PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
TITLE
- Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering within the Engineering School
- Member of the Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering
LAB FOCUS
- Blending engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, and medicine to develop new imaging and therapeutic approaches
- Developing novel nanotechnology-based strategies to harness the power of the immune system
- Creating novel diagnostic imaging and therapeutic agents for diseases including cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegeneration
AWARDS
- K99/R00 Transition to Independence Award
- AACR-Breast Research Foundation Career-Development Award for Translational Breast Cancer Research (2017)
- AHA Transformational Project Award (2018)
POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCHERS
EDUCATION/BACKGROUND
- Bachelors: Science in Chemistry from University of Delhi, India (1995); Science in Chemistry from University of Delhi, India (1998)
- Ph.D: Chemistry from C.C Singh University and IGIB, India (2007)
RESEARCH FOCUS/LAB INTERESTS
- Joined lab on March 16, 2020
- Interested in design/fabrication and engineering of novel biodegradable polymeric nanoimmunotherapic systems for various cancer treatments
- Hopes to improve clinical outcomes of people with cancer through improved cancer therapies
- Past work focused on developing controlled release delivery systems to increase payload release rates and designing bio-conjugated nanoparticles for targeted therapy in cancer treatment
HOBBIES
- Cooking, learning astrology
AWARDS
- Young Scientist Project from Department of Science and Technology (SERC Fast Track Proposals for Young Scientists Scheme), Government of India (2007)
- “Novel polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery application” NIH R15 grant (2013)
EDUCATION/BACKGROUND
- Bachelors: Pharmacy from India Medical School (2009); Pharmocology & Toxicology from Wright State University, Dayton, OH (2017)
- Ph.D: Biomedical Sciences from Wright State University, Dayton, OH (2017)
RESEARCH FOCUS/LAB INTERESTS
- Joined lab in 2020
- Current research focuses on exploring anti-cancer nano drugs that target the tumor immune microenvironment
- Studied analytical and toxicological aspects of silver nanoparticles in in vitro systems (for MS/Ph.D) and aberrant DNA repair in autoimmune diseases as postdoc at Yale University
HOBBIES
- Reading, cooking, baking
- Gardening, pencil sketching
EDUCATION/BACKGROUND
- Ph.D: Science from Nankai University, China (2019)
RESEARCH FOCUS/LAB INTERESTS
- Joined lab in September 2019
- Currently researching drug release monitoring in vitro/vivo using MPI
- Mainly interested in utilizing Medical Imaging Modalities (CT, IVIS, MPI, MSOT, MP, etc.) to monitor drug release and the distribution of nanoparticles in vivo
- Hopes to contribute to improving society for the better, especially regarding cancer treatment
HOBBIES
- Painting, designing
- Working out, traveling
AWARDS
- Second grade Scholarship (2015), First grade Scholarship
- He Binglin Scholarship (2018), Graduate Secondary Scholarship (2018)
BioMedical Scholars Rotating Ph.D Students
BACHELOR’S
- Science in Biomedical Science, First-Class Honors from Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK (2013)
MASTER’S
- Science in Translational Medical Research, Molecular Oncology from Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany (2016)
BACHELOR’S
- Science in Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea (2019)
UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANTS
YEAR/MAJOR
- Sophomore planning to graduate in 2024
- Genetics major
LAB INFORMATION/ASPIRATIONS
- Joined lab on September of 2020
- Hopes to experience what it’s like to work in a lab setting and to explore his career options
MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS
- Creating the official website
HOBBIES
- Playing video games with friends
YEAR/MAJOR
- Junior expecting to graduate in 2021
- Interested in science, sports, and trading stocks
LAB INFORMATION/ASPIRIATIONS
- Joined lab in September of 2020
- Hopes to gain valuable experience and knowledge in the medical field that can help him in future endeavors
MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS
- Helping with cell work, doing inventory in the lab
- Creating the official website
HOBBIES
- Plays basketball and football
YEAR/MAJOR
- Junior expecting to graduate in spring of 2022
- Cognitive Neuroscience major and Entrepreneurship and Innovation minor
LAB INFORMATION/ASPIRATIONS
- Joined lab in spring of 2020
- Hopes to gain some knowledge on how to use nanoparticles in living organisms, including humans
- Interested in joining the Air Force and attending medical school
- Aims to leave an impact on cancer research in the future
MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS
- Created various nanoparticles, such as celecoxib-entrapped Albumin
HOBBIES
- Scuba diving, traveling
YEAR/MAJOR
- Sophomore planning to graduate in 2023
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major
LAB INFORMATION/ASPIRATIONS
- Joined lab in September of 2020
- Hopes to expand knowledge on immunology and research in general
- Currently exploring her career paths in pharmacology and veterinary medicine
MAIN CONTRIBUTIONS
- Creation of the official website
HOBBIES
- Dancing, drawing
- Graphic design, listening to music
YEAR/MAJOR
- Plans to graduate in 2023
- Studying electrical engineering
- Expecting to double major in computer engineering and microbiology
LAB INFORMATION/ASPIRATIONS
- Joined lab in early February
- Hopes to gain a greater understanding of how diseases targeting the immune system operate and gather information in biological systems
- Has some experience in C++ programming, Python, and Matlab and is planning to use these skills with MPI
HOBBIES
- Surfing, playing sports, meditating
PAST MEMBERS
Anthony Chau
(2016-2017)
- Degree/Position: Bachelors, Undergraduate
- Field in lab: Statistical coding
- Where they are now: University of California San Francisco Research Associate
Mahsa Gifani
(2019-2020)
- Degree/Position: M.D., Post-doctoral
- Field in lab: Imaging
- Where they are now: Post-doctoral researcher at Michigan State University School of Medicine
Alexander Honkala
(2016-2019)
- Degree/Position: Research assistant
- Field in lab: Immunology
- Where they are now: CEO and founder of Arxeon
Niloufar Hosseini-Nassab
(2017-2018)
- Degree/Position: Ph.D, Post-doctoral
- Field in lab: Nanoparticle chemistry
- Where they are now: Post-doctoral researcher at Department of Radiology, Stanford University
Kayley Irwin
(2019-2019)
- Degree/Position: Bachelors of Science, Undergraduate
- Field in lab: Nanoparticles
- Where they are now: Michigan State University Dean’s Research Scholar
Mana Jammalamadaka
- Degree/Position: High school student
- Field in lab: Image analysis
- Where they are now: Unknown
Irina Kalashnikova
(2019-2020)
- Degree/Position: Ph.D, Post-doctoral
- Field in lab: Nanoparticle chemisty
- Where they are now: Unkwown
Jarrod Marks
- Degree/Position: Undergraduate
- Field in lab: Image analysis
- Where they are now: Resident physician at Tufts University
Peng Peng
(2017-2018)
- Degree/Position: M.D., Visiting Scholar
- Field in lab: Imaging and radiology
- Where they are now: Attending physician at Guangxi, China
Harikrishna Rallapalli
- Degree/Position: Ph.D, Undergraduate
- Field in lab: Various
- Where they are now: Post-doctoral researcher at the National Institutes of Health
Shaveena Sivapalan
(2019-2021)
- Degree/Position: Bachelors, Undergraduate
- Field in lab: Nanomedicine
- Where they are now: Medical School
Hanxue Zhao
(2016-2017)
- Degree/Position: M.D., Visiting Scholar
- Field in lab: Imaging and radiology
- Where they are now: Attending radiologist in Beijing, China
Michal Zhao
- Degree/Position: Masters, Research assistant
- Field in lab: Nanomechanics
- Where they are now: Senior consultant
Xingjun Zhu
(2017-2018)
- Degree/Position: Ph.D, Post-doctoral
- Field in lab: Nanoparticle chemistry
- Where they are now: Assistant Professor at ShanghaiTech, China
