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, Disease and Conditions:
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
Ted M. Dawson, M.D., Ph.D.
Expertise, Disease and Conditions:
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, Disease and Conditions:
Parkinson's Disease
Research Interests:
Molecular Signals Controlling Neurodegeneration, Parkinson's disease
Gabsang Lee, Ph.D.
Expertise, Disease and Conditions:
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
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
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, Disease and Conditions:
Biomedical Engineering, Cancer, Diabetes, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal Cord Injury
Research Interests:
Molecular and Cellular Imaging, Immunoengineering, Theranostics
Elias Thomas Zambidis, M.D., Ph.D.
Expertise, Disease and Conditions:
Bone Marrow Failure, Bone Marrow Transplant, General Pediatrics, Haploidentical Bone Marrow Transplant, Histiocytosis, Immune Dysregulation Disorders, Leukemia, Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Stem Cell Transplants
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.
Cao, Xu, Ph.D.
Lee Riley Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Director, Center for Musculoskeletal Research
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Director, Center for Musculoskeletal Research
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Research Interests:
Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Bone remodeling, Mesenchymal stem cells
Jordan, Philip William, Ph.D.
Joint Appointment in Cell Biology
Joint Appointment in Oncology
Joint Appointment in Urology
Joint Appointment in Oncology
Joint Appointment in Urology
Research Interests:
Stem Cells, Gametogenesis, Genome Integrity, Neurodevelopment
Koliatsos, Vassilis E., M.D.
Professor of Pathology
Professor of Neurology
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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
Kraitchman, Dara L., 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
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
Kunisaki, Shaun Michael, 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
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
Kwon, Chulan, Ph.D., M.S.
Director, Cardiovascular Stem Cell Program
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Associate Professor of Cell Biology
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Associate Professor of Cell Biology
Research Interests:
Cardiovascular Regenerative Biology, Cardiac Progenitor Cell Biology
Maragakis, Nicholas John, 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
Director, ALS Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Research
Medical Director, ALS Clinical Trials Unit
Professor of Neurology
Research Interests:
Matunis, Erika L., Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology
Research Interests:
Molecular genetics of germ line stem cell function
Smith Resar, Linda M, M.D.
Professor of Medicine
Professor of Oncology
Professor of Pathology
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.
Stevens, Robert David, 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
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
Trapecar, Martin, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Assistant Professor of Medicine
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Assistant Professor of Biomedical Engineering
Research Interests:
Autoimmunity, and Bioengineering
Wang, Zack Z., Ph.D.
Director, Ross Flow Cytometry Core Facility
Associate Professor of Medicine
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