Current Members
Noushin Niknafs, PhD
Research Associate, Oncology Upper Aerodigestive Cancer, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- BS, Electrical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
- MS, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Bio: Noushin is a bioinformatics scientist with a background in computational molecular medicine. She focuses on development and application of bioinformatics and statistical methodologies in the field of cancer genomics investigating questions related to cancer early detection, tumor evolution, treatment response prediction and monitoring.
Gavin Pereira, BS
Laboratory and Biorepository Manager, SKCCC Molecular Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Education:
- BS, Cell and Molecular Biology, Towson University, Towson, MD
Bio: Gavin is interested in early detection of cancer using liquid biopsy approaches in addition to exploring precision medicine in oncology.
Qiong Meng, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Cancer Genomics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Education:
- PhD, National Institute for Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
- MSc, Biology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, China.
- BS, Biology ,Huaibei Normal University, Anhui, China.
Previous Institutes:
- National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Bio: Dr. Meng is broadly interested in aging, aging related diseases and cancer genomic study by utilizing cutting-edge techniques, including through integrative genomic, transcriptomic, and single-cell and liquid biopsy analyses to study tumor and immune evolution.
Daniel Rabizadeh, BS
Graduate Student, PhD candidate of Human Genetics and Genomics, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- BS, Applied Mathematics & Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Mimi Najjar, MD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- MD, University of Balamand, Lebanon
- BS, Chemical Engineering, University of Balamand, Lebanon
Bio: Mimi is interested in studying the genetic factors that influence responses to immunotherapy through integrative genomic exploration. She is particularly interested in translating scientific research into innovative clinical applications, contributing to improved patient care, and promoting personalized medicine.
Jaime Wehr, MS
Data Analyst, Molecular Tumor Board, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- BS, Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD
- MS, University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Bio: Jaime is interested in the genetic basis for cancer and how this information can be better used in the treatment, prognosis, and prevention of cancer. She is also interested in new developments in technology and how these can be leveraged in new and exciting ways in scientific research.
Blair Landon, BS
Graduate Student, PhD Candidate of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Education
- BS, Chemical Engineering, UMBC, Baltimore, MD
Bio: Blair is interested in investigating the interplay between solid tumors and the immune system and how this is related to tumor evolution and anti-tumor immune response.
Archana Balan, MSE
Graduate Student, PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- MSE, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Previous Institutions:
- Indian Institute of Sciences, Bengaluru, India.
Bio: My research interests include developing computational methods and bioinformatics pipelines for cancer genomics. I am particularly interested in leveraging multi-omics data to study mechanisms of resistance in immunotherapy.
Jinny Huang, BS
PhD Candidate in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Education:
- BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Previous Institutions:
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Bio: Jinny is broadly interested in developing a tumor-informed, cell free (cfDNA) whole genome sequencing (WGS) multi-feature approach that integrates cfDNA WGS with information about differential fragmentomics and copy number alterations in a machine learning model to capture immunotherapy response and MRD in the metastatic as well as early-stage cancer settings.
Justin Huang, MS
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Class of 2025
Education:
- BS, Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
- MS, Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Bio: Justin is interested in applying computational methods and data analytic techniques to advancing cancer immunotherapies, with a special focus on investigating treatments that may be directly translated into clinical settings.
Asimina Zoitou, MS
Master’s Student, Research Assistant, Biomedical Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering
Education:
- BS, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Samira Hosseininami, BS, MS, MA
Graduate Student, Research Assistant, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Education:
- BS, Biology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
- MS, Medical Nanotechnology, Azad University, Tehran, Iran
- MA, Religion Studies, George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA
Previous Institute:
- George Washington University, Washington D.C., USA
Bio: Samira is a biomedical researcher with expertise in cancer nanotechnology and a commitment to advancing cancer research. Her work has focused on exploring innovative nanoplatforms for targeted cancer therapies.
Paul Lee, BS
Research Technologist, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Education:
- BS, Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
- MM, Cello Performance, Peabody Institute, Baltimore, MD
Bio: Paul is involved in the study of liquid biopsy approaches as a means of capturing minimal residual disease and tracking immunotherapy response. He is also markedly interested in regenerative medicine, particularly in the context of the inner ear.
William Bowers
Undergraduate Student, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Johns Hopkins University
Bio: Will is broadly interested in thoracic cancers, molecular biology, and data analysis. He hopes to pursue an MD, PhD bridging medical oncology and translational cancer research.
Kavya Velliangiri
Undergraduate Student of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins Molecular Tumor Board Fellows
Amna Jamali, MBBS
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Oncology Center-Upper Aerodigestive Cancer, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Education:
- MBBS, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
Bio: Amna is interested in understanding the relevant role of genomics in guiding diagnostic and therapeutic interventions that underlie cancer treatment, with a focus on response and resistance to immunotherapy.
Ilias Ziakas, MD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Oncology Center-Upper Aerodigestive Cancer, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Education:
- MD, Doctor of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece
Bio: Ilias is interested in personalized medicine through understanding the genetic basis of cancer in tandem with the complexities of genotype-directed therapies.
Mohamed Sherief, MD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery (M.B.B.Ch), Benha University – Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
Bio: Mohamed’s research is focused on precision oncology, with a particular emphasis on its application in brain cancer. At Johns Hopkins, he is working on developing a comprehensive database for all brain cancer patients, alongside expanding the precision medicine biobank. His work intersects with the Molecular Tumor Board, contributing to the strategic selection of targeted therapies in various cancer types. His efforts aim to advance targeted therapies for cancer treatment.
Katerina Karaindrou, MD candidate
Research Fellow, Johns Hopkins Molecular Tumor Board, MD Candidate National Kapodistrian University of Athens
Education:
- MD candidate at National Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Previous Institutions:
- Johns Hopkins University KSAS, Baltimore, MD
Research Interests: Genotype-matched therapeutic approaches for sarcomas and rare tumors, translational genomics technologies, liquid biopsies and ctDNA analyses, precision pediatric oncology, and patient education initiatives.
BioInformatics
James Robert White, PhD
Computational Biology, Bioinformatics, and Biostatistics
Education:
- PhD, Applied Mathematics and Scientific Computation, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Bio: James is focused on the development of novel computational methods to analyze multi-omics data at the intersection of cancer, immunology and the microbiome.
Christopher Cherry, PhD
Bioinformatician, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
- BS, Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
- PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Previous Institutions:
- James Clark School of Engineering, University of Maryland
- Translational Tissue Engineering Center, Johns Hopkins University
Bio: Chris is interested in analysis of multiomic data with a focus on single cell and spatial data sets.
Alumni
- Joseph Murray, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Co-Director; Lung Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence, Director; UAD Immunotherapy Database, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Jenna Canzoniero, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Susan Combs Scott, MD, Assistant Professor of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Michael Hwang, MD, Assistant Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Michael Conroy, MD, BCh, BAO, Attending Physician, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Laura Linville, MD, Chief Medical Oncology Fellow, Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center
- Selina Shiqing The, PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- Paola Ghanem, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Maria Fatteh, MD, Internal Medicine Resident, Johns Hopkins Hospital
- Lavanya Sivapalan, PhD, Clinical Group Leader – Molecular, ANGLE
- Zineb Belcaid, MD, MS, Pathology Resident, Erasmus MC
- Xiaoshan (Melody) Shao, PhD, Computational Biologist, Adaptive Biotechnologies
- Aryan Borole, MD Candidate, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
- Alexandria Curry, MD Candidate, Howard University
- Mara Lanis, PhD Candidate, Whiting School of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University
- Lamia Rhymee, DO Candidate, Kansas City University
- Neha Wali, MD/PhD Candidate, National Cancer Institute and University of Oxford
- Samer Mathkour, PhD Candidate, MD Anderson
- Kent Hardart, MD Candidate, University of Maryland
- Marta Majcherska-Agrawal, PhD Candidate, University of Chicago
- Lily Zandi, PhD Candidate, Boston University
- Xiwen Cui, Undergraduate Student, Cornell University
- Xavier Welch, Undergraduate Student, Morgan State University
- Michaela Feldi, Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University
- Tomisin Adebari, Undergraduate Student, Morgan State University
- Krassimira Trainor, Undergraduate Student, University of Chicago
- Ellie Evangelopoulou, MD Candidate, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Emily Nizialek, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Baselga Cancer Research Scholar, Astra Zeneca