Dr. Xinna Zhang

Assistant Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics

Indiana University Purdue University - Indianapolis

Our laboratory has long standing interest in protein regulators and noncoding RNAs in the DNA damage response, especially as they relate to genome stability, tumor initiation and progression. Wild-type p53-induced phosphatase 1 (Wip1) is a serine/threonine phosphatase that is up-regulated in response to various types of DNA damage. Our previous studies identified a number of Wip1 dephosphorylation targets in the ATM-p53 DNA damage signaling pathway, highlighting the critical role of Wip1 as a master inhibitor for the DNA damage response (DDR). Consistent with its oncogenic functions, Wip1 was shown to be amplified and overexpressed in human breast cancer. Currently, our study is focused on the function of Wip1 amplicon in breast cancer and its role in drug resistance.

Dr. Xiaoming "Shawn" He

Professor - Fischell Department of Bioengineering

A. James Clark School of Engineering

University of Maryland

Dr. He's laboratory is dedicated to the research and education on developing multiscale (nano, micro, and macro) biomaterials and devices with bioinspired spatiotemporal complexity to (1) encapsulate and deliver small molecules, genes, peptides/proteins, cells, and tissues and (2) engineer 3D biomimetic systems in vitro, with the ultimate goal of improving the safety and efficacy of cancer theranostics, tissue regeneration, and assisted reproduction.

Research is focused on developing multiscale biomaterials to engineer living cells and tissues for two applications: Cancer treatment and cell-based medicine. The following are specific projects that are ongoing in our lab:

• Microencapsulation of living cells (including oocytes, pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, primary cells, and bacterial cells) using electrospray and microfluidic devices for reproductive and regenerative medicine, biobanking, and treating infectious diseases
• Development of nanoscale polymeric and hybrid biomaterials that are responsive to environmental stimuli (e.g., pH, temperature, and light) for delivering therapeutic agents (e.g., drugs and genes) to facilitate cell-based medicine and destroy cancer
• Development of computational models to understand the biotransport phenomena in microencapsulating and banking living cells and tissues

Dr. Chi Zhang

Assistant Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics

Dr. Chi Zhang focuses on computational modeling of cancer micro-environment including the level of hypoxia, oxidative stress, acidity and dysregulation of extracellular matrix as well as altered immune responses in cancer tissue by using large scale omics data. Dr. Chi Zhang is also interested in developing novel computation methods to integrate multiple tissue level and single cell omics data types to understand the mechanism of cancer initiation, progression, metastasis and cancer tumor tissue’s resistance to certain therapies. In addition, his research application also includes inference of intra-tumor heterogeneity and reprogrammed metabolism, and prediction of gain or loss of functions led by a certain mutation or collective effect of multiple mutations.

Dr. Sophie Paczesny

Chair, Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Medical University of South Carolina

Hollings Cancer Center Immunology co-leader

Sally Abney Rose Endowed Chair in Cancer Stem Cell Biology 

A Professor of Pediatrics and Immunology with research interest in Blood Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant at the Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. Paczesny leads biomarker discovery and validation research forcomplications of hematopoietic cell transplantation including for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). She received her MD and PhD from Paris University, France, where she completed her residency and fellowship in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation. She joined first the Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at the University of Michigan in 2006 where she has developed proteomics for the diagnosis of GVHD, a complication that occurs in approximately half of patients following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. With her responsibilities at Indiana University and affiliations with the Simon Cancer Center, Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Immunology, and is pursuing her research of discovery and validation of biomarkers of complications post-transplantation as well as bring new targeted therapies to the clinic and explore novel pathways in GVHD.