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Agris, Marin is a high school student from the Queens High School for the Sciences at York College in New York City. She is currently conducting a research project at New York University on the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the rate of wound healing. In Dr. Longaker’s Lab, she is studying fibrosis and wound healing. She is passionate about her study of biology, English, and philosophy. In her free time, she enjoys long hikes, reading, volunteering, and playing soccer.
Agris, Mitchell is a high school student from the Queens High School for the Sciences at York College in New York City. He is currently conducting a research project at New York University on how SARS-CoV-2 affects the rate of wound healing. In Dr. Longaker’s Lab, he is studying single cell genomics. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, playing as much soccer as possible and playing the drums with friends in their band.
Ambrosi, Thomas is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the laboratories of Drs. Charles Chan and Michael Longaker. He completed a dual degree program earning a German engineering diploma in Medical Biotechnology from Technical University of Berlin and a MSc in Bioengineering from Dongseo University Busan, South Korea. Thomas then moved on to the German Institute of Human Nutrition to get his PhD from the University of Potsdam studying the developmental origin and function of bone marrow adipose tissue. He followed up on his PhD thesis findings during his first postdoctoral assignment at the German Institute of Human Nutrition before coming to Stanford. Currently, he is working on the delineation of skeletal stem cell heterogeneity and niche composition as well as the establishment of novel molecular engineering approaches.
Andrew, Tom is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the laboratory of Dr George Yang, a collaborator of Dr. Michael Longaker. Tom earned his Medical Degree from the University of Liverpool, UK. Tom took a year out of his medical studies in order to complete a MSc in Burns, Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery at University College London, UK. His work in tissue engineering targeted plasma modification of nanocomposites for the application of an abdominal mesh biomaterial. After medical school, Tom completed a 2-year internship in London, UK. He has taken time away from residency training to focus on his academic aspirations. In his free time Tom enjoys mountaineering and middle-distance running.
Bakerman, Isaac graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology. During his undergraduate training, he studied environmental chemistry, translational neurotrauma and synthetic organic chemistry. Currently, he is working with Drs. Charles Chan, Patricia Nguyen, and Michael Longaker on the bio-mechanisms of arterial sclerosis and cardiac fibrosis in mouse and humans.
Barnes, Leandra is an MS4/6 conducting wound healing research in the laboratory of Dr. Michael T. Longaker at Stanford University. She was born in Kingston, Jamaica, but grew up in Georgia and Alabama. Leandra graduated from Harvard University in 2013, where she studied Molecular and Cellular Biology and Japanese language. She is particularly interested in pediatric surgery to treat birth defects and tissue engineering research. Outside of medicine, Leandra enjoys spending time with friends and family, trying new recipes, watching anime and Korean dramas, and traveling. Last Updated: 03.14.17
Grants Awarded:
- Stanford Medical Scholars Research Fellowship
(1 year) 2016-2017
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Medical Research Fellowship 2015-2016
- Stanford Medical Scholars Research Fellowship
(Summer) 2014
- Program for Research in Science and Engineering
(PRISE) Fellowship 2012
- Microbial Sciences Initiative (MSI) Fellowship 2012
- Harvard College Research Program Grant 2011-2012
- Reischauer Institute of Japanese Studies Summer
Language Grant 2010
- David Rockefeller International Experience Grant
2010
Blackshear, Charles is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the combined laboratories of Dr. Derrick C. Wan and Dr. Michael T. Longaker, Stanford Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Surgery. Charlie graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with Bachelor of Science degrees in Astronautical Engineering and Mathematics. He is a 2013 graduate of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, where his research centered on Cardiothoracic Surgery and the fluid dynamics of heart valves. Charlie joined the Wan/Longaker Lab after two years of General Surgery residency at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation.
His research focused on the role of long coding RNA's in osteogenesis and adipogenesis. When Charlie was away from the lab he enjoyed reading, riding his vintage British motorcycles and anything MacOS. Charlie is an avid surfer and partakes in surf travel with family and friends.
Borrelli, Mimi R, MBBS, MSc, BSc. Mimi is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University. Mimi started in Dr Michael Longaker’s laboratory in August 2017, after graduating from King’s College London in July 2017 with 3 distinctions in Medicine and Surgery. Her past degrees include a distinction in Cognitive Neuroscience Masters at University College London, and a 1:1 in Experimental Psychology, from Bristol University. Mimi is set on a career as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and has a strong interest in academia and research. In the Longaker laboratory Mimi is working primarily on skeletal tissue engineering.
Boyko, Tatiana is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Dr. Michael Longaker and Dr. George Yang’s laboratories. Originally from Russia, Dr. Boyko began her research career with four years of work at the UCLA Undergraduate Research Consortium in Functional Genomics. She graduated from UCLA in the inaugural Biomedical Research Minor class. After having received her MD with Highest Honors from Ross University School of Medicine she joined Dr. Jason Spector’s Laboratory for Bioregenerative Medicine and Surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College for a research fellowship centered on wound healing. After two years of General Surgery Residency training at University at Buffalo she joined Dr. George Yang and Dr. Michael Longaker’s for a two-year Post-doctoral Fellowship.
Her research focuses on wound and bone fracture healing. Following completion of her surgical training she plans on practicing as an Academic Hand Surgeon and traveling abroad with international medical aid organizations. In her free time she enjoys traveling, painting, wine and live music.
Brett, Eliza is a Research Assistant in the Longaker Lab. She is originally from Ireland where she did her undergraduate in Biomedical Science, followed by a Master’s degree in Burns, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at University College London. Eliza’s research focuses have been centered around bone and skin regeneration. Skin being her favorite tissue, she is very interested in dermal healing and re-epithelializtion, with specific focus on how wound healing therapies can be drastically improved worldwide. Outside of lab, Eliza is a qualified Speech and Drama teacher and radio show host on KZSU Stanford. She enjoys piña coladas, hot tubbing, and long walks on the beach.
Brewer, Rachel is a CIRM Scholar from Humboldt State University. She is originally from Sonora, California. She earned a BS in Cellular/Molecular Biology and an MS in Biology with a focus on early development using murine embryonic stem cells as a model. During her time in the Longaker lab she will be studying microfractures and the molecular signals that drive cartilage regeneration for potential therapeutic applications. In her free time, Rachel is an avid swimmer and surfer. She also enjoys hiking, camping and cooking.
Burcham, Austin is a CIRM Scholar from California State University of Fullerton. As an intern in the Longaker lab, his research focuses include cancer associated fibroblasts in mouse and human breast and pancreas cancer, as well as several projects exploring wound healing biology. In his free time, Austin likes to run, hike, and enjoy other outdoor hobbies.
Chan, Charles is an Assistant Professor at Stanford’s Stem Cell Institute with over ten years of experience investigating the biology of stem cells and stem cell niches in different vertebrate species. Niches are the highly specialized but poorly understood microenvironments that regulate stem cell activity. He has pioneered techniques to identify and isolate stem/progenitor cells of multiple individual tissue types, including bone, cartilage, and blood vessels to decipher the biochemical languages they use to communicate with one another in niches (1,2,3,4). "Chuck" and his colleagues in the Longaker and Weissman groups are now devising novel multi-disciplinary, minimally-invasive approaches to control stem cell niches in the body to accelerate regeneration, stimulate rejuvenation and suppress cancer development.
1. Chan et al. Nature. 2009 Jan 22;457(7228):490-4.
2. Chan et al. PNAS. 2013 Jul 30;110(31):12643-8.
3. Chan et al. PNAS. 2015 Aug 11;112(32):9920-5.
4. Chan et al. Cell. 2015 Jan 15;160(1-2):285-98.
Cheung, Alexander "Scanner" is a recent graduate of Stanford University, where he received his BS degree in Bioengineering and minor degree from the Ethics in Society department. He conducted his senior honors thesis in the Longaker Lab on the novel use of macrophages for tissue engineering and regenerative wound healing. Scanner will spend this next year in New Zealand as a Fulbright Scholar studying bioethics and health law, focusing on the cultural components of medicine that affect indigenous populations (while also researching the local surfing and hiking of his host country). He plans on applying to medical school following his time Down Under to pursue his interests in surgery. Last update: 12.27.16
Chinta, Malini is a fourth-year medical student at the Boston University School of Medicine working in the Longaker laboratory. Malini grew up in the bay area, but moved to the east coast to join the accelerated seven-year medical program at Boston University where she earned her BA in Medical Sciences and minor in Psychology. During her time at the Longaker laboratory, Malini will be studying and learning to characterize fibroblast populations involved in scar formation and wound healing. Outside of the lab she enjoys running, traveling, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her friends and family.
Chung, Natalie Narie is a medical student at UC – San Diego with a background in equal parts fine art and health sciences. Since receiving her BA in Art at Pomona College (2011), Natalie has gathered a range of research experiences, including the study of biologically active nanomaterials, electrolyte balance in Californian arthropods, and measuring quality of life in pediatric patients with craniofacial deformities. In the Longaker lab, Natalie studies the use of adipose-derived stem cells for soft tissue regeneration and age-related differences in autologous fat grafting. While Natalie strives to authentically merge her dual interests in art and medicine through plastic and reconstructive surgery, she can also be found making art, fighting for
health equity as a leader of UCSD APAMSA (Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association), or in the kitchen, trying to find the perfect balance of mushroom to ginger to shoyu in her udon broth. Update: Natalie is currently at UCSD School of Medicine completing her fourth year. Last Update: 05.01.17
Cotterell, Asha is a medical student at Meharry Medical College. Asha grew up on Long Island and moved to Atlanta to earn her BS in Biology at Spelman College. She was inducted into the inaugural class of the BS/MS Neuroscience Program at Morehouse School of Medicine, where she studied the effects of shift work on circadian rhythms. During her time in the Longaker lab,she will be studying fibrosis and wound healing, a topic of great interest to her after having suffered a burn injury in youth. In her free time, Asha enjoys boxing, photography, and cooking.
da Silva, Oscar is a Stanford undergraduate student. Of Brazilian descent, Oscar grew up in Germany. He joined Stanford University in 2017 on an athletic scholarship to play varsity basketball. He is currently on the Biochemistry/Biophysics track and will be majoring in Biology. In 2018, Oscar joined the Longaker lab and works on finding out the role of fibroblasts in wound healing and scarring, and cancer associated fibroblasts.
Davitt, Michael is a categorical General Surgery resident at UCSF East Bay. He attended Pepperdine University, where he spent a year abroad in Florence, Italy, and graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. He earned his M.D. from UC Davis. He is interested in studying and characterizing the cell populations involved in fetal scarless healing and in scar formation. Outside of the lab and the hospital, he enjoys exploring the many trails through the redwoods in the East Bay, running races with his wife, photography, and skiing.
Downer Jr, Mauricio Downer is a fourth year medical student attending Meharry Medical College. He is currently a Standford research fellow. He was born in Queens, New York, and was raised in Panama for a few years before returning to the city of New York. I attended St. John's University where I majored in chemistry, and conducted research evaluating natural product hybrids and their effectiveness as anti-cancer reagents. During my time in the Longaker Lab I will be studying wound healing, fibrosis, and melanoma progression. In my free time I like to cook, go hiking, and eat. I am a big foodie.
Duoto, Bryan was a CIRM scholar from San Jose State University where he achieved a Masters of Science degree in Molecular and Cell Biology with a concentration in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology from Sonoma State University where he started a Spikeball intramural sports team that went on to win regionals. He concurrently became a Senior Research Intern at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in Novato, CA where he studied the age-related mTOR pathways in yeast and mice. Bryan now works with the wound healing group at the Longaker Lab researching the mechanisms behind scarring and helping to characterize both dermal and visceral fibrotic models. In his free time he enjoys writing, hiking, fishing, woodworking, rowing and physical computing.
Fahy, Evan is originally from Galway, Ireland but also lived in Massachusetts when younger. He completed his degree in Medicine at the National University of Ireland, Galway and subsequently worked in Plastic Surgery in Galway and Dublin. Most recently he served as the Clinical tutor in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, where he also completed a Masters dissertation on the adverse effects of perioperative hypothermia in DIEP flap patients. He is working on the study of wound healing at the Longaker Lab. In his spare time, he enjoys exercise via jogging and basketball, as well as drawing and multimedia design.
Flacco, John attended Stanford University as an undergrad where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Biomechanical Engineering while also finishing his Pre-Med requirements and playing football. He has focused on the therapeutic effects of fat grafting and adult adipose derived stromal stem cells since being in the lab. John is currently waiting to hear back from the medical schools he has applied for. Last update: 01.26.17
Foster, Deshka is a categorical General Surgery resident at Stanford. During her research years, Deshka is pursing a PhD in Cancer Biology in the Longaker Laboratory through the ARTS (Advanced Residency Training at Stanford) program. She is interested in characterizing cells involved in scar formation that also contribute to cancer stroma, with the aim of understanding the similarities between healing wounds and tumor proliferation as a potential therapeutic target. She is also working on projects concerning skin scarring and abdominal adhesions. Deshka attended Stanford University, majoring in Human Biology; she holds a master’s degree from Stanford in African Studies and earned her M.D. from Drexel University College of Medicine. In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, biking, and adventuring with her husband and dogs.
Guardino, Nicholas is a recent graduate who is returning to the Longaker Lab after completing a B.S. in Biology at USC. As a Research Associate, he is currently exploring molecular and cellular mechanisms of fibrotic wound healing in several transgenic mouse lines. His goal is to identify and restrict pro-fibrotic healing mechanisms in order to predictably improve the regenerative healing of skin wounds. Outside of the lab, he enjoys hiking, skiing, and cooking.
Gulati, Gunsagar is a third-year Stanford medical student with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Research Fellowship in the joint Longaker-Weissman laboratory. He graduated magna cum laude with highest honors from Harvard College in 2014, where he studied Human Developmental and Regenerative Biology. He completed his senior thesis on the effect of cell-cycle inhibitors on the survival and integrity of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived motor neurons in a model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Dr. Lee L. Rubin’s laboratory at the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Gunsagar is now (1) investigating the role of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche in normal HSC maintenance and prostate cancer metastasis, (2) developing novel
antibody-based immunotherapies for metastatic prostate cancer to the bone, and (3) characterizing the identity and lineage tree of the human skeletal stem cell by single cell RNA sequencing. Gunsagar is the co-director of the Stanford Oncology Interest Group and intends on pursuing a career in internal medicine oncology. Outside of medicine, he plays soccer in the Menlo Park Peninsula Premier League and is an avid performer and student of Indian classical music.
Hoover, Malachia Y. is a 1st year Ph.D. student in the Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine program. She is currently rotating in Dr. Longaker’s lab for the winter quarter with an interest in skeletal stem cell biology. During her undergraduate career at Cal State Northridge, she conducted research in a Developmental Oncogene lab studying the mechanisms governing breast and pancreatic cancer. She continued in the lab for her Master’s, examining novel regulators of regeneration in the zebrafish caudal fin. During her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, hiking, and watching reality television.
Hu, Michael is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the laboratory of Dr. H. Peter Lorenz and Dr. Michael T. Longaker. Michael earned a BS in Biochemistry with Computing Specialization from UCLA. He then received a MS in Physiology and Biophysics from Georgetown University. Mike went to medical school at New York Medical College earning a joint MD/MPH degree in Health Policy and Management during which he underwent a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Research Training Program. After medical school, Michael completed 2 years of General Surgery Residency training at the University of Hawaii. He is now completing his 5th year as a postdoctoral fellow and aspires to become an academic craniofacial plastic surgeon.
Irizarry, Dre is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University. He earned a BS in Chemistry-Biology at West Chester University and his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College. He completed three years of General Surgery Residency at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, prior to joining Dr. Michael Longaker and Dr. Derrick Wan’s laboratories. Upon completing General Surgery Residency, he plans to pursue a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship with the goal of specializing in Gender Affirmation Surgery for transgender and gender-nonconforming patients. His current work focuses on adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs), the interactions of ASCs and cancer cells, and subpopulations of fibroblasts and their effects on scar tissue formation.
Jones, Ruth Ellen is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Longaker lab. She is originally from Dallas, Texas and earned her undergraduate degree in Honors Spanish at the University of Texas at Austin. She received her MD from the University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical Center at Dallas. She joined the Longaker lab after completing three years of General Surgery residency at UTSW. Her ultimate goal is to become a pediatric surgeon-scientist. She has research experience in parasitology, public health, and clinical outcomes in pediatric surgery. During her time in the Longaker lab she will study wound healing, tissue engingeering and fetal development with the goal of regenerating normal tissue in wounds and congenital malformations. In her free time she enjoys good food and wine, travel, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Kim, Alexia is a Life Science Research Professional in the Longaker Lab from San Jose, California. She recently graduated with a B.S. in Human Biology, Health, and Society at Cornell University where she completed three years of immunology research focusing on IL17A cytokine expression in hypersensitivity pneumonitis. With an interest in global and public health, she also completed a summer research project in Lusaka, Zambia working with an NGO to improve support for parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Currently, she is investigating the connection between different cell populations in the context of creeping fat and stricture formation in Crohn’s disease to ultimately guide efforts in developing therapeutics for patients with Crohn's disease. In her free time, Alexia enjoys watercolor painting, reading, gardening, hiking, and swimming.
King, Megan graduated in 2019 with a B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from Humboldt State University. She first started working at Stanford as a CIRM Scholar and is now a Research Associate in the Longaker Laboratory. Megan studies the cellular mechanisms that govern wound healing and scarring across different regions of the body. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, snowboarding, and reading.
Koepke, Lauren is currently a CIRM Scholar from Humboldt State University. She recently graduated with a BS in Cellular/Molecular Biology and a minor in Wildlife Biology. As an undergraduate Lauren worked on a project focused on cell signaling pathways during early embryonic development. While in the Longaker lab, she will be studying skeletal stem cells derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, adipose, adult, and fetal tissues for tissue engineering. In her spare time she enjoys horse show jumping, hiking, and spending time at the beach with her dogs.
Leavitt, Tripp is a fourth year medical student at Boston University currently applying for residency in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Tripp graduated from Stanford University in 2011, earning a BA in Studio Art and a BS in Biology. He began his foray into stem cell research working in the laboratory of Dr. Thomas Rando after graduation. His current work is split between the study wound healing and distraction osteogenesis. He plans to start his residency in the summer of 2017. Last update: 01.05.17
Lindsay, Hunter is a visiting undergraduate student studying at Brigham Young University. He plans to major in Molecular Biology and Computer Science and hopes to attend medical school following graduation. Prior to working in the Longaker Lab, he had three years of immuno-oncology research focusing on the identification of novel antigens for the development of CAR T cell therapies. Currently, he is investigating novel treatment strategies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by using combinatorial drug therapies and CAR T cells. In his free time, Hunter enjoys hiking, skiing, canyoneering and traveling.
Lopez, Michael started out in the Longaker lab as a CIRM bridges scholar. After his internship he decided to stay in the lab and was hired on as an LSRP. Michael graduated from Humboldt State with a major in microbiology and a minor in chemistry. As an undergrad he worked on mouse stem cells and elucidating novel pluripotency cell signaling pathways. His current work in the Longaker lab focuses on differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells into bone for the isolation of human skeletal stem cells.
Marecic, Owen graduated from Stanford University in 2011, where he studied Human Biology with a concentration in Infectious Diseases. Following a career in the NFL, Owen joined the Longaker laboratory to study bone biology. His current work investigates the role of skeletal stem cells in bone development and healing and how these processes differ in diabetic and aged animal models. Owen plans to attend medical school in 2017 and in his free time enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and traveling.
Marshall, Clement is a categorical General Surgery resident at Stanford and is currently working as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Longaker Lab. Clement is interested in the problem of abdominal adhesions, and is working on novel methods to isolate the cells that cause adhesions. He is also working on projects related to skin scarring and wound healing. Clement attended Brown University, where he majored in Biochemistry, and earned his MD from Columbia University. He enjoys hiking, rock climbing, fly fishing, and cooking.
Mascharak, Shamik is a Bay Area local from Santa Cruz, CA, and graduated from Stanford University in 2015 with a BS in Bioengineering. He is currently an MD/PhD student at Stanford Medical School. His research aims in the Longaker lab include characterizing and directing the behavior of fibroblast subtypes in dermal wounds,towards the goal of scarless regenerative healing. Additionally, he is interested in harnessing skeletal stem cells to regenerate cartilage and aged bone. Outside of the lab, he enjoys biking in the Santa Cruz mountains, practicing martial arts (Tae Kwon Do, Muy Thai), playingdrums, and seeking out the best Tandoori chicken in the Bay.
Menon, Siddharth is currently a Life Science Research Professional (LSRP) in the Longaker Laboratory. He earned his Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of California San Diego in 2008 and was a 4-year member of the men’s varsity water polo team. Prior to joining the Longaker Lab in 2014, Siddharth worked as Science Faculty and water polo coach at Scared Heart Preparatory in Atherton California, teaching AP Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Siddharth works in the craniofacial group together with Dr. Natalina Quarto and Siny Shailendra, primarily on calvarial repair and development. Siddharth’s research focuses on the role of skeletal stem cells in cranial suture development. In his free time Siddharth enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and camping.
Montenegro, Cristhian is a local that comes to us from Sunnyvale, CA. He attended the University of California, Davis, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Biology and a Master of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology. In that time, he was involved in research involving the ergogenic effects of beetroot extracts on endurance athletes. Here at Stanford, he is currently studying the efficacy of autologous fat grafting, and the use of scaffolds to increase adipose-derived stromal cell survival and retention. He is Peruvian-born and thus loves Peruvian cuisine, but also has a deep love for pizza and Ali Baba (Davis, CA) breakfast burritos.
He is an avid track and field fan and continues to prioritize health and fun exercise daily. Currently Cristhian is working in the industry and applying for PhD programs in Exercise Physiology. Last updated: 01.17.18
Moore, Alessandra is a General Surgery Resident from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston who joined the lab in July 2016 as part of her postdoctoral research training. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Alex decided that it was time to see how things were done on the other side of the pond. She brings with her a B.S. from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and an M.D. from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She has several years of prior lab experience, from the Center for Engineering in Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital as well as from the Clinical and Translational Research Pathway at UMASS. During her time at Stanford, Alex studied the mechanism behind adult and fetal wound healing with an
emphasis on achieving a scarless regenerative phenotype. In her free time, Alex enjoys traveling, finding great new eateries, horseback riding, and making new memories with friends and family.
Murphy, Dr. Matthew Philip, MB BCh BAO (Hons) MRCSI, is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Stanford University. After successfully completing Core Surgical Training at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and obtaining Membership of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dr. Murphy is involved in Skeletal Stem Cell Biology research at Dr. Michael Longaker's laboratory at Stanford University.
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Education:
2013 MB BCh BAO (Hons), University College Dublin, Ireland.
2015 MRCSI, Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland.
Honors and Awards:
2007 UCD Entrance Award
2010 Awarded the SSRA Medal in Research at
CRID UCD
2011 Health Research Board “Oral Competition Finalist”, Dublin Castle.
2012 Recipient of inaugural: “UCD-Harvard Summer Studentship” with Prof Anderson at
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard
Medical School, USA.
2012 Recipient of inaugural: “Scholarship in Fetal Medicine” with Prof Yves Ville at University of Descartes, Paris V, France.
Nguyen, Alan was a previous CIRM Scholar from California State University of Fullerton that returned to the lab. As a current research assistant in the Longaker lab, he is interested in characterizing and understanding the similarities between fibroblasts found in tumor stroma and healing wounds. In his free time, Alan likes to jog, hike, and keep up with the latest tech.
Patel, Ronak is a fourth year medical student from the University of Illinois School of Medicine spending time in the Longaker and Wan Laboratories. Ronak was born and raised in the west suburbs of Chicago. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with double majors in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Psychology, with a minor in Chemistry. His research focus consists of exploring the biology surrounding cell-assisted lipotransfer and role of adipose-derived stromal cells. He plans on finishing medical school with the aim to enter plastic surgery residency. In his free time, Ronak enjoys sailing, snowboarding, and golfing.
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Ransom, Chase is an MD/PhD student conducting his thesis in Dr. Longaker’s laboratory. His interest in regeneration is focused on understanding how different subpopulations of the skeleton respond to injury and restore normal tissue. He is currently investigating how mechanical forces define tissue architecture in the craniofacial skeleton using a model of mandibular distraction osteogenesis. In his free time, Chase enjoys hiking, skiing, and spending time with family and friends.
Robertson, Kiana was a CIRM Scholar from Humboldt State University. She graduated with a BS in Cellular/Molecular Biology and a minor in Chemistry. As an undergraduate, Kiana was awarded the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) scholarship to work on the development of dopaminergic neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells. In the Longaker lab, she investigated mandibular regeneration and nerve-dependent regeneration with skeletal stem cells. In her spare time she enjoys playing piano, reading, going to the beach, and drinking tea.
Salhotra, Ankit is a current CIRM Scholar from California State University Fullerton interning in Dr. Michael Longaker’s Lab. His current research focuses on Skeletal Stem Cell biology. In specific, he is investigating how mechanical forces drive bone regeneration in the craniofacial skeleton using a mandibular distraction osteogenesis model. During his free time Ankit enjoys playing basketball, exercising, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Sanghera, Puneet is a student at San Francisco State University in the Professional Science Master program. She is currently a CIRM Bridges scholar. She received her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry from San Jose State University. At SJSU, Puneetconducted research on the effects of inflammation on spinal cord excitability. While at Stanford, her project will focus on the role of the hedgehog signaling in adipose tissue stem cell fate lineage determination. In her free time, she enjoys watching movies and creating new recipes.
Shah, Harsh is a medical student at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. Harsh earned his BS in Biology and MPH in Health Care Organization and Policy from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Harsh has, previously, conducted research in alternative treatments for triple negative breast cancer and uncovering the genetic mechanisms underlying congenital heart disease. During his time in the Longaker lab, Harsh will study the cellular response in long bone distraction osteogenesis. During his free time, Harsh enjoys playing tennis, working out, and cooking food combining various cuisines.
Shailendra, Siny is currently working as a Life Science Research Professional (LSRP) at Dr. Michael Longaker's laboratory at Stanford. After working as a dentist, she pursued her Master's degree in Stem Cell research from San Jose State University. She started working in Dr. Longaker's lab as a CIRM Scholar prior to taking up a full-time position in the same lab. Siny works with the Craniofacial group alongside Natalina Quarto and Siddharth Menon. Their research focuses primarily on cranial bone repair and cranial suture biology. Currently, I'm investigating the role of osteoclasts in calvarial bone repair and regeneration. In her spare time, Siny enjoys nature (hiking), and is an advocate for healthy eating and fitness.
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Spielman, Amanda is a fourth-year MD/MPH student at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Amanda grew up in the Bay Area but moved to Atlanta to attend Emory University where she studied Biology and Global Health. Prior to medical school, she led the planning and monitoring of a pilot clinical trial in Kathmandu, Nepal to study the use of a wound vacuum reengineered for underserved markets. Her research interests include wound healing and skin fibrosis, with emphasis on making state-of-the-art wound care globally accessible for patients. After completing her research training at Stanford, she will finish medical school and apply for plastic surgery residency programs. Amanda enjoys good coffee and pretty much any activity that involves the great outdoors!
Shen, Abra is a medical student at Harvard Medical School and a Sarnoff Fellow in the Longaker laboratory. Abra grew up in Toronto and graduated from MIT with a double major in Brain and Cognitive Sciences and Theater Arts. She is interested in understanding fibrosis and angiogenesis in the context of wound healing. Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time at the archery range, seeing theatre shows, and singing.
Shen, Ethan is a first year undergraduate student at Stanford University studying Biology and Computer Science. Prior to his arrival at the Longaker Lab, he has researched at the Taiwanese Central Research Institute and Stanford University Medical School, working on projects from creating Virus-Like Particles for Cryo-electron microscopy analysis to investigating the role of Wnt-responsive cells in bone regeneration. Ethan is currently working on Skeletal Stem Cell biology research at the Longaker Lab, looking at the mechanisms of mandibular distraction osteogenesis. Aside from stem cell biology, Ethan is interested in the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning. California born and raised, Ethan enjoys spending his free time outside playing frisbee, shooting hoops, hiking, and skiing.
Sokol, Jan studied Biomechanical Engineering as an undergraduate at Stanford and is pursuing an MS degree in Biomedical Informatics. Alongside his studies, one of the projects that he is working on in the Longaker Laboratory is to characterize fibroblast heterogeneity in human skin and find out its role in skin-scarring. He is Czech, grew up in Duesseldorf, likes to surf, read and eat spicy food.
Struck, Danni recently graduated from University of California Berkeley, where she received her bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology. She rowed for Cal all four years, and was a member of the 2016 NCAA Women’s Rowing Championship team. Danni’s research aims to study the bone fracture healing process and the effects of aging on skeletal stem cells and bone, cartilage and stromal progenitor cells in menopausal animal models. She is currently applying to medical school. In her free-time, Danni enjoys running, cooking and being near the water.
Talbott desJardins-Park, Heather is an MD/PhD student in the Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine program at Stanford and has been a member of the Longaker laboratory since 2017. Heather earned her AB in Chemistry from Harvard University, where she conducted research in organometallic catalyst synthesis. Currently, she investigates mechanisms of regenerative wound healing during embryonic development, with the ultimate goal of identifying novel targets for preventing fibrosis. In her free time, Heather enjoys singing (jazz and classical), surfing, and exploring the great outdoors.
Tevlin, Ruth is a surgical resident here with the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Originally from Dublin in Ireland, Ruth initially took two years out of her residency training with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland to complete postdoctoral research with Dr. Longaker from 2013-2015. During this time, she worked on characterization of the mouse skeletal stem cell as well as activation of stem cells in response to injury and in the setting of systemic disease. Her postdoctoral fellowship changed her career path significantly, inspiring her interest in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. In 2017, Ruth moved back to the Farm and was delighted to restart residency training here at Stanford with the goal of becoming an academic Plastic Surgeon. Ruth is excited to be back in the Hagey lab this year, completing her Professional Development year under the mentorship of Dr Longaker. Her research is supported by a Plastic Surgery Foundation Fellowship Research Grant in addition to funding from the Transplant and Tissue Engineering Center of Excellence at Stanford University. Outside of the lab, Ruth enjoys spending time with her family and her friends, exploring the Bay Area, doing yoga, biking and working on her golf swing.
Titan, Ashley is a categorical General Surgery resident at Stanford. She is interested in skeletal stem cell biology, fibrosis/scar formation, and tissue regeneration. Ashley attended Stanford University (where she captained the Division 1 Varsity Fencing Team) and majored in Philosophy with Honors in Ethics in Society; she earned her M.D. from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Outside of medicine, she enjoy triathlons, marathons, backpacking, and hiking with her boyfriend and her adorable 10 year old dog, Molly.
Valencia, Caleb is currently a CIRM Scholar from California State University, Fullerton and during my time in the Longaker Lab I will be studying wound healing and fibrosis. My goal is to go to medical school after my internship. In my free time I hope to explore Northern California, play basketball, and some photography.