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Institute for Cell Engineering

Our Experts

Meet the Scientists at the Institute for Cell Engineering

The Institute for Cell Engineering comprises primary faculty members listed here and affiliated faculty members listed below. Primary faculty take part in the everyday activities, including planning and running journal clubs, planning seminar series and guiding the general research focus of the Institute.

Primary Faculty

  • Dian Arifin, PhD

    Research Interests: cell- and extracellular vesicle-based medicine, in vivo delivery systems, molecular and cellular imaging, Theranostics

  • Seth Blackshaw, PhD

    Research Interests: Functional analysis of candidate regulators of cell specification and survival in retina, High throughput screening, Molecular basis of neuronal and glial cell fate specification and survival, Regulation of hypothalamic cell fate specification and function

  • Jeff W. Bulte, PhD

    Research Interests: CEST, Contrast Agents, Molecular and Cellular Imaging, MPI, MRI, Nanoparticles, Reporter Genes, Stem Cells, Theranostics

  • Patrick Cahan, PhD

    Research Interests: Computational Biology, Single Cell Genomics, Stem Cell Engineering

  • Jason Paul Carreon Chua, MD PhD

    Expertise: Psychiatry, Neurology

  • Ted M. Dawson, MD PhD

    Expertise: Neurology

    Research Interests: Molecular and Cellular Signals Controlling Neurodegeneration, Neuronal Survival and Cell Death

  • Valina Dawson, PhD

    Research Interests: Neuronal cell death, Neuronal cell survival, Neuronal stem cell development, Parkinson's disease

  • Sung-Ung Kang, DrMedSc

    Research Interests: Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Big Data, Deep Learning, Epigenomics, Gut-Brain Axis, Identification of Cell-Type Specific Diagnostic Markers, Molecular Circadian Rhythms, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Parkinson's Disease (PD), Single-Cell Genomics, Transgenic Animals

  • Hyesoo Kim, DVM PhD

    Research Interests: Cell fate determination/plasticity, Disease modeling, Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs), Optogenetic application of hPSCs

  • Hanseok Ko, PhD

    Research Interests: Molecular Signals Controlling Neurodegeneration, Parkinson's disease

  • Ben Larman, PhD

  • Gabsang Lee, PhD

    Research Interests: Charcot-Marie-Tooth 1A, Congenital Insensitivity of Pain and Anhidrosis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, Familial Dysautonomia, Neural crest cell biology, Peripheral nerves disease, Skeletal muscle

  • Xiaobo Mao, PhD
  • Chan-Hyun Na, PhD

  • Joel L. Pomerantz, PhD

    Research Interests: antigen receptor signaling to NF-kappaB, CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic screens in immunity and cancer, Dysregulated signal transduction in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, Mechanisms of signal transduction in immunity and cancer, Regulation of NK Cell Maturation and Cytotoxicity

  • Jonathan P. Schneck, MD PhD

    Research Interests: Immunology

  • Gregg L. Semenza, MD PhD

    Research Interests: Molecular Mechanisms of Oxygen Homeostasis, Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factors in Cancer Progression

  • Ali Shakeri-Zadeh, PhD

    Research Interests: <p>Cell Labeling, In vivo Cell Tracking, Multimodal Imaging-Guided Therapy, Photothermal Therapy, Radiation Therapy, Nanomedicine, Theranostic Nanoparticles</p>

  • Aline Thomas, PhD

    Research Interests: Immunoengineering, Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Theranostics

  • Jinchong Xu, PhD

    Research Interests: Neuroinflammation, Neurological Disorders, Stem Cells

  • Elias Zambidis, MD PhD

    Expertise: Pediatric Cellular Therapy

    Research Interests: Bone Marrow Transplantation, Histiocytic Disorders, Pediatric Immune Disorders, Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cell Biology

Affiliate Faculty

Researchers and clinicians who become affiliate members of the Institute for Cell Engineering will contribute to this multidisciplinary environment aiming to harness the power of stem cells and regenerative medicine to improve human health. Becoming a member has such benefits as receiving announcements of the Institute sponsored guest lectures and seminars. Members will also receive funding announcements and an Institute newsletter. Members are encouraged to collaborate with other Institute members and participate in Institute-sponsored events. Members will also receive discounted rates for Institute core facilities.

For more information on becoming a member of the Institute, please visit here.

  • Xu Cao, PhD

    • Lee Riley Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
    • Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Research Interests: Bone remodeling, Mesenchymal stem cells, Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis

  • Phil Jordan, PhD

    Research Interests: Gametogenesis, Genome Integrity, Neurodevelopment, Stem Cells

  • Vassili E. Koliatsos, MD

    • Professor of Pathology

    Research Interests: Alzheimers disease, Axonal degeneration, cellular therapies, pharmacological therapies, traumatic brain injury, white matter degeneration

  • Dara Kraitchman, PhD VMD

    • Cardiovascular Interventional Section Head
    • Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science

    Research Interests: Development of Labeling Techniques for Cell Tracking and Drug/Protein Delivery, Imaging-Visible Embolics for the Treatment of Obesity and Cancer, Interventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Techniques for Minimally Invasive Treatment, Non-Invasive Imaging for Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease

  • Shaun Michael Kunisaki, MD MSC

    • Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Professor
    • Professor of Pediatric Surgery

    Research Interests: 3D printing, congenital pulmonary malformations, esophageal atresia, lung development in congenital diaphragmatic hernia, perinatal stem cell reprogramming, spinal cord regeneration in spina bifida

  • Chulan Kwon, PhD

    • Director, Cardiovascular Stem Cell Program
    • Professor of Medicine

    Research Interests: <p>Cardiac Maturation, Cardiac Progenitor Cell Biology, Cardiovascular Regenerative Biology</p>

  • Nicholas J. Maragakis, MD

    • Director, Center for ALS Specialtiy Care
    • Professor of Neurology

  • Erika Matunis, PhD

    • Professor of Cell Biology

    Research Interests: Molecular genetics of germ line stem cell function

  • Linda M. Smith Resar, MD

    • Professor of Medicine

    Research Interests: Basic research focus is hematologic malignancy and molecular mechanisms that lead to cancer, Clinical research interests include sickle cell anemia.

  • Robert David Stevens, MD MBA

    • Director, Division of Informatics, Integration, and Innovation
    • Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine

    Research Interests: Applications of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Intensive Care Medicine, Precision Medicine

  • Martin Trapecar, PhD

    • Assistant Professor of Medicine

    Research Interests: and Bioengineering, Autoimmunity

  • Zack Wang, PhD

    • Director, Ross Flow Cytometry Core Facility
    • Associate Professor of Medicine

    Research Interests: EphB4-ephrinB2 signaling in stem cell differentiation, Hematopoietic development of pluripotent stem cells, Molecular regulation of vascular differentiation from human ES and iPS cells