Guillermo Ameer, Ph.D.
Dr. Guillermo Ameer is Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Surgery, Daniel Hale Williams Professor and Director of the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering at Northwestern University
Prof. Ameer’s group develops biomaterials and nanotechnology for regenerative engineering, tissue engineering, medical devices, drug delivery, and cell delivery applications.
Go to the Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering
Juan J. de Pablo, Ph.D.
Dr. Juan de Pablo is Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering in the Institute for Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago and the University of Chicago’s Vice President for National Laboratories
Prof. de Pablo’s group is known for his research on the thermophysical properties of soft materials. Much of de Pablo’s work entails conducting supercomputer simulations to understand and design new materials from scratch and to find applications for them. In 2016, de Pablo was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for “design of macromolecular products and processes via scientific computation.”
Go to the de Pablo Group website at the Institute for Molecular Engineer at Universvity of Chicago
Vinayak Dravid, Ph.D.
Dr. Vinayak Dravid is Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Founding Director, Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization (NUANCE) Center and Founding Director, Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, an NSF-NNCI Node at Northwestern University
Prof. Dravid’s scholarly interests are at the intersection of materials science with physics, chemistry, biology and engineering with implications for electronics, energy, environmental science and biomedicine. He has a diverse research portfolio encompassing advanced microscopy, nanotechnology, technology strategy, energy policy and emerging educational paradigms.
Go to the Dravid Group website
Lifang Hou, MD
Dr. Lifang Hou is Professor of Preventive Medicine, Chief of Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Feinberg School of Medicine and co-director of International Relations at the Lurie Cancer Center’s global alliances.
Dr. Hou conducts research to identify cancer molecular biomarkers that may predict cancer risk, progression, and mortality in numerous diverse populations, thus providing potential tools for the early detection and prevention of cancer.
Dr. Hou was named a member of the national Blue Ribbon Panel to inform the scientific direction and goals of the National Cancer Institute as part of former Vice President Joe Biden’s National Cancer Moonshot Initiative to accelerate cancer research progress in the US.
Go to Dr. Lifang Hou’s profile
Antonio Iavarone, MD
Dr. Antonio Iavarone is Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology and Neurology in the Institute for Cancer Genetics at Columbia University.
The overarching theme of Prof. Iavarone’s research program is the dissection of the role of proteins and networks (master regulators) that drive phenotypic states in normal and cancer cells of the brain. Prof. Iavaron uses global and unbiased approaches to identify the genetic and transcriptional drivers of an obscure but incredibly important aberrant phenotype in brain tumors, the mesenchymal transformation of human high‐grade glioma. This phenotype endows one of the most lethal types of human cancer (the glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) with extremely aggressive features such as the ability to invade the normal brain and form new blood vessels.
Go to Dr. Iavarone’s website at Columbia University
Zhe Ji, Ph.D.
Dr. Zhe Ji is Assistant Professor of Parmacology, Department of Pharmacology, Feinberg School of Medicine and Biomedical Engineering Depratment, McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University.
Prof. Zhe Ji’s lab for RNA Genomics develops novel data science approaches and uses experimental genomics technologies to examine the regulation of gene transcription and RNA translation underlying cell fate commitment and oncogenic processes. We aim to reveal novel cancer therapeutic strategies for precision medicine and immunotherapy.
Go to the Ji lab for RNA Genomics website
Seema Khan, MD
Dr. Seema Khan is Professor of Surgery, Breast Surgery Division at the Feinberg School of Medicine and Co-Leader of the Cancer Prevention Program at the Lurie Cancer Center.
Dr. Seema Khan has specific interest in biomarkers of breast cancer risk that can be identified in minimal samples of breast epithelium. Dr. Seema Khan research projects include investigation of RNA and microRNA biomarkers in benign biopsy material, that will serve to better stratify breast cancer risk, and as targets for specific prevention interventions. She has conducted early phase prevention trials, which currently focus on the evaluation of topical transdermal drug delivery to the breast. Her laboratory interests include the investigation of progesterone signaling in the breast, in the context of early events that relate to cancer prevention.
Go to Dr. Seema Khan’s profile
Jan Lammerding, Ph.D.
Dr. Jan Lammerding is Associate Professor in Biomedical Engineering and Director of Graduate Studies for the BME PhD Program at the Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University.
The research in Prof. Lammerding’s Lab is focused on developing and applying novel experimental techniques to investigate the important interplay between cellular structure and function, with a particular emphasis on the cell nucleus. Prof. Lammerding’s interdisciplinary team is combining bioengineering approaches with cell and molecular biology techniques to design experimental assays to probe how such changes in cellular structure and mechanics can result in human disease.
Go to the Lammerding Lab website at Cornell University
Luisa Marcelino, Ph.D.
Dr. Luisa Marcelino is Research Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northwestern University
Dr. Marcelino’s group works on developing and applying optical, genetic, and phylogenic methods to study biological effects of climate change on reef-forming corals and their associated algae. A central focus of our laboratory is understanding the mechanism of massive coral bleaching (i.e., when large numbers of algae that live in the tissues of the coral and provide the coral with food are lost and the coral turns white or “bleached”).
Go to the Marcelino Group website
John Marko, Ph.D.
Dr. John Marko is Professor of Molecular Biosciences and Physics & Astronomy at Northwestern University
Dr. Marko’s group is focused on understanding the mechanisms of how the genomes of living things are organized, protected and maintained by protein-DNA interactions. A good deal of the lab’s work uses biophysical methods, with particular emphasis on micromanipulation of single DNA molecules and single chromosomes. Recent projects in the lab have included studies of the internal structure of eukaryote mitotic chromosomes, single-DNA studies of DNA-folding proteins from bacteria, studies of DNA topoisomerases, and studies of the dynamics of self-organization of chromatin using Xenopus egg extracts. The lab also carries out theoretical modeling work related to these experimental studies.
Thomas O’Halloran, Ph.D.
Dr. O’Halloran is Morrison Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Molecular Biosciences, Director of the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and Associate Director of Basic Sciences, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University
The O’Halloran group adopts a highly interdisciplinary approach using the tools of chemistry, molecular biology, structural biology and fluorescence microscopy to elucidate the chemical mechanisms, protein structures, biochemistry and physiological roles of transition metals such as copper, zinc and iron.
Go to the O’Halloran Group website
Raúl Rabadán, Ph.D.
Dr. Rabadán is a Professor in the Department of Systems Biology and Biomedical Informatics, Director of the Program for Mathematical Informatics at Columbia University and Director of the Center for Topology of Cancer Evolution and Heterogeneity
Dr. Rabadán’s current interest focuses on uncovering patterns of evolution in biological systems—in particular, RNA viruses and cancer. Dr. Rabadán’s lab is an interdisciplinary team interested in developing mathematical and computational tools to extract useful biological information from large data sets.
Go to the Rabadan Lab website at Columbia University
Jeremy Rogers, Ph.D.
Dr. Rogers is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin – Madison
The Rogers Lab develops optical instrumentation and imaging methods for the quantitative study of cells and tissues
Go to the Rogers Lab at University of Wisconsin – Madison
Hemant Roy, MD
Hemant Roy, MD is the Brown Professor and Vice Chair of Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Roy’s research interests center on GI cancer risk stratification using intermediate biomarkers of field carcinogenesis. He has been involved in the development and clinical implementation of a variety of biophotonic techniques for risk stratification encompassing both fiberoptic probes and cytological based techniques and these are complemented by a variety of molecular markers including microRNAs. More clinically, his interests are in high risk colon cancer syndromes and role of gender in colorectal cancer screening. Throughout his career he has also been involved in teaching receiving numerous awards in this regard.
Go to Dr. Hemant Roy’s website at Baylor University
Shohreh Shahabi, MD
Shohreh Shahabi, MD is the John and Ruth Brewer Professor of Gynecology and Cancer Research and Chief of Gynecologic Oncology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Shahabi has been active in clinical and translational research for over 20 years and has mentored more than 60 fellows, residents and students. Her research interests include studying biomarkers for early detection and response to treatment of gynecologic cancers, as well as investigating disparities in health care and survival outcomes, and improving the patient experience. Dr. Shahabi is currently the Principal Investigator for Northwestern’s NRG Oncology clinical trials, as well as Principal Investigator for numerous investigator-initiated clinical studies.
Go to Dr. Shohreh Shahabi’s website
Lonnie Shea, Ph.D.
Dr. Lonnie Shea is the William and Valerie Hall Chair and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan
The Shea Lab works at the interface of regenerative medicine, biomaterials, and gene and drug delivery. The central theme for the various projects is creating synthetic environments which can be employed to molecularly dissect tissue formation or promote regeneration.
Go to the Shea Lab website at University of Michigan
Ali Shilatifard, Ph.D.
Dr. Ali Shilatifard is the Robert Francis Furchgott Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Professor of Pediatrics, at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Director of the Simpson Querrey Center for Epigenetics
As a Jane Coffin Childs postdoctoral fellow, Prof. Ali Shilatifard made a seminal contribution to the field of leukemia biology by identifying the first function of any of the mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) translocation partners. In the 20 years since that discovery, he has dedicated his career to revealing the causes of childhood leukemia and other cancers, and providing detailed molecular insight into the role of epigenetics in cancer.
Go to the Shilatifard Lab website
Igal Szleifer, Ph.D.
Dr. Igal Szleifer is the Christina Enroth-Cugell Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Professor of Chemistry, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Professor of Medicine at Northwestern University
Dr. Szleifer’s research focuses on the molecular modeling of biointerphases. Our work is aimed at the fundamental understanding of the properties of complex molecular systems that encompass problems at the interface between medicine, biology, chemistry, physics and materials science.
Go to Dr. Igal Szleifer’s website
Eduard J. Tanner III, MD
Dr. Eduard Tanner is Associate Professor of Gynecologic Oncology and Chief of the Gynecologic Oncology service at Northwestern University and the Director of Gynecologic Robotic Surgery at Prentice Women’s Hospital
Dr. Tanner’s research interests include exploring the use of sentinel lymph node mapping for endometrial and cervical cancers, performing groundbreaking procedures using robotic single-site surgery, and developing new ways to reduce complications in patients undergoing surgery for advanced ovarian cancer.He has developed innovative techniques for robotic surgery in patients with uterine and cervical cancers, including the use of single-incision robotic surgery.
Ji Yi, Ph.D.
Dr. Ji Yi is Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins
Dr. Yi’s work focuses on novel optical techniques for early disease detection, and monitoring disease progression and prognosis. Among other inventions, he developed various imaging methods that enable non-invasive detection of nanoscale structural alterations in tissue and the local tissue metabolism. His research is at the interface of biophotonic, physics, engineering, biology and medicine.
Go to the Yi Lab at Johns Hopkins
Hao Zhang, Ph.D.
Dr. Hao Zhang is Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Director of the Functional Optical Imaging Laboratory at Northwestern University
Dr. Zhang’s group is dedicated to developing novel optical, ultrasonic, and electrical imaging techniques for biomedical research and clinical applications. The research work in FOIL is highly interdisciplinary. It involves knowledge and expertise from electronics, optics, lasers, ultrasound, imaging processing, programming, mechanics, physiology, anatomy, and clinical science.