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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 Respati Arifin, Ph.D.

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

  • Seth Blackshaw, Ph.D.

    Expertise: Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Neurogenetics, Obesity

    Research Interests: Regulation of hypothalamic cell fate specification and function, 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

  • Jeff W.M. Bulte, Ph.D., M.S.

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

  • Patrick Cahan, Ph.D., M.S.

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

  • Jason Paul Carreon Chua, M.D., Ph.D.

  • Ted M. Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.

    Expertise: Neurology, Parkinson's Disease

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

  • Valina L. Dawson, Ph.D.

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

  • Sung Ung Kang

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

  • Hyesoo Kim, D.V.M., Ph.D.

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

  • Han Seok Ko, Ph.D., M.S.

    Expertise: Parkinson's Disease

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

  • Shreyas Kuddannaya, Ph.D., M.S.

    Research Interests: Stem cell therapy, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, injectable hydrogels for neural repair, immunomodulation, In vivo Imaging

  • H. Benjamin Larman, Ph.D.

  • Gabsang Lee, Ph.D.

    Expertise: Muscular Dystrophies, Peripheral Nerve Disorders

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

  • Xiaobo Mao, Ph.D.
  • Chan Hyun Na, Ph.D., M.S.

  • Joel L. Pomerantz, Ph.D.

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

  • Jonathan Schneck, M.D., Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Immunology

  • Gregg L. Semenza, M.D., Ph.D.

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

  • Ali Shakeri-Zadeh, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Nanomedicine, Theranostic Nanoparticles, Cell Labeling, In vivo Cell Tracking, Multimodal Image‐Guided Photothermal/Radiation Cancer Therapy

  • Aline Thomas, Ph.D.

    Expertise: Biomedical Engineering, Cancer, Diabetes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Multiple Sclerosis

    Research Interests: Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Immunoengineering, Theranostics

  • Jinchong Xu, Ph.D.

    Research Interests: Neuroinflammation, Neurological Disorders, Stem Cells

  • Elias Thomas Zambidis, M.D., Ph.D.

    Expertise: Bone Marrow Failure, Bone Marrow Transplant, General Pediatrics, Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplant, Histiocytosis

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

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, Ph.D.

    • Lee Riley Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
    • Director, Center for Musculoskeletal Research
    • Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

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

  • Philip William Jordan, Ph.D.

    • Joint Appointment in Cell Biology
    • Joint Appointment in Oncology
    • Joint Appointment in Urology

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

  • Vassilis E. Koliatsos, M.D.

    • Professor of Pathology
    • Professor of Neurology
    • Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

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

  • Dara L. Kraitchman, V.M.D., Ph.D., M.S.

    • Cardiovascular Interventional Section Head
    • Center for Image-Guided Animal Therapy Director
    • Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science
    • Professor of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology

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

  • Shaun Michael Kunisaki, M.D., M.Sc.

    • Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Professor
    • Associate Chief, Strategy & Integration, General Pediatric Surgery
    • Director, Fetal Program, General Pediatric Surgery
    • Director, Pediatric Esophageal Surgery, Johns Hopkins Children's Center
    • Professor of Surgery

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

  • Chulan Kwon, Ph.D., M.S.

    • Director, Cardiovascular Stem Cell Program
    • Associate Professor of Medicine
    • Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
    • Associate Professor of Cell Biology

    Research Interests: Cardiovascular Regenerative Biology, Cardiac Progenitor Cell Biology

  • Nicholas John Maragakis, M.D.

    • Director, Center for ALS Specialtiy Care
    • Director, ALS Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Research
    • Medical Director, ALS Clinical Trials Unit
    • Professor of Neurology

  • Erika L. Matunis, Ph.D.

    • Professor of Cell Biology

    Research Interests: Molecular genetics of germ line stem cell function

  • Linda M Smith Resar, M.D.

    • Professor of Medicine
    • Professor of Oncology
    • Professor of Pathology

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

  • Robert Stevens, M.D.

    • Director, Division of Informatics, Integration, and Innovation
    • Director, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Precision Medicine
    • Associate Director, Precision Medicine Center of Excellence
    • Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
    • Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
    • Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
    • Associate Professor of Neurology
    • Associate Professor of Radiology and Radiological Science

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

  • Martin Trapecar, Ph.D., M.Sc.

    • Assistant Professor of Medicine
    • Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering

    Research Interests: Autoimmunity, and Bioengineering

  • Zack Z. Wang, Ph.D.

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

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