Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine

Phuong Le (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2019
Thesis Title: TBA
Advisors: Sue Menko, PhD

Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

Yanki Yarman (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2019
Thesis Title: TBA
Advisors: Peisong Ma, PhD

Current Position: MD/PhD 7, JeffMD Phase 2, SKMC 3

Signe Caksa (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2018
Thesis Title: "Investigating the Role of Transglutaminase-2 in Cutaneous Melanoma"
Advisor: Andrew Aplin, PhD

Current Position: MD/PhD 8, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Colleen Isabelle (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2017
Thesis Title: "TBD"
Advisors: Anjali Mishra, PhD

Current Position: MD/PhD 9, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Selin Isguven (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2017
Thesis Title: "Ultrasound-Controlled Drug Delivery for Application in Spinal Surgical Infections"
Advisors: Noreen Hickok, PhD; Flemming Forsberg, PhD

Current Position: MD/PhD 9, JeffMD Phase 3, SKMC 4

Usman Baqai (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2017
Thesis Title: "Identifying the Novel Effectors of Oncogenic GNAQ/11 and BAP1-Deficiency in Uveal Melanoma"
Advisor: Andrew Aplin, PhD

Weelic Chong (MD/PhD)
Matriculation Term: Summer 2016
Thesis Title: "Identifying the Novel Effectors of Oncogenic GNAQ/11 and BAP1-Deficiency in Uveal Melanoma"
Advisor: Hushan Yang, PhD

Alexandra Ciuciu
Matriculation Term: Fall 2019
Thesis Title: "COX2 Inhibition in Bone: Impacts of Regular NSAID Use on Mechanosensation and Stress Fracture Risk"
Advisor: Ryan Tomlinson, PhD

Stanley Conaway
Matriculation Term: Summer 2018
Thesis Title: "Elucidating the Bitter Taste Signaling Mechanisms in Airway Smooth Muscle Relaxation"
Advisor: Deepak Deshpande, PhD

Ariana Entezari
Matriculation Term: Summer 2018
Thesis Title: "APC/β-catenin/TCF signaling suppresses GUCY2C hormone transcription by silencing p38"
Advisor: Scott Waldman, MD, PhD

Margot Fedoroff
Matriculation Term: Summer 2020
Thesis Title: "Study of SLC7A5/LAT1 in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Progression and Chemoresistance"
Advisor: Jun He, PhD

Rifah Gheyas
Matriculation Term: Fall 2019
Thesis Title: "Mechanisms Involved in the Formation of the Lens Organelle Free Zone"
Advisor: Sue Menko, PhD

Ranakul Islam
Matriculation Term: Summer 2020
Thesis Title: "The Role of TOMM20 in Sarcoma Aggressiveness and Mir-218-5p/EGFR Signaling in Arsenic-Induced Cancer"
Advisor: Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn, MD

Alexandra Manchel
Matriculation Term: Summer 2019
Thesis Title: "Genome-scale modeling of metabolic dysregulation in alcohol-associated hepatitis"
Advisor: Rajanikanth Vadigepalli, PhD

Olivia Ottone
Matriculation Term: Fall 2018
Thesis Title: "Modalities of and intervention strategies to mitigate intervertebral disc degeneration"
Advisor: Makarand Risbud, PhD

Kimheak Sao
Matriculation Term: Summer 2019
Thesis Title: "The Role of Syndecan 4 in Intervertebral Disc Health and Disease"
Advisor: Makarand Risbud, PhD

Maria Tsingas
Matriculation Term: Summer 2019
Thesis Title: "Exploring Glycolytic Metabolism: The Central Role of Lactate in the Intervertebral Disc"
Advisor: Makarand Risbud, PhD

Neil Zhao (MD/PhD) 
Matriculation Term: Summer 2016
Thesis Title: "REDUCING STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS BURDEN IN SYNOVIAL FLUID"
Advisor: Noreen Hickok, PhD

Current Position: LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, Resident

Morgan Basta
Matriculation Term: Summer 2018
Thesis Title: "The role of post-replicative chromatin structure in the initiation and progression of fibrosis"
Advisor: Janice Walker, PhD

John Han
Matriculation Term: Fall 2017
Thesis Title: "Eye candy: Role of Lactate and Glucose Transporters in Supporting Visual Health and Function"
Advisor: Nancy Philp, PhD

Shira Johnston
Matriculation Term: Fall 2017
Thesis Title: "The Role of HIF-2α in the Intervertebral Disc"
Advisor: Makarand Risbud, PhD

Lauren Langbein 
Matriculation Term: Fall 2014
Thesis Title: "Regulation of the Type I Interferon Pathway by Cancer Genes in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma"
Advisor: Haifeng Yang, PhD

Megan Roche 
Matriculation Term: Fall 2015
Thesis Title:  "Translocase of the Outer Mitochondrial Membrane 20 (TOMM20) and TP53 Inducible Glycolysis and Apoptosis Regulator (TIGAR) Drive Metabolic Reprogramming in Cancer"
Advisor: Ubaldo Martinez-Outschoorn, MD

Michael Young 
Matriculation Term: Fall 2015
Thesis Title: "IP3R knockout cell models: studies on structure/function and cell physiology"
Advisor: Suresh Joseph, PhD

Grace Tartaglia
Matriculation Term: Summer 2018
Thesis Title: "Anti-Virals as a Novel Fibrosis Preventative in Recessive Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa"
Advisor: Andrew South, PhD

Alexus (Kolb) Shirk 
Matriculation Term: Fall 2016
Thesis Title: "OSTEOCLASTOGENESIS AND FACTORS PRODUCED BY THE BONE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX ARE ALTERED BY EDUCATED OSTEOBLASTS IN A BONE-TUMOR MIMETIC MICROENVIRONMENT"
Advisor: Karen Bussard, PhD

Noor Shaik (MD/PhD) 
Matriculation Term: Summer 2015
Thesis Title: "The Role of Platelets in Remote Organ Injury and Infection After Stroke"
Advisor: Ulhas Naik, PhD