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Tayyab Adil, PhD

Tayyab Adil, PhD

CRM Early Career Executive Council, Chair; CRM DPS Class of 2024

Dr. Adil is a postdoctoral fellow in the Morris Lab. He joined the CRM ECEC as Chair in 2023. Tayyab’s research is focused on dissecting the mechanisms of cellular reprogramming with an aim to advance therapeutically beneficial cell types.

Jennifer Alexander-Brett, MD, PhD

Jennifer Alexander-Brett, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine

The Alexander-Brett Lab integrates mucosal immunology, epithelial stem cell biology and protein biochemistry to investigate the role of stromal-immune intercellular crosstalk via extracellular vesicles in driving chronic lung disease pathogenesis.

Alexander-Brett Lab website »

Farners Amargant i Riera, PhD

Farners Amargant i Riera, PhD

Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology

The Riera Lab uses a multidisciplinary approach to investigate how biochemical and biomechanical signaling from the ovary regulates folliculogenesis and oocyte quality, and whether these mechanisms are altered in reproductive-associated diseases such as PCOS and aging.

Riera Lab website »

Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD

Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD

Paul A. Cibis Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science

The Apte lab studies the molecular and cellular processes underlying neovascularization and cell degeneration in the retina.

 

Apte Lab website »

Ghazaleh Ashrafi

Ghazaleh Ashrafi

Assistant Professor, Cell Biology and Physiology, Genetics

The Ashrafi lab studies metabolic regulation of neurotransmission in health and in neurodegenerative diseases. To this end, the lab uses genetic, biochemical, and quantitative optical imaging techniques to probe metabolic and synaptic function in primary and stem cell-derived neurons and glial cells.

Ashrafi Lab Website »

Luis Batista, PhD

Luis Batista, PhD

Assistant Professor

Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine

The Batista lab investigates the role of telomerase in stem cell function and regulation.

 

Batista Lab website »

 

 

Philip Bayly, PhD

Philip Bayly, PhD

The Lilyan & E. Lisle Hughes Professor and Chair of Mechanical Engineering

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

The Bayly lab studies dynamic, mechanical phenomena in biomedical systems, including cortical folding and tissue mechanics in traumatic brain injury.

 

Bayly Lab website »

Mariana  Beltcheva, PhD

Mariana Beltcheva, PhD

Former Director, Human Cells, Tissues, and Organoids Core

Mikahil Berezin, PhD

Mikahil Berezin, PhD

Associate Professor, Radiology

Research in the Berezin lab is focused on peripheral nerve imaging and understanding the mechanism of chronic pain and peripheral nerve degeneration in cancer patients. They also work to design image guided grafts for nerve restoration.

Berezin Lab website »

Matthew Bersi, PhD

Matthew Bersi, PhD

Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

The Bersi Lab uses experimental and computational approaches to better understand the relationship between biomechanics and inflammation in soft tissues. His group is focused on the role of the immune system in hypertension, cardiac fibrosis and vascular injury.
Lauren Boggs

Lauren Boggs

Research Technician, Human Cells, Tissues, and Organoids Core

Lauren joined the CRM HCTO in April 2022 as a research technician.

Thomas Brett, PhD

Thomas Brett, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine

The Brett Lab investigates the molecular mechanisms of chronic inflammatory lung disease and Alzheimer’s disease. We use structural, biophysical, model human tissues and complex cell co-culture models to investigate muco-obstructive diseases like cystic fibrosis and COPD. We also use structural, biophysical, and relevant human cellular models to investigate how microglial receptor-ligand interactions contribute to microglia function and neurodegeneration.

Brett Lab website »

David Brogan, MD

David Brogan, MD

Assistant Professor, Orthopedic Surgery

Dr. Brogan’s research focuses on peripheral nerve injury and regeneration, using stem cells and 3D printed scaffolds as therapies.

Faculty profile »

W. Todd Cade, PT, PhD

W. Todd Cade, PT, PhD

Professor

Program in Physical Therapy, Department of Medicine

The Cade lab investigates how nutritional factors influence cell behavior, and how iPSCs can be used to model human muscle diseases.

 

Alexendre R. Carter, MD, PhD

Alexendre R. Carter, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Neurology

The Carter lab studies the mechanisms of neuroplasticity at the brain, spinal cord and peripheral levels.

 

 

Valeria Cavalli, PhD

Valeria Cavalli, PhD

Associate Professor

Department of Neuroscience

The Cavalli lab studies the molecular mechanisms of PNS injury signaling and axon regrowth, and how this can inform CNS regeneration.

 

Cavalli Lab website »

Grant Challen, PhD

Grant Challen, PhD

Associate Professor, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine

The Challen lab focuses on how epigenetic marks regulate HSC self-renewal and differentiation, and how these are altered in lymphoma and leukemia.

 

Challen Lab website »

David Chen, MD, PhD

David Chen, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology

The Chen Lab is interested in defining the genetic and epigenetic drivers of premalignant states in skin cancer.

Chen Lab Website »

Shiming Chen, PhD

Shiming Chen, PhD

Dr. Bernard and Janet R. Becker Distinguished Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

The Chen Lab studies the molecular mechanisms controlling photoreceptor gene expression during photoreceptor development and maintenance in the mammalian retina, and how genetic mutations cause gene mis-regulation and defects in the function and survival of the photoreceptor neurons. They particularly focus on photoreceptor-specific transcription factors, such as CRX. Their ultimate goal is to develop therapeutic strategies for treatment.

 

Chen Lab website »

Yao Chen, PhD

Yao Chen, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Neuroscience

The Chen lab aims to understand how the dynamics of neuromodulators and intracellular signals contribute to the function of neuromodulators, to learning, and to the function of sleep. They hope to use organoids and stem cell models of probe these mechanisms.
Ying (Maggie) Chen

Ying (Maggie) Chen

Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Nephrology

Dr. Chen develops hiPSC-derived kidney organoids to model organelle stress-induced genetic kidney diseases and other innovative treatments.

Chen Lab Website »

Kyunghee Choi, PhD

Kyunghee Choi, PhD

Professor, Department of Pathology & Immunology

The Choi lab studies hematopoietic and endothelial development and the interplay between angiogenesis and immunity in cancer

 

Choi Lab website »

Matthew Ciorba, MD

Matthew Ciorba, MD

Associate Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine

The Ciorba lab studies studies the roles of amino acid metabolism and microbial interactions in neoplastic and chronic inflammatory conditions of the GI tract.

 

Ciorba Lab website »

Brian Clark, PhD

Brian Clark, PhD

Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences

Using a suite of both moderate to high-throughput techniques in both mouse and zebrafish, the Clark Lab aims to identify the evolutionarily conserved and divergent pathways that regulate the temporally controlled specification of retinal cell fates.

 

Clark Lab website »

F. Sessions Cole, MD

F. Sessions Cole, MD

Park J. White M.D. Professor of Pediatrics

The Cole lab investigates the genetic mechanisms that underlie neonatal respiratory distress syndrome.

 

Faculty profile »

Joseph Corbo, MD, PhD

Joseph Corbo, MD, PhD

Professor

Department of Pathology and Immunology

The Corbo lab studies the transcriptional regulatory networks that underlie the development, evolution, and diseases of photoreceptors.

 

Corbo Lab website »

Xiaoxia Cui, PhD

Xiaoxia Cui, PhD

Associate Professor and Director, Genome Engineering & Stem Cell Center

Dr. Cui directs the Genome Engineering & Stem Cell Center at Washington University. The GESC’s mission is to empower its users with access to the most up-to-date technologies in the fields of gene editing and stem cells and enable the creation of research models best fit for the unique need of each lab.

Genome Engineering & Stem Cell Center website »

David Curiel, MD, PhD

David Curiel, MD, PhD

Professor

Department of Radiation Oncology

The Curiel lab studies how to engineer adenoviruses for cancer gene therapy.

 

Curiel Lab website »

Yifan Dai, PhD

Yifan Dai, PhD

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

The Dai Lab focuses on exploring the physical chemistry of biology to understand how chemical functions are encoded in biological soft matter. Their goal is to use fundamental capabilities of synthetic biology to design smart medicine capable of sensing and responding to cellular states for the improvement of human well-being.

Dai Lab website »

Nicholas Davidson, MD, Dsc

Nicholas Davidson, MD, Dsc

John E. and Adaline Simon Professor of Medicine and Division Chief of Gastroenterology

The Davidson Lab studies the role of gatekeeper genes that regulate intestinal and hepatic lipoprotein assembly and secretion, including apoB and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (Mttp).

 

Faculty profile »

Aaron DiAntonio, MD, PhD

Aaron DiAntonio, MD, PhD

Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor, Department of Developmental Biology

The DiAntonio lab studies the molecular mechanism that control axon generation, degeneration, and regeneration during development and disease.

 

DiAntonio Lab website »

Sabine M Dietmann, PhD

Sabine M Dietmann, PhD

Assistant Professor of Developmental Biology and Medicine, School of Medicine

The Dietmann Lab specializes in the development of integrative multi-omics and machine learning approaches to the complex data sets generated by single-cell sequencing technologies in developmental biology and medicine. Her research has focused on the epigenetic landscape of embryonic stem cells and in vitro systems of human development. Of particular recent interest are studies of human organoids for applications in medicine and comparing developmental trajectories with other species and cell-cell communication. 

Dietmann Lab website »

John DiPersio, MD, PhD

John DiPersio, MD, PhD

Virginia E. & Sam J. Golman Professor of Medicine

Department of Medicine; Chief, Division of Oncology

The DiPersio lab studies the mechanisms underlying leukemia, hematopoietic stem cell mobilization, and graft vs. host disease.

 

DiPersio Lab website »

Naomi Dirckx

Naomi Dirckx

Assistant Professor, Orthopedic Surgery

My lab studies the role of the citrate transporter SLC13A5 in bone mineralization throughout growth and aging, as well as the systemic implications of altered citrate partitioning in skeletal tissues by targeting osteogenic citrate metabolism.

Lab Website »

Abhinav Diwan, MD

Abhinav Diwan, MD

Associate Professor, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine

The Diwan lab studies regulation of lysosome machinery in cardiometabolic diseases.

 

Diwan Lab website »

Garrett Easson

Garrett Easson

CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member

Garrett is a current graduate student in the Tang lab. He joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. His thesis research is focused on the mechanisms of intervertebral disc mechanical transduction to better understand the development of low back pain.

Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, PhD

Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, PhD

Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology

The Gomez-Lopez Lab studies how disruption of immune pathways in pregnancy can lead to changes in fetal deveopment, the maternal fetal interface, and neonatal life.

Gomez-Lopez Lab website »

Michael Greenberg, PhD

Michael Greenberg, PhD

Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics

The Greenberg lab studies familial cardiomyopathies, the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young people, using an array of techniques, including stem cell technologies, tissue engineering, and genome editing.

 

Greenberg Lab website »

Jianjun Guan, PhD

Jianjun Guan, PhD

Professor, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Research in the Guan Lab is focused on creating biomaterials for tissue regeneration and drug delivery.

 

Guan Lab website »

Farshid Guilak, PhD

Farshid Guilak, PhD

Co-Director, Center of Regenerative Medicine; Mildred B. Simon Professor of Orthopedic Surgery; Director of Research, Shriner’s Hospitals – St. Louis

Farshid Guilak, PhD

Farshid Guilak, PhD

Co-Director, Center of Regenerative Medicine; Mildred B. Simon Professor of Orthopedic Surgery; Director of Research, Shriner’s Hospitals – St. Louis

The Guilak Lab is pursuing a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the etiology and pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, as a basis for the development of new pharmacologic and stem cell therapies.

 

Guilak Lab website »

David Gutmann, MD, PhD

David Gutmann, MD, PhD

Donald O. Schnuck Family Professor & Vice Chair for Research Affairs

Department of Neurology

The Gutmann lab studies the cellular and molecular basis underlying nervous system dysfunction in neurofibromatosis using mouse and iPSC models.

 

Gutmann Lab website »

Claudia Han

Claudia Han

Assistant Professor, Pathology and Immunology

We are interested in understanding the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the immune system’s contribution and response in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. We utilize both mouse and stem cell derived models.

Faculty Profile »

Ghandi Hassan, MD

Ghandi Hassan, MD

CRM DPS Class of 2024

Dr. Hassan is a postdoctoral fellow in the Alexander-Brett Lab. His research is focused on roles for IL-33 in immune mediated pulmonary disease, with a focus on stem cells associated with COPD.

Mohamed G Hassan, PhD, MSc, DDS

Mohamed G Hassan, PhD, MSc, DDS

CRM Early Career Executive Council, Alum; CRM DPS Class of 2024

Dr. Hassan is a postdoctoral fellow in the Scheller Lab. He joined the CRM ECEC in 2023 and is a prior RLM fellow. His research leverages advanced imaging and molecular biology approaches to identify mechanisms underlying accelerated regeneration in neural crest-derived bone.

Emily Holloway, PhD

Emily Holloway, PhD

CRM DPS Class of 2024

Dr. Holloway is a postdoctoral fellow in the Morris Lab. Her research is focused on intestinal regeneration in novel organoid systems + single cell multiomics/regional reprogramming of chimeric organoids.

Nathaniel Huebsch, PhD

Nathaniel Huebsch, PhD

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Professor Huebsch’s research focus is in basic and translational stem cell mechanobiology, with specific focus on hydrogels to control cell-mediated tissue repair, and 3-D models heart-on-a-chip models derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells.

 

Faculty profile »

James Huettner, PhD

James Huettner, PhD

Professor, Cell Biology and Physiology

The Huettner lab studies how glutamate gated ion channels influence synapses and the differentiation of neurons from ES cells.

 

Faculty profile »

Benjamin Humphreys, MD, PhD

Benjamin Humphreys, MD, PhD

Joseph Friedman Professor of Renal Diseases in Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine

The Humphreys Lab develops new and innovative treatments to help patients with kidney disease. They are using human stem cells to generate kidney organoids in a dish, with a goal of one day transplanting them into patients with kidney failure. They also study the kidney’s ability to regenerate itself so that they can harness this ability for therapeutic uses.

 

Humphreys Lab website »

Shin-Ichiro Imai, MD, PhD

Shin-Ichiro Imai, MD, PhD

Professor, Developmental Biology

The Imai lab investigates the tissues, factors, and molecular mechanisms control mammalian aging.

 

Faculty profile »

Matthew Ishahak, PhD

Matthew Ishahak, PhD

CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member; CRM DPS Class of 2024

Dr. Ishahak is a postdoctoral fellow in the Millman Lab. He joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. Matt’s research is focused on engineering stem cell-derived organoid model systems to study human development and pathophysiology.

Sanjay Jain, MD, PhD

Sanjay Jain, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine

The Jain lab studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate maintenance, differentiation and function of kidney progenitors in normal development and disease states.

 

Jain Lab website »

Sheng Chih (Peter) Jin, PhD

Sheng Chih (Peter) Jin, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics

Research in the Jin lab is devoted to identifying the genes and elucidating the molecular, cellular, and developmental mechanisms that drive the development of specific neurodevelopmental disorders, including congenital hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, and Moyamoya disease.

 

Jin Lab »

Aaron Johnson, PhD

Aaron Johnson, PhD

Assistant Professor, Developmental Biology

The Johnson lab studies the development and regeneration of muscle in fly and human.

 

Faculty profile »

Yoon-A Kang, PhD

Yoon-A Kang, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology

The research interests of the Kang lab are understanding the mechanisms underlying cell fate decision and lineage specification in hematopoietic stem cells and multipotent progenitors to modulate lineage output in disease and aging contexts.

Kang lab website »

 

Celeste Karch, PhD

Celeste Karch, PhD

Associate Professor, Psychiatry

The Karch lab studies the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative tauopathies.

 

Karch Lab website »

Charles Kaufman, MD, PhD

Charles Kaufman, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine

The goal of the Kaufman lab is to understand how cells change their gene expression programs during normal development and cancer formation.

 

Kaufman Lab website »

Peggy Kendall, MD

Peggy Kendall, MD

Professor and Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine

The Kendall Lab works on B Lymphocyte tolerance in autoimmune diseases, including Rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, and Systemic sclerosis. They also study allergic diseases, including food allergy.

Kendall Lab website »

Renuka Khatik, PhD

Renuka Khatik, PhD

CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member

Dr. Khatik is a postdoctoral fellow in the Sharma Lab. She joined the CRM ECEC as co-chair in 2023 and continues as a member in 2024. Renuka’s research is focused on engineering of nano-drug delivery systems.

Albert Kim, MD, PhD

Albert Kim, MD, PhD

Professor, Neurosurgery

The Kim Lab studies the cell-intrinsic molecular mechanisms governing brain cancer stem cell function, normal nervous system development, and the development of clinical surgical protocols to deliver cell-based and drug therapies for a variety of nervous system disorders.

 

Kim Lab website »