015, he has worked part-time (3 days/week), maintaining active research and teaching. His research explores molecular control mechanisms across biological systems (plants, bacteria, fungi, mammals), with current focus on: Organ-specific communication in plant circadian clocks Mechanisms of time/temperature sensing in plants Thermosensitive RNA splicing in environmental adaptation Funded by MRC, BBSRC, NERC, Leverhulme Trust, and others. Nimmo's recent publications (2012-2024) demonstrate strong focus on Arabidopsis circadian biology, with recurring themes: Temperature-dependent alternative splicing in clock genes Organ-specific light/temperature responses Transcriptome dynamics under cold stress Evolution of thermosensitive regulatory mechanisms He supervises student projects and teaches through lectures and tutorials. Lab affiliations are not specified, but collaborations include researchers from multiple institutions.
Beth Strellis is a Research Fellow in Molecular Biosciences at the University of Glasgow. She completed her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology in 2024 under Dr. Brian Hudson, focusing on receptor phosphorylation and mGlu5 metabotropic glutamate receptor signal transduction. Currently, she works under Professors Andrew Tobin and Graeme Milligan to explore the physiology of the free fatty acid receptor 4 (FFA4) in asthma and COPD. Her research spans receptor biology, neurodegenerative diseases, and respiratory pathophysiology. Education: BSc in Pharmacology at the University of Bristol. Her research integrates molecular pharmacology and signal transduction to elucidate receptor roles in neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases. A 2021 article in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences examined M1 muscarinic receptor mutants in prion neurodegeneration, highlighting her interest in receptor signaling mechanisms. Beth has presented at multiple conferences since 2021, including the British Pharmacological Society's meetings, World Congress of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, and the School of Molecular Biosciences Conference. She served on the organisational committee for the Life Sciences ECR Symposium in 2023. Grants: Monitoring the Impact of FFA4 Activation on Inflammatory Lung Disease using Spatial Transcriptomic Analysis (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Endowment Funds, 2025-2026). She has supervised Honours and Masters students since 2021 and served as Demonstrator and Tutor for L1 Biology courses (2023-2024). Her lab is located at Lab 441, Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow.
Professor Annie Jonsson is a distinguished academic at the University of Skövde, serving as Professor of Bioscience and Vice Dean. She has been actively contributing to the institution since 2000, holding various leadership roles including subject manager, research group leader, research environment leader, and department head. Her current responsibilities include overseeing quality work within the University's education and research as part of her vice-dean role, while also supporting higher education pedagogy development initiatives. Professor Jonsson's research expertise spans a broad spectrum of ecological fields, with particular emphasis on applied ecology and nature conservation. She has developed innovative methods for analyzing how landscapes with different configurations of biotopes can harbor biodiversity and has created tools for assessing landscape capacity to maintain biodiversity. Her work in environmental monitoring toxicology focuses on molecular biological methods using mussels as bioindicators in freshwater ecosystems. She also investigates population dynamics and extinction risk, food web dynamics, and the spread of infectious diseases among livestock through animal transport networks. Her publication record reflects a consistent and diverse research trajectory spanning over 25 years, with recent work showing increased focus on practical applications of ecological theory to conservation challenges. Her research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between theoretical ecology, environmental monitoring, and practical conservation tools. A notable trend in her recent publications is the development of landscape-level biodiversity assessment tools that integrate ecological theory with practical conservation planning. Professor Jonsson leads significant research initiatives including 'The Conservation Biology of Freshwater Mussels and Their Usefulness as Bioindicators' (2007-2027) and participates in the 'INGENIUM European University' alliance. She collaborates extensively with businesses, government agencies, and conservation organizations to translate research into practical tools for biodiversity preservation. Her leadership extends beyond research to educational development, having created programs in ecology and sustainable development while implementing education at undergraduate, advanced, and postgraduate levels. As Vice Dean, she plays a crucial role in shaping the University's educational quality and research strategy.
Nancy R. Zhang is the Ge Li and Ning Zhao Professor of Statistics and Data Science at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and serves as Vice Dean of Wharton Doctoral Programs. She obtained her Ph.D. in Statistics from Stanford University in 2005 and joined Penn with tenure in 2012 after serving as Assistant Professor at Stanford (2006-2012). Stanford University – Ph.D. in Statistics (2005) Her research focuses on statistical genetics and genomics, particularly developing statistical models and computational algorithms for high-throughput biological data. Key contributions include DNA copy number estimation, intra-tumor heterogeneity modeling, and single-cell/spatial genomic data analysis. She has pioneered methods like SAVER, DENDRO, and CODEX2, with recent work on signal recovery in single-cell batch integration (2025) and cross-species kidney disease analysis (2025). Her publications demonstrate interdisciplinary expertise spanning Statistics , Genomics , Immunology , and Biomedical Informatics . Notable subfields include single-cell transcriptomics, tumor phylogeny reconstruction, and spatial data analysis. David Cox Medal (2025) Frontiers of Science Award (2025) IMS Medallion Lecture (2021) Sloan Fellowship (2011) New World Silver Medal (2007) Zhang leads the Zhang Statistical Genomics Lab, mentoring current students like Yuntian Fu and alumni including Kevin Lin (Univ. of Washington), Chi-Yun Wu (Gladstone Institute), and Yuchao Jiang (UNC). Her work is funded by NSF, NIH, and Mark Foundation grants, with affiliations to Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center, Institute of Biomedical Informatics, and Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology.
Ann Harris is a Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at the School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. She is a member of the Cancer Genomics and Epigenomics Program at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, focusing on tissue-specific and temporal regulation of gene expression in health and disease. Primary research on CFTR gene regulation in epithelial diseases like cystic fibrosis (CF) and cancer Investigates 3D chromatin architecture and transcriptional networks in CFTR regulation Current projects include CFTR mechanisms in understudied tissues (pancreas, gall bladder) and prenatal CF disease progression using CF sheep models Applies advanced functional genomics techniques: single-cell RNA-seq, multiomics, spatial transcriptomics , and organoid assays Her work enhances understanding of epithelial cell biology and provides insights for CF treatment strategies.
Darren Perkins, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Perkins Innate Immunology Laboratory at the University of Maryland School of Medicine , with a secondary appointment as a scientist at the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center . He specializes in innate immunity, focusing on Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs) , Type I interferon signaling , and macrophage responses to pathogens like Salmonella and Francisella tularensis . Education : B.S. in Biology from Duke University (1996); Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from Emory University (2003). Research interests encompass: Innate immune system's molecular defenses against infections TLR-mediated inflammatory response orchestration Interferon production and its role in viral/bacterial resistance Transcriptional reprogramming in immune cells His scientific contributions include 15+ publications on topics such as: TLR2-TRAF3 signaling in macrophage antiviral defense Salmonella's manipulation of IFN systems Epigenetic regulation of inflammation STING pathway activation by bacterial toxins Labs/Teams : Leads the Perkins Innate Immunology Lab at University of Maryland, focusing on data-driven innate immunity research and trainee development.
