van den Brink Lab Members

Adhithi Rajagopalan received her PhD from University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she developed murine models to understand mechanisms of oncogenic Ras driven hematological malignancies like multiple myeloma. In 2022, she joined the van den Brink laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York as a postdoctoral fellow, to develop strategies to overcome CAR T cell resistance in myeloma. In July 2024, she moved with the team to Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, to continue her work.

Education
2022, Ph.D., Cell & Molecular Biology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interest
Although CAR T cell therapy has achieved immense success in treatment of B cell malignancies, especially myeloma, relapse still occurs due to downmodulation of tumor antigen and CAR T cell exhaustion due to immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, among other resistance mechanisms. Our primary goal is to develop strategies that can overcome these resistance mechanisms and improve CAR T cell responses. Using synthetic biology approaches and multi-omic sequencing, we build novel CAR T cell products and evaluate T cell activity and toxicity in syngeneic and xenograft models with the ultimate aim of translating these products into clinical applications.

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Amina is a multidisciplinary scientist combining expertise in computational sciences and biomedical research, with a particular focus on leveraging technology to advance cancer research and cancer care. She has experience working in the healthcare technology industry as a Senior Software Engineer at Color Health Inc. where she helped develop a cancer screening and prevention platform including AI-powered oncology tools and genetic testing resulting services. In her previous experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Amina conducted research in bone marrow transplantation where she assisted researchers and post-doctoral fellows in their respective research projects and developed automated tools to streamline analysis of longitudinal mouse research data. Amina aspires to bring this combination of hands-on laboratory experience and programming skills to develop innovative approaches to cancer translational research and patient care.

Education
2022, M.S., Computer Science, University of California Los Angeles
2016, B.S., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interest
Amina's research interest lies in development of novel computational methods for analyzing complex biological datasets, particularly to understand the role of the microbiome in cancer treatment outcomes.

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Anastasia Kousa received her PhD from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland for her interdisciplinary studies in Bioinformatics and Stem Cell biology focused on the developmental mechanisms of thymic epithelial cells through the integrative analysis of in-silico OMICs datasets. Her PhD program was part of an EU-funded research consortium -ThymiStem- that brought together labs from different countries working on thymus research. She was granted funding to visit the van den Brink lab at Sloan Kettering in New York and the Dudakov lab at Fred Hutchinson in Seattle where she was involved for the first time in work involving the thymus aging and regeneration, an inspiring field and environment where she could better appreciate the benefits of working closely with clinicians and also aspiring for improving the life of patients. Upon completing her PhD studies, she accepted a position in the van den Brink Lab at Sloan Kettering as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow.

Education 
2018, Ph.D., Stem Cell Bioinformatics, SCRM, University of Edinburgh, UK   
2012, MSc, Bioinformatics, University of Edinburgh, UK   
2011, BSc, Molecular Biology and Genetics, DUTH, Alexandroupolis, GR 

Research Interest
Anastasia is a Senior Bioinformatician and Data Scientist with extensive training in the field of bioinformatics and highly skilled in single cell and spatial OMICs analysis and interpretation. Her primary project in the van den Brink lab explores – through the computational lens – the mechanisms that underlie endogenous regeneration of the thymus after acute injury (such as infection, stress, and common cancer therapies) and how these mechanisms of regeneration breakdown with age leading to a diminished regenerative capacity compared to that of a young thymus in both mice and men. This likely has significant impact on thymic function with age and in the adaptive immune response to infection, vaccines, and cancer immunotherapy.

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Andri Lemarquis is a physician-scientist dedicated to advancing hematology and oncology, with a specific focus on thymic T cell production during hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in cancer patients and in cellular therapies. After completing a dual MD-PhD degree, he pursued clinical training, initially beginning a residency in clinical immunology before transitioning to pediatrics and starting a subspecialty in pediatric oncology at Sahlgrenska University Hospital. In clinical practice, he witnessed the pressing need for translational solutions to improve therapies for patients. To address this need, he embarked on postdoctoral training with Marcel van den Brink at MSKCC in New York and subsequently moved to City of Hope in Los Angeles, where he lead a group focusing on T cell reconstitution and thymic regeneration in patients receiving cytoreductive therapies.

Education
2019, Ph.D., Immunology, University of Iceland
2016, M.D., University of Iceland
2012, B.S., University of Iceland

Research Interest
As an aspiring physician-scientist at the interface of transplantation biology and thymic immunobiology, his goal is to understand and harness the mechanisms behind T cell reconstitution in patients undergoing cytoreductive therapies.

Funding
Current:
2023, DKMS, John Hansen Research Grant, promising young researcher grant.
2022, SSMF, Swedish medical foundation postdoctoral award.
Previous funding:
2021, Sweden America Foundation award, Prins Bertil award, postdoctoral award.
2021, GLS, postdoctoral award.
2020, PIOs, Swedish primary immune deficiency organization research funding.
2019, Lars Hiertas minnes foundation award, research funding.
2018, The National University Hospital of Iceland, Research grant.
2017, The National University Hospital of Iceland, Research grant.
2016, European Molecular Biology Organization fellowship, LUMC, Netherlands.
2015, Research grant The National University Hospital of Iceland.
2014, Research grant The National University Hospital of Iceland.
2013, Research grant The National University Hospital of Iceland

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Annie provides administrative support to Dr. Marcel van den Brink is his role as President of City of Hope National Medical Center.

Education
2004, BSBA, Ohio State University

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Ashley Huang received her bachelor’s degree in animal science from UC Davis. After graduating, she worked at an animal hospital and then at UCLA for the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine. There, she gained experience managing colonies, breeding mice and performing biopsies for various labs. She learned that she enjoyed working with mice and research and started in the Van den Brink lab January of 2024 as a Research Associate in the Thymus group.

Education
2022, B.S., University of California, Davis

Research Interest
Ashley focuses on diverse in vitro and in vivo models to identify methods for enhancing endogenous thymic regeneration following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

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Ashley graduated from Cal Poly in 2025 with a degree in Biological Sciences. During her undergraduate studies, she joined a virology, genetics, and molecular biology research lab, where she gained hands-on experience in primer design, PCR, cloning, protein expression, transformation, and other molecular techniques.

Her time in the lab sparked a strong interest in discovery and hands-on research. During her final year at Cal Poly, she took an immunology course that deepened her appreciation for the complexity of the immune system and the potential of research to yield meaningful discoveries that may advance patient care. Ashley hopes to continue growing as a researcher with the support of investigators and fellow researchers. 

Education
2025, B.S., California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Research Interest
Thymus organoid generation.

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With a strong commitment to translating cutting-edge research from bench to bedside, Barry joined the CAR T therapy team in our lab, focusing on enhancing the ability of our own immune cells to target and destroy cancer cells. His current research centers on generating CAR T cells capable of recognizing multiple antigens on tumor cells, enabling more precise targeting and reducing the risk of tumor immune escape. Additionally, Barry is working to improve the effectiveness and persistence of CAR T cells to prevent cancer relapse. His ultimate goal is to bring more effective treatments to patients and restore hope in their fight against cancer.

Education
2022, M.S., University of Southern California
2020, B.S., University of California, Irvine

Research Interest
CAR T therapy.
 

Bin earned his Ph.D. degree from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China and had been trained as an immunologist in Institute for Immunology at Tsinghua University. In his Ph.D. training, Bin focused on the innate immune system by bridging molecular mechanism to cellular phenotypes. His work deepened the understanding on transcriptional activation of inflammatory genes in macrophages and also revealed the mechanism behind a novel marker-imprinted human monocyte subset with disease relevance. Bin joined the van den Brink laboratory in 2025 as a postdoctoral fellow to carry on his journey on immunology research, where his work is emphasizing on the translational potential of different CAR-T designs by modulating the signaling components.

Education
2022, Ph.D., Immunology, Tsinghua University
2015, BS, Biology, Sichuan University

Research Interest
Improve the CAR-T cell design and investigate the critical mechanism behind the CAR-T cell biology by utilizing the synthetic biology and system biology methods.

Brooke earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from San Diego State University, where she developed a strong foundation in health promotion, program planning, and population health. She also volunteered with the Day-by-Day team at City of Hope in Duarte, helping design and develop educational and program materials focused on the Fear of Progression model. In 2026, Brooke joined the van den Brink Lab at City of Hope, where she supports the lab’s research and contributes to the day-to-day activities that help advance the team’s scientific and programmatic goals.

Education
2022, B.S., San Diego State University

Research Interest
Brooke’s research interests include occupational therapy in cancer recovery, health education, supportive oncology care, and community-based health programs. She is particularly interested in improving patient outcomes through evidence-based education and supportive care strategies.

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Edman received his bachelor's in Biomedical Engineering from California State University, Long Beach. In his undergraduate research, he gained experience in studying the cellular and extracellular interactions that regulate tissue remodeling and fibrosis using engineered three-dimensional in vitro cell culture models. Through this experience, he developed an interest in tissue regeneration and the clinical translation of cell therapies. He hopes to contribute to the development of regenerative approaches that improve patient outcomes and restore immune function.

Education
2025, B.S. Biomedical Engineering, California State University, Long Beach

Research Interest
Edman's research interests focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate thymic regeneration and immune reconstitution. He is also particularly interested in the therapeutic potential of natural killer cells and their application in translational medicine.

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Gabriel A. Barragán Bravo is a postdoctoral fellow originally from Ecuador. He earned his B.S. in Biotechnology with a concentration in Molecular Biology from Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro. His interest in immunotherapy was sparked by advances in oncolytic adenoviruses, leading him to the laboratory of Jose Teodoro, PhD, where he investigated the oncolytic potential of chicken anemia virus (CAV) in human leukemia.

Driven by the goal of translating impactful bench science into clinical solutions, Gabriel pursued a PhD in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Under the mentorship of Leonid S. Metelitsa, MD/PhD, his doctoral research focused on enhancing the antitumor efficacy of CAR-expressing Natural Killer T cells (NKTs). This work included developing engineering strategies such as IL-18 armoring to improve CAR-NKT targeting of neuroblastoma. Gabriel is currently a postdoctoral fellow at City of Hope, co-mentored by Marcel van den Brink, MD, PhD, and Christine Brown, PhD.

Education
2025, Ph.D., Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
2017, M.S., Biotechnology, McGill University
2013, B.S. Biotechnology Engineering, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Campus Querétaro

Research Interest
Gabriel is dedicated to leveraging synthetic biology to engineer next-generation cell therapies. His research focuses on developing innovative strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive environments of brain tumors and other aggressive malignancies. By integrating novel molecular tools with cellular engineering, he aims to bridge the gap between benchtop discoveries and transformative clinical outcomes for patients.

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Hannah Rice is a scientific writer and editor who provides writing and project management support for grant applications and other projects in the lab.

Education
2023, M.A, Bioethics, New York University
2009, B.A., Binghamton University

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After completing his PhD, Itauá L Araujo joined the Laboratory on Thymus Research at Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a postdoctoral fellow, focusing on T cell generation in the context of infectious diseases. In January 2024, he joined the van den Brink Laboratory at the Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, to study thymic regeneration and T cell recovery.

Education
2019, Ph.D., Hematology, University of Paris VII - Diderot, France
2014, M.Sc., Biotechnology, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil
2012, B.S., Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil

Research Interest
Itauá L Araujo’s goal is to develop strategies for the rapid regeneration of thymopoiesis following thymic injuries. By utilizing advanced sequencing, imaging techniques, and next-generation cell analysis, he aims to identify key regulatory pathways in human TECs. With the support of mouse models and in vitro human thymic culture, he investigates how these pathways are activated and interact during tissue repair to better understand the factors influencing survival and proliferation. Concurrently, he is working on developing a novel NGS-based TREC method to study T cell generation and exploring human thymic organoid models for screening survival and proliferation targets. He hopes these studies will lead to effective and practical approaches for regenerating a depleted peripheral T-cell pool.

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Jennifer Funes received her master’s degree in biology from California State University, Los Angeles. Her thesis project focused on the microbiology and molecular biology of a nosocomial bacterial pathogen, where she worked with a knockout mutant strain and compared the strain to the wild-type through various conditions. At the same time, she was simultaneously completing her postbaccalaureate in Biotechnology, where she interned at a start-up company that focused on studying the human gut microbiota. Through that experience she learned the importance of the gut microbiota, how it directly impacts our overall health and where her interest in immunology/cell signaling grew. She joined the Van den Brink Lab in early 2024 as a Research Associate II. She hopes to obtain her Ph.D. in the near future. Some of her research interests include the immunology of diabetes, heart diseases and cancer diseases. In her leisure time she likes to hike, read books, and attend concerts.

Education
2023, M.S., Biology, California State University, Los Angeles
2019, B.S., Biology, California State University. Los Angeles

Research Interest
Microbiota and Thymus. 

Jenny Paredes' research focuses on the interaction of the intestinal microbiome, diet and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Our group has previously shown that the diversity of the intestinal microbiome, as well as the diet of patients undergoing allo-HCT, correlates with the development and outcomes of GVHD. Based on these findings, in pre-clinical and in-vitro models, she is investigating if dietary interventions targeting the intestinal microbiome and its metabolites can modulate GVHD outcomes post allo-HCT. She hopes that these studies could lead to dietary and microbial approaches that can improve the survival of patients with hematological malignancies.

Education
2020, Ph.D., Molecular and Cell Biology, State University of New York 
2015, M.S., City University of New York
2011, B.S., Javeriana University Bogota Colombia.

Research Interest
Role of Diet and Microbial Metabolites on Graft vs. Host Disease

Funding
2023, MERIT MSKCC Postdoctoral Fellowship. 
2020-2023, NCI Diversity Supplement 3R01CA228358-03W1. 
2016-2020, NCI Diversity Supplement 3P20CA192994-02S2. 

Highlight
Jenny Paredes, PhD, on How Increased Fiber Intake Results in Better Overall Survival and Lower GI-aGVHD in Allo-HCT Recipients and Pre-Clinical GVHD Models
The ASCO Post | 2024 ASH Annual Meeting

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Jonah Pierce’s research centers on the role of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in tissue regeneration. By employing mouse models of full-body injury through allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), he has identified tissue-specific regenerative programs within Treg cells. To delve deeper into Treg intrinsic mechanisms of regeneration and stability following injury, Jonah is utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 genetic screens, single-cell RNA sequencing, and transgenic mouse models. His goal is to uncover regenerative factors that enhance immune reconstitution and improve survival outcomes for patients undergoing allo-HCT.

Education
2024, M.S., Immunology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Weill Cornell Medicine
2020, B.S., Bioengineering, University of California Santa Cruz

Research Interest
Understanding the role of regulatory T cells in tissue regeneration and immune reconstitution following allo-HCT.

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Judith S. Hecker is a physician-scientist dedicated to advancing immunotherapy research in hematology and oncology, with particular emphasis on the development and optimization of cellular therapies for cancer patients. After completing her MD degree at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, she pursued clinical training, gaining extensive experience in the care of patients undergoing advanced immunologic and hematopoietic interventions. Recognizing the critical need for more effective and durable treatment strategies, she embarked on translational and laboratory research at leading institutions (co-affiliated at TUM, Munich, Germany, and City of Hope, Los Angeles, California, USA), focusing on mechanisms of blood cancer development, immune modulation, tumor–immune interactions, and the enhancement of T cell–based therapies. Her work integrates insights from clinical practice with cutting-edge laboratory research, with the overarching goal of improving patient outcomes through innovation in immune-based therapies.

Education
2017, M.D., Doctorate, Hematology, LMU Munich

Research Interest
Judith focuses on the development and clinical translation of innovative immune-based therapies, with a particular emphasis on CAR T-cell therapy. She is especially interested in uncovering mechanisms that can be leveraged to enhance therapeutic efficacy, overcome resistance, and broaden the applicability of immunotherapies across diverse patient populations.

Funding
2024, Else Kröner Excellence Fellowship
2024, German José Carreras Leukemia Foundation
2024, Fritz Thyssen Foundation
2021, Habilitation Stipend, TU Munich
2019-2022, Research Fellowship as “Clinician Scientist”, DKTK School of Oncology
2017, Research Fellowship, TU Munich (“KKF”)
2015-2017, Research Funding, “Gerok” position
2006, Honorary Member of the German Physical Society for outstanding achievements

Board Certification
Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Internal Medicine

Residencies
University Hospitals LMU and TUM, Munich, Germany.

Fellowships
University Hospital TUM, Munich, Germany.

Karen Gutiérrez is an Associate Project Manager supporting the Marcel van den Brink Lab at City of Hope. She has been a member of the City of Hope team since 2018 and brings extensive experience in research operations, project management, and strategic coordination. In her role, she oversees complex operational and programmatic initiatives, supports research activities across the lab, and helps ensure projects, resources, and priorities move forward efficiently.

Education
2009, Certified Medical Assistant, ATC
2009, Certified Cardiac Technician, ATC

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Keimya Sadeghi, M.S., joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2015 and worked in a wet lab prior to joining Marcel van den Brink team. During her time doing benchwork she pursued her passion in scientific data, acquiring an M.S. in Biotechnology with a focus in Bioinformatics from Johns Hopkins University in 2019. Upon completion of her degree, she joined the Van den Brink lab in 2022 with the goal of assisting a transformative team in its endeavors through the management and optimization of data.  

Her role within the Van den Brink lab focuses on the organization and management of data including data infrastructure, provenance, accuracy, integrity, and security to facilitate its accessibility and use for analytical purposes. To achieve this, she utilize an array of computational systems and languages including R, SQL, python, and linux to clean and organize data repositories. We strive to implement one, or several, flexible, diversified integrative platforms that will permit cross-talk among our network of data repositories, supporting comprehensive and robust computational analyses. Her goal is to continue to support the lab's efforts within her capacity and to extend into innovative approaches that will further support our team's work.  

Outside of work, she like to partake in physical activities, being outdoors, and traveling. Having been a competitive swimmer for 11 years, she especially enjoy swimming and traveling to anyplace with water! She also enjoys cooking and experimenting with new plant-based recipes.

Education
2019, M.S., Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interest
Data Infrastructure.

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Laurah Chau earned both her B.S. in Human Biology and M.S. in Translational Biotechnology from the University of Southern California in 2026. Her master's capstone project focused on the regulation of gene expression, where she developed a reporter assay to evaluate insulator activity systematically. In addition to her academic research, she gained industry experience through an internship at Kite Pharma. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. focused on advancing next-generation genetic and cellular therapies.

Education
2026, M.S., Translational Biotechnology, USC Keck School of Medicine
2026, B.S., Human Biology, University of Southern California

Research Interest
Cell and Gene Therapy, Gene Regulation 

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Liqing Wang is originally from China and earned his bachelor's degree from Inner Mongolian Agricultural University. In August 2016, he began his academic journey in the United States by pursuing a master's degree at Georgetown University. During his master's program, he interned in Dr. Richard Calderone’s lab within the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. After graduating from Georgetown in 2017, he joined Dr. Hang Yuan’s CRC (Conditionally Reprogrammed Cell) lab.

In 2018, Liqing was recruited by Texas A&M University to pursue his Ph.D. and joined Dr. Jim Song's lab in 2019, marking his entry into the dynamic field of T-cell immunology. After earning his Ph.D. in 2024, he joined Marcel van den Brink's lab to start the thymus regeneration project.

Education
2024, Ph.D., Texas A&M University
2017, M.S., Georgetown University
2013, B.S., Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, China

Research Interest
Thymus regeneration, T cell memory, and Viral immunology.

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Madeline Lauener's research explores the role of natural killer (NK) cells and regulatory NK (NKreg) cells in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Previous clinical studies have identified a significant association between increased CD56bright non-cytolytic NK cells and HCT patients who fail to develop GVHD. Madeline’s work focuses on characterizing and evaluating the unique features and molecular mechanisms underlying NKreg-mediated immunosuppression in pre-clinical in vitro and murine models of GVHD. She hopes to elucidate the immunoregulatory properties of NKreg cells, with the goal of developing NK cell-based immunotherapies to improve patient outcomes in HCT. 

Madeline has been selected as the 2026 President of the Postdoctoral Association. As President, Madeline leads and facilitates monthly and quarterly PDA meetings, coordinates the Postdoctoral Association leadership team, and represents the collective voice and interests of postdoctoral fellows to institutional leadership. She contributes to strategic planning efforts and oversees postdoc-focused initiatives and events that support community building, professional development, and advocacy for postdoctoral trainees across the institution.

Education
2024, Ph.D., Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia
2020, B.S., Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University

Research Interest
Madeline is an aspiring scientist engaged in the field of translational medicine and immunology, with particular interest in the biology and clinical application of natural killer cells with regulatory properties for the treatment and prevention of chronic graft-versus-host disease and other autoimmune diseases. Ultimately, her goal is to improve HCT and autoimmune patient outcomes via the development of novel targeted cellular therapies.

Awards 
2025, ASH Abstract Achievement Award, ASH Annual Meeting  
2025, Top Poster Presentation Award, ThymUS
2025, ISCT Cell Therapy Leadership Training Program Scholar
2025, University of British Columbia Sessional Instructor Conference Grant 
2025, Top Abstract Award for Western United States 2025 ISCT Annual Conference 
2024, Postdoctoral Fellow Travel Grant, City of Hope National Medical Center 

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Mia Phillips graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Environmental Biology with an emphasis in Environment and Human Health. 

Education
2026, B.S., University of California, Berkeley 

Research Interest
Mia is interested in molecular cancer biology, especially the signaling pathways and mechanisms that drive cellular dysregulation and tumor growth. She is passionate about bridging molecular research with environmental health and public health to better understand broader determinants of disease. 
 

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Mina received her master's degree in biology from California State University - Los Angeles. Her thesis research explored the contribution of the Hippo signaling pathway in craniofacial formation in zebrafish.

After completing her master’s, Mina joined the California Institute of Technology as a research technician under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Parker. At Caltech, she focused on the symbiosis between rove beetles and ants. This unique research provided insights into evolutionary adaptations and the ecological dynamics of interspecies relationships.

In 2022, Mina selected the PhD program at Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences at City of Hope and joined the Thymus group at Dr. Marcel van den Brink’s lab.

Education
2015, M.S., California state University

Research Interest
Assessing thymic function within the tumor microenvironment.
 

As a research associate, Miriam assists the van den Brink laboratory scientifically and administratively performing routine mouse work and cell culture maintenance, ordering lab supplies, and organizing a biobank of human thymi. She works closely with the investigators of the thymus group who arduously seek immune factors and markers that play regenerative roles in the human thymus after injury. A graduate of Davidson College, her lab experience stems from lab classes, summer research opportunities through Davidson's Research Network, and clinical orthopedic research during her final academic year at Davidson. Her ultimate goal is to become a physician that tackles disparities in medicine whilst practicing evidence-based care. She's eager to continue her contributions to the groundbreaking research of the Van den Brink laboratory and further grow as a researcher.

Education
2024, B.S., Davidson College

Research Interest
Miriam focuses on setting up a biorepository with human thymic samples from healthy individuals and from individuals undergoing cytoreductive therapies and assists with multiple murine projects harnessing the thymus's capacity for endogenous repair.

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Nathan Duong received his bachelor’s degree in animal science from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. After his undergrad, he worked as field technician, collecting morphometric data on endangered giant kangaroo rats and San Joaquin antelope squirrels in Carrizo Plains National Monument. Afterwards, he worked at a small animal hospital and then at the California Institute of Technology, for the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources. There, he gained experience managing and breeding mouse colonies, as well as how to maintain gnotobiotic isolators. Next, he worked at a biotechnology company that focused on creating new animal models to study the human gut microbiome. There he set-up and managed gnotobiotic mouse colonies, in addition to working on diabetic and cancer studies. Through these experiences he became interested in the gut microbiome and how it plays a role in human health. 

He joined the Van den Brink Lab in May 2024 as a Research Associate II. Hobbies that he enjoys include reading and golfing.

Education
2020, B.S., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo

Research Interest
Microbiome

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Nina Lin is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation at City of Hope. She received her Ph.D. from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at Nagoya University and previously conducted research at the National Cancer Center, Japan.

Her work bridges immunology, microbiome science, and translational cancer research. She is passionate about developing research that may ultimately contribute to more effective cancer therapies and help reduce the burden of cancer on patients and families.

Education
2025, Ph.D., Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Nagoya University
2018, M.S., Graduate Institute of Immunology, National Taiwan University
2016, B.S., Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University

Research Interest
Tumor immunology, microbiome–host interactions, innate immune regulation, dendritic cell biology, T-cell immunity, cancer immunotherapy, CAR-T therapy, translational medicine, RNA sequencing, single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, and biomarker discovery.

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Pablo graduated from the University of Cadiz (Spain) in 2020 with a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology, followed by a Master of Science in Biomedicine in 2021 from the same institution. That same year, he was awarded a PhD fellowship to pursue doctoral studies in Biomolecules and Biomedicine at the Institute of Research and Innovation in Biomedical Sciences of the Province of Cadiz (INiBICA). His research focused on engineering next-generation CAR-T and CAR-NK cells to achieve more physiological responses, as well as investigating CAR-T cell signaling. In 2024, Pablo expanded his research scope through an international internship at KU Leuven in Belgium, where he integrated CAR-T cell therapies with nanoparticle production and delivery, and he completed his PhD in 2025.

Education
2025, Ph.D, Biomolecules and Biomedicine, University of Cadiz, Spain
2021, M.S, Biomedicine, University of Cadiz, Spain
2020, B.S, Biotechnology, University of Cadiz, Spain

Research Interest
Synthetic biology and cancer research.

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Preet Kaur is a computational biologist with expertise in bioinformatics and molecular biology. Her previous research focused on developing innovative techniques for DNA methylation signal detection and next-generation sequencing library preparation methods. Kaur's work significantly contributed to the early detection of colorectal cancer through precise molecular analysis. Currently, she is investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying thymic function and regeneration, exploring transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes of thymic tissues across different ages and injury states using cutting-edge single-cell sequencing techniques.

Education
2020, B.S. Bioengineering, University of California, Santa Cruz
2020, B.S. Bioinformatics, University of California, Santa Cruz

Research Interest
Preet's research focuses on exploring how the thymus loses functionality with age and after injuries, impacting the competence of the immune system. She utilizes single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and single-cell ATAC sequencing (scATAC-seq) to investigate the transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes of thymic tissues in young, aged, and post-injury states. Through her work, Preet aims to uncover the fundamental properties of younger stem cells that support T-cell differentiation and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying thymic dysfunction in aging and post-injury contexts.

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Zeyang Li is a postdoctoral fellow in the microbiology team who gained her PhD degree from USC School of Pharmacy in Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, focusing on metabolomics research targeting how obesity contributes to chemoresistance in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients. She will be investigating if pharmaceutical interventions will modulate human gut microbiome composition and metabolomics, which is related to GVHD clinical outcomes.

Education
2023, Ph.D., Clinical and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Southern California
2022, M.S., Regulatory Science, University of Southern California
2016, B.S., Biological Sciences, University of Southern California

Research Interest
LC-MS metabolomics, Shotgun sequencing, in vitro, in vivo.

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Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics from UCLA. Before stepping into his role as a research associate, he built a strong foundation through lab coursework, summer research internships at biotech startups, and hands-on experience in a manufacturing lab. Currently, he collaborates with investigators in the CAR T group, contributing to research on the efficacy of CAR T cell therapies. Driven by a passion for discovery, Ryan aims to pursue a PhD and ultimately lead his own lab, focusing on innovative therapeutic strategies.

Education
2024, B.S. University of California, Los Angeles

Research Interest
Ryan is drawn to research that explores stem cells, aging, and telomere dynamics, with the goal of understanding how these mechanisms contribute to aging and disease. By investigating the molecular pathways that regulate cell fate and longevity, he hopes to uncover novel strategies for combating age-related disorders and advancing regenerative medicine.

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Santeri Pakola is a physician-scientist investigating therapeutic strategies to repair immune dysfunction associated with cancer and other immune-disrupting conditions. His previous preclinical, translational, and clinical research focused on overcoming intratumoral immunosuppression using genetically modified adenoviral vectors. At the van den Brink Laboratory, his work centers on developing therapeutics to reverse thymic involution and lymphopenia, with the aim of restoring immune function and improving clinical outcomes.

Education
2025, Ph.D., Medicine, University of Helsinki
2025, M.D., Medicine, University of Helsinki

Research Interest
Santeri has a longstanding interest in cancer immunobiology, gene therapy, and cell therapy. He is particularly interested in translating insights from tumor and immune biology into novel therapeutic approaches that can benefit patients with cancer.

Funding
2025, Postdoctoral Fellowship Grant, Sigrid Jusélius Foundation
2025, Travel Grant, University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine
2024, Travel Grant, European Society for Medical Oncology
2024, Travel Grant, Finnish Cancer Foundation
2023, Travel Grant, University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine

Awards
2025, Ph.D. Thesis with Distinction, University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine
2025, M.D. Thesis with Distinction, University of Helsinki Faculty of Medicine
2024, Best Medical Student Award, European Society for Medical Oncology

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Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells have demonstrated clinical successes in B cell malignancies and are currently being evaluated in other malignancies targeting novel antigens. Dr. Scott James research focuses on designing novel synthetic biology approaches to modify T cell behavior and function with the goal of improving the clinical efficacy and target selectivity of adoptive cellular immunotherapy. His current projects center on engineering T cells to overcome tumor immune escape resulting from target antigen loss or down-modulation, active immune suppression strategies, and development of T cell exhaustion.

Education
2011, M.D., University of Washington School of Medicine
2009, Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology, University of Washington
2002, B.S., Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles

Research Interest
Synthetic biology approaches to enhance immunotherapy of cancer.

Funding
2026, International Myeloma Society and Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation Translational Research Award
2025, Steven Gordon & Briskin Family Innovation Grant
2020, NCI K08 CA252157

Board Certification
Internal Medicine, Hematology, Oncology

Residencies
July 2012–June 2014, University of Washington and Affiliated Hospitals (Internal Medicine)

Fellowships
July 2014–July 2017, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (Hematology/Oncology)

Sophia earned her MD degree from Albert Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany, and trained as a resident physician in the Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany. Alongside her clinical training, she conducted research in Dr. Robert Zeiser’s laboratory, focusing on improving outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. In 2019, Sophia joined the van den Brink laboratory at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York as a postdoctoral fellow, where she developed preclinical models to study chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). After the van den Brink laboratory relocated to City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, CA, Sophia moved to California to continue her ongoing research projects.

Education
2016, M.D., Albert Ludwig University Freiburg, Germany

Research Interest
Sophia is a physician scientist with a research focus on strategies to enhance the safety and efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. While CAR T cell therapy has demonstrated significant success in treating B cell malignancies and multiple myeloma, its application in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) presents considerable challenges. These challenges include the lack of leukemia-specific antigens for CAR targeting and the risk of on-target/off-tumor toxicity. Sophia's research aims to develop novel approaches to address these obstacles by utilizing preclinical models to study multi-antigen-targeting CARs. The ultimate goal of her work is to expand the limited therapeutic options available for AML patients.

Funding
2019-2022, Research fellowship, German Research Foundation
2019, Best Abstract Award, Annual Meeting of the German Society for Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation
2018-2019, SUCCESS Physician Scientist Program, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany
2018-2019, Research scholarship, German Research Foundation
2017, Albrecht Fleckenstein Young Scientist Award, Medical Faculty Freiburg, Germany
2016, Science and Research Award of the ROMIUS Foundation, Medical Faculty Freiburg, Germany
2013, Abstract Achievement Award, American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition
2012-2013, MOTI-VATE Doctoral Training Scholarship, Medical Faculty Freiburg, Germany

Residencies
Internal Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Germany

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Tyler Funnell is a senior computational biologist studying the microbiome in hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. He holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, where his research focused on identifying patterns of genomic variation in breast and ovarian cancers.

Education
2021, Ph.D., Computational Biology & Medicine, Cornell University
2014, M.Sc., Bioinformatics, The University of British Columbia
2009, B.Sc., Computer Science, University of Northern British Columbia

Research Interest
Tyler Funnell's research focuses on understanding the impact of microbiome dynamics on patient outcomes and developing computational methods for detecting patterns of genomic variation.

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Yuqing Chen is an experienced research associate with a strong foundation in molecular biology, cell therapy, and in vivo experimentation. Her previous work centered on the development of cell and gene therapies targeting hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. She also contributed to preclinical and Pre-IND research, as well as quality control for GMP-manufactured products. In 2025, Yuqing joined the van den Brink Lab, where her current research focuses on the intestinal microbiome, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and CAR T-cell therapy. Guided by a deep belief that science should serve humanity, Yuqing views every experiment as a step toward healing. She is committed to research that not only advances scientific understanding but also brings tangible hope to patients and families. Her mission is simple yet powerful: to save lives, to give hope, and to persevere, even in the face of adversity.

Education
2018, M.S., University of Southern California
2016, B.S., Nanjing University

Research Interest
Yuqing’s research focuses on the intestinal microbiome and cellular immunotherapy.