Current Students

“I chose ARC-MD because my career goals are rooted in academic medicine. This program is the perfect stepping stone for a budding physician-scientist, with its dedicated focus in research and mentorship.”

Publications:

Miyata, H., Oura, S., Morohoshi, A., Shimada, K., Mashiko, D., Oyama, Y., Kaneda, Y., Matsumura, T., Abbasi, F., & Ikawa, M. (2021). SPATA33 localizes calcineurin to the mitochondria and regulates sperm motility in mice. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(35), e2106673118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2106673118

Miyata, H., Abbasi, F., Visconti, P., Ikawa, M. (2020, 11). CRISPR/CAS9-mediated amino acid substitution reveals phosphorylation residues of RSPH6A are not essential for male fertility in mice. Biology of Reproduction, 103(5), 912–914. doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa161

Sun, J., Lu, Y., Nozawa, K., Xu, Z., Morohoshi, A., Castaneda, J. M., Noda, T., Miyata, H., Abbasi, F., Shawki, H. H.,  Takahashi, S., Devlin, D. J., Yu, Z., Matzuk, R. M., Garcia, T. X., Matzuk, M. M., & Ikawa, M. (2020, 5). CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing in mice uncovers 13 testis- or epididymis-enriched genes individually dispensable for male reproduction. Biology of Reproduction, 103(2), 183-194. doi.org/10.1093/biolre/ioaa083.

Abbasi, F., Kodani, M., Emori, C., Kiyozumi, D., Mori, M., Fujihara, Y., & Ikawa, M. (2020, 03). CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing reveals Oosp family genes are dispensable for female fertility in mice. Cells, 9(4), 821. doi.org: 10.3390/cells9040821.

Abbasi, F., Miyata, H., Shimada, K., Morohoshi, A., Nozawa, K., Matsumura, T., Xu, Z., Pratiwi, P., & Ikawa, M. (2018, 09). RSPH6A is required for sperm flagellum formation and male fertility in mice. Journal of Cell Science, 131(19). doi:10.1242/jcs.221648

Abbasi, F., Miyata, H., & Ikawa, M. (2017). Revolutionizing male fertility factor research in mice by using the genome editing tool CRISPR/Cas9. Reproductive Medicine and Biology, 17(1), 3-10. doi:10.1002/rmb2.12067.

Lukies, M. W., and Abbasi, F. (2016). Difference in post-termination of pregnancy contraception practice among Australia, New Zealand and Japan. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Res., 42: 1063. doi: 10.1111/jog.13044.

Alexa Morales Arana

Alma Mater: UC Davis, B.S. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

About: Alexa Morales Arana was born in Mexico and raised in Riverbank, California after she immigrated to the U.S. with her family. She went to UC Davis for her undergraduate education where she majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Alexa is dedicated to furthering minority health, wellness efforts, and ending health disparities that are so prevalent within communities of color through education, health advocacy, personalized health care, and innovative research. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, crocheting, and exercising.

Research Interests: I want to combine my interest in cancer research and precision medicine to address cancer health disparities among U.S. racial/ethnic minority communities. I am passionate about continuing to target existing gaps in research that will facilitate precision medicine and treatment, improving survival outcomes and disparities seen in underrepresented patient populations.

 “I chose ARC-MD because I am committed to being a teacher, leader, scholar, and mentor. Additionally, it is critical for me to continue building upon my scientific expertise so that when I tell my patients I am doing everything that I can do for them, I truly mean it. I aspire to use molecular biology techniques for personalized medicine and advance health in people that have been historically excluded from research.”

Presentations:

Morales, Arana A., Estrada-Florez, A., Polanco-Echeverry, G., Toal, T., Steinmaus, C., Carvajal-Carmona, L., 2018. Abstract for Poster Presentation, UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Symposium, Sacramento, CA.

Morales, Arana A., Estrada-Florez, A., Polanco-Echeverry, G., Toal, T., Steinmaus, C., Carvajal-Carmona, L., 2018. Abstract for Poster Presentation, UC Davis Undergraduate Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Conference, Davis, CA.

Morales, Arana, A., Coggins, N., Carvajal-Carmona, L. Abstract for Poster Presentation, Annual Biochemical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABCRMS), Anaheim, CA.

Julie Dang, Ph.D., MPH; Luis Carvajal-Carmona, Ph.D.; Angelica Perez, B.S.; Fabian Perez, MPH; Ulissa K. Smith, MPH; Alexa Morales Arana; Elizabeth Quino, B.S.; April Vang; George Tong Yang, B.S.; Moon S. Chen Jr., Ph.D., MPH. (2019). Targeted Outreach to Include Racial/Ethnic Populations in UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center’s 2019 Catchment Area Population Assessment. Abstract for Poster Presentation.

Morales, Arana A., Angelica Perez, Juanita Elizabeth Quino, April Vang, Fabian Perez, Primo Lara, Luis Carvajal-Carmona (2021). Development of a Research Infrastructure for Understanding and Addressing Multiple Myeloma Disparities. UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center Research Symposium, Sacramento, CA. Abstract for Poster Presentation.

Morales, Arana A., Nicole B. Halmai, Hongyong Zhang, Paul Lott, Ana Estrada, Ted Toal, University of California Minority Patient-Derived Xenograft (PDX) Development and Trial (UCaMP) Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities, and Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona. Functional modeling and characterization of high frequency mutations associated with gastric cancer in U.S. racial/ethnic minority populations. AACR Annual Meeting 2022. Abstract for Poster Presentation.

Publications:

Quino, J., Perez, F., Perez, A., Vang, A., Avendano, L., Dang, J., Chen, M., Morales, Arana A., Rocha, S., Nuno, M., Lara P. Fejerman, and Carvajal-Carmona, L.  A cancer health needs assessment reveals important differences between U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinos in California. Frontier Oncology. June 2022.

Awards:

• (2019) Poster Presentation Award, Annual Biochemical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABCRMS)
• (2018) Miguel Velez Scholarship
• (2018) Poster Presentation Award, 24^th Annual Cancer Research Symposium
• (2018) Highest Performing Scholar, Prep Medico

Anna is a first-generation Nigerian-American raised in South Central Los Angeles. Her interest in medicine started with first-hand accounts of her family receiving long term treatment in the U.S. healthcare system. These experiences led to the pursuit of her bachelor’s in science as a pre-medical student at University of California, Los Angeles. Her knowledge of health disparities expanded in later years, and she knew she wanted to be a physician that would work towards decreasing them. She spent several years after graduation working in her hometown, providing health services and health education.

“I chose the ARC-MD program because research is how the field of medicine evolves. I chose this program because it merges the two fields in which I can build my own research experience to impact my outlook on medicine. I look forward to the next five years with this cohort, not only to set the foundation for this new program but to develop ourselves into insightful physicians with unique skill sets.”

Blaine Baker

Alma Mater: Sonoma State University, B.S. Biochemistry

About: Blaine is from South Sacramento. He loves his family, friends, and a fun time.

Research Interests: 

I have one goal as a physician-scientist: to cure Alzheimer’s disease.

At Sonoma State, I worked under Dr. Jon Fukuto investigating hydropersulfides as a mechanism to protect against electrophilic and oxidative modifications. I credit him for inspiring my interest in understanding disease mechanisms, pharmacology, and teaching me how to think.

During my time at UC San Diego, I worked for Dr. Susan Taylor researching structural biochemistry of Protein Kinase A. In a collaboration, we investigated the consequences of PKA-c mutations resulting in congenital anomaly syndrome. This inspired me to propose a novel idea; specific isoforms of PKA-c can cause Alzheimer’s Disease via dysregulation of Tau, APP, and p75NTR. This idea was submitted as an R03 grant and is my proudest work. I thank Dr. Taylor for really fostering my creativity, Dr. Philip Aoto for being an incredible mentor, and Lily Vu for being the best lab partner.

Most recently, I worked in Protein Engineering at Graphite Bio, a next-generation gene therapy company. My role was to produce, characterize, and optimize Cas9’s and other DNA repair proteins. It was amazing to work on cutting-edge science in a collaborative environment, and to impact the culture of a new, exciting company. This experience inspired me to pursue utilizing gene editing tools in my career due to their endless therapeutic potential.

Publications: 

1. “A Multiple Congenital Malformation Syndrome Caused by Pathogenic Variants in both Catalytic Subunits of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase A, American Journal of Human Genetics (2020)
2. PKA CB: A forgotten catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase opens new windows for PKA signaling and disease pathologies”, In Submission – Biochemical Journal (2021)
3. “Uptake and Release of Polysulfur Cysteine Species by Cells: Physiological and Toxicological Implications” Chemical Research in Toxicology (2019)
4. “Cysteine Trisulfide Protects E. Coli from Electrophile-Induced Death through Generation of Cysteine Hydropersulfide” Free Radical Biology and Medicine (2020)

Maria Clarke

Alma Mater: University of California, Davis, B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior

Research Interests:

My research interests center around the development and clinical translation of gene and cell therapies to treat rare congenital conditions in pediatric patients. In my previous research associate role in Tippi Mackenzie’s lab at University of California, San Fransisco, I developed anti-sense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies for the prenatal/perinatal treatment of Angelman Syndrome and Spinal Muscular Atrophy, using small and large animal models of in-utero surgical delivery. In addition to this research, I am very interested in understanding human development from the prenatal period to young adulthood to improve healthcare for individuals with developmental anomalies and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Publications:

Maria T. Clarke, Laura Remesal, Lea Lentz, Danielle J. Tan, David Young, Slesha Thapa, Shalini Namduri, Beltran Borges, Georgia Kirn, Jasmine Valencia, Manuel E. Lopez, Jan H. Lu, Lawrence R. Shiow, Scott Dindot, Saul Villeda, Stephan J. Sanders, Tippi C. MacKenzie. “Treatment of Angelman Syndrome by prenatal delivery of a therapeutic antisense oligonucleotide in mice.” Molecular Therapy. submitted June 2, 2023. Currently in revision.

Akos Herzeg, Antonia Varthaliti, Maria Clarke, Tippi C. MacKenzie. “Prenatal Somatic Cell Gene Therapy.” In Development of Gene Therapies: Strategic, Scientific, and Access Consideration. Taylor & Francis/CRC Press. Expected publication date December 2023.

Clarke MT, Lentz L, Gomez LR , Kirn G , Wu J , Varthaliti A , Tan D , Sanders SJ , Dindot S, Villeda S, MacKenzie TC. “Successful Prenatal Delivery of a Therapeutic Antisense Oligonucleotide for Treatment of Angelman Syndrome in Mice” Podium Presentation and published abstract: Molecular Therapy Vol 30 No 5S1, May 2022.

Munjal V, Clarke MT, Vignolles-Jeong J, Valencia JA, Travis M, Samaranch L. “Lysosomal storage disorders with neurological manifestations” Rare Dis Orphan Drugs 1;6, April 2022.

Kwon YS, Tham A, Lopez AJ, Edwards S, Woods S, Chen J, Wong-Fortunato J, Quiroz Alonso A, Javier S, Au I, Clarke M, Humpal D, Lloyd KCK, Thomasy S, Murphy C, Glaser TM, Moshiri A. “Cytoglobin deficiency potentiates Crb1-mediated retinal degeneration in rd8 mice”. Dev Biol. Feb 2020.

Awards:

Podium Presentations:

American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) Late Breaking Abstract Presentation
Clarke MT, Lentz L, Gomez LR , Kirn G , Wu J , Varthaliti A , Tan D , Sanders SJ , Dindot S, Villeda S, MacKenzie TC. “Successful Prenatal Delivery of a Therapeutic Antisense Oligonucleotide for Treatment of Angelman Syndrome in Mice” Podium Presentation and published abstract: Molecular Therapy Vol 30 No 5S1, May 2022.

Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) Annual Meeting Abstract Presentation
Clarke MT, Gomez LR, Lentz L, Wu J, Namduri S, Varthaliti A, Kirn G, Tan D, Christian S, Sanders SJ, Dindot S, Villeda S, MacKenzie TC. “A Prenatal Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for Angelman Syndrome in a Mouse Model” Podium presentation and Panel Discussion, November 2022.

iFETUS Annual Meeting 2023

Maria T. Clarke, Beltran Borges, Akos Herzeg, Christopher Pivetti, Nalin Gupta, Laura Remesal Gomez, Lea Lentz, Danielle Tan, David Young, Shalini Namduri, Jasmine Wu, Antonia Varthaliti, Georgia Kirn, Stephan J. Sanders, Scott Dindot, Saul Villeda, Charlotte Sumner, Frank Bennet, Tippi C. MacKenzie. “Prenatal Testing of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Fetal Mouse and Sheep Models for the Treatment of Rare Neurologic Conditions”. Podium presentation May 2023. 

CureSMA Annual Symposium for Podium Presentation

Maria T. Clarke, Beltran Borges, Joshua Ross, Jae Hong Park, Charlotte J. Sumner, Tippi C. MacKenzie. “Towards a prenatal therapy for patients with severe spinal muscular atrophy- preclinical experiments in mouse and sheep models”. Podium Presentation April 2023.

Masani Coley

“I chose the ARC-MD program because I hope to strengthen my research background by incorporating it into my medical education, as well as using the experiences I gained growing up in an under-served neighborhood to guide my research pursuits throughout my career. I also value the support and mentorship that comes with being part of such a tight-knit cohort of talented individuals and directors.”

Publications:
Paraiso, K.D., Blitz, I.L., Coley, M. (2019). Endodermal Maternal Transcription Factors Establish Super-Enhancers during Zygotic Genome Activation. Cell Reports, 27(10):2962-2977.e5. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.013

Research Interests:

Vista Farkhondeh’s research interests are in the field of neuroscience and the study of neurodegenerative diseases. As an undergraduate, she worked in a multiple sclerosis (MS) laboratory where she investigated changes in astrocytic gene expression that occur during disease in the murine model of MS. Her long-term career goal is to implement bench to bedside translational research in her medical practice to improve the lives of people with neurodegenerative disabilities.

"I chose ARC-MD because of its commitment to incorporate research and mentorship as the foundation of our medical studies."

Chiara Giordani

Alma Mater/Undergraduate Degree:

Undergraduate Institution: University of California, Los Angeles

• S. Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology
• A. Italian

Graduate Institution: University of California, Davis

• S. Molecular, Cellular, & Integrative Physiology

Research Advisor:

Dr. Colleen Clancy

Research Interests: Computational biology

About Chiara: Chiara is a first-generation Italian-American, and she completed high school in Sacramento. She attended University of California, Los Angeles, for her undergraduate education, where she earned a B.S. in Molecular, Cell, & Developmental Biology and a B.A. in Italian. During her undergraduate studies, she joined a Neural Tumor Research Lab, which introduced her to translational research. This experience informed her decision to return to Sacramento and pursue a M.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology at University of California, Davis, prior to starting medical school. During graduate school, she developed an interest in computational biology, which is her current research focus as a medical student.

Why ARC-MD: I am delighted to be in the ARC-MD program because it provides me the opportunity to explore my research interests under the close mentorship of incredible faculty. I have a strong interest in academic medicine, and this program supports my professional goals and career development.

Poster Presentation:  CHIARA GIORDANI, Jeremie Vitte, Fausto Rodriguez, Michel Kalamarides, and Marco Giovannini “Histopathologic Characterization of a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model (GEMM) of Meningeal Tumorigenesis.” Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA Undergraduate Research Week, May 2022.

Matthew Lara

Matthew Lara is a native of the Sacramento region and has lived in Davis for most of his life. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Stanford University. Since a young age, Matthew has been very interested in both medicine and research, passions fostered by his parents (both healthcare professionals themselves) and by his observation of the powerful patient-physician relationships that developed in the University of California, Davis, cancer clinics where he shadowed. His research interests are primarily in oncology, with a focus on non-small cell lung cancer. In the future, he hopes to integrate his research interests with clinical practice. On his free time, Matthew enjoys playing the guitar, watching horror movies, and studying chess.

“I chose the ARC-MD program to acquire the skills necessary to perform higher quality research in the pursuit of better patient care in the future. I strongly believe that the tight-knit community and excellent mentorship provided by ARC-MD will help me achieve my goals of improving patient-centered care and being a better clinician scientist overall.”

Jesslyn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a double minor in Chemistry and Public Health Sciences from Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans, LA. While at Xavier, Jesslyn explored her interest in pharmaceutical production and performed basic science research at the College of Pharmacy at Xavier University of Louisiana. Her interest in pharmaceutical research led her to further her education at Keck Graduate Institute in Claremont, CA. in May 2017, Jesslyn received her Master of Science in Applied Life Sciences with a focus in Pharmaceutical Discovery and Development. As much as Jesslyn loves scientific inquiry, she is equally as passionate about minority student engagement and empowerment in STEM education and career development. In 2017, Jesslyn founded the BioPharma Leadership Academy (BPLA). BPLA is a one-week summer day camp program for underrepresented minority high school students from Southern California interested in medical device and pharmaceutical development. BPLA introduces students to biotechnology, pharmaceutical sciences, project management, and leadership skills through a focused program taught by graduate students and professionals in the biotech industry. During the week, students will have the opportunity to attend classes on careers in the industry, engage in personal and professional development, receive college preparation help, and tour college campuses. BPLA has held two successful cohorts of minority students from the Inland Empire in 2017 and 2018. Jesslyn is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She enjoys reading, playing golf, and engaging in community service projects. 

"I chose the ARC-MD program to gain valuable insight and exposure to how research and innovation supports and advances optimal clinical delivery.”

Noreen Mansuri

Gabriel Marquez-Arreguin

Alma Mater: California State University, Chico, B.S. in Cellular and Molecular Biology

About:

Gabriel was born and raised in Mexico. After immigrating to the United States in Chico, CA, he attended California State University, Chico for his undergraduate education, where he majored in Cellular and Molecular Biology. As an undergraduate, he did hematopoietic stem cell research in an immunology lab, which fueled his curiosity about immune disorders. After graduating, he became a CIRM scholar. This allowed him to continue his research on hematopoietic cells at Stanford University, with a focus on understanding cell interactions in the hematopoietic microenvironment and its relevance to leukemia. In his free time, he enjoys running, weightlifting, and playing soccer.

Research Interests:

My research interests lie in understanding the molecular mechanisms that go haywire in the blood-forming stem cells and lead to immune diseases. I am also interested in integrating this same research into innovative treatments for those living with chronic blood disorders.

“I chose the ARC-MD program because it allows me to pursue research alongside my medical studies and because of the program’s supportive and dedicated directors who mentor aspiring physician-scientists in their chosen fields.”

Publications:

1. Nahass, George Ronald, Marquez-Arreguin, G. et al. "Intramuscular SARS-CoV-2 vaccines elicit varying degrees of plasma and salivary antibody responses as compared to natural infection." medRxiv(2021).

2. Wolf, A., Aggio, J., Campbell, C., Wright, F., Marquez, G., Traver, D., & Stachura, D. L. (20). Zebrafish Caudal Haematopoietic Embryonic Stromal Tissue (CHEST) Cells Support Haematopoiesis. Scientific Reports, 44644. Doi:10.1038. (2017)

Araiye Medlock

Jonathan Mo

Alma Mater: John Hopkins University, B.S. Neuroscience; Peabody Institute, B.M. Saxophone Performance

About: Jonathan is originally from San Jose, California. He attended a dual-degree program at Johns Hopkins and Peabody, pursuing studies in both Neuroscience and Saxophone Performance. During his undergraduate years, Jonathan developed an interest in sensation and perception, and in particular, the mechanisms of sound processing. This led him to research in auditory neuroscience and clinical work with cochlear implants for deaf/hard-of-hearing individuals. These experiences, along with familial encounters with neurodegenerative disease, have nurtured his interests in improving the lives of people with disabilities. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys long runs/hikes, discovering new music, and dog-spotting.

Research Interests: My current research interests lie in the fields of neuroscience and medical technology. I aim to harness data and technological tools to improve healthcare delivery and to innovate treatments for individuals living with disabilities. I also have a passion for palliative care and am interested in exploring the gray area where standard medical treatments may not always improve patients’ quality of life.

Publications and Presentations:

Mo, J., Jiam, N.T., Deroche, M., Jiradejvong, P., Limb, C.J. “The Impact of Frequency Equalization on Musical Sound Quality in Cochlear Implant Users.” Association for Research in Otolaryngology Meeting, February 2022.

Jiam, N.T., Gilbert, M., Mo, J., Jiradejvong, P., Limb, C.J. (2021). “Computed Tomography-Based Measurements of the Cochlear Duct: Implications for Cochlear Implant Pitch Tuning.” Ear & Hearing 42(3), 732-43. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000977

Jiam, N.T., Gilbert, M., Mo, J., Cooke, D., Limb, C.J. “Key Anatomical Landmarks for CT-Based Measurements in Cochlear Implant Users.” Association for Research in Otolaryngology Meeting, February 2019.

Jiam, N.T., Gilbert, M., Mo, J., Limb, C.J. “Considerations for CT-based Measurements of the Human Cochlea and Implications for Post-cochlear Implantation Mapping.” American Neurotology Society Meeting, Atlanta GA, April 2020.

Awards:

2019 Johns Hopkins Health Science Research Grant

2018 Johns Hopkins Residential Advisor Above and Beyond Award

2018 Johns Hopkins Residential Advisor Respect Values Awards

2016 Peabody Dean’s Incentive Grant

Ernesto Javier Rivera was raised in Paramount, California in a low-income urban community.  As a Mexican-American living in a low-income immigrant neighborhood, his interest in medicine developed after witnessing a physician provide compassionate care to his undocumented grandfather during a medical emergency.  Ernesto’s ambition veered to caring for underserved communities and engaging in research to improve the standard of treatment given to vulnerable populations. During college, he was a member of the Chicanx/Latinx in Health Education, a health advocate at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, and a research coordinator for the Center for the Health Assessment of Mothers and Children of Salinas (CHAMACOS).  Ernesto graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Molecular and Cell Biology.  As a researcher for the TRACK-TBI study, he investigated radiological and biological markers of prognosticating functional recovery from mild and severe traumatic brain injuries. Ernesto co-authored more than 8 abstracts and publications.  These experiences have motivated him to strive to become a compassionate, understanding, and innovative academic physician. Ernesto believes that the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and the ARC-MD program will provide him with the training and education to achieve his educational, professional, and personal goals.

 
“I chose the ARC-MD program because research is critical for eliminating health disparities and creating system-wide changes in healthcare. I believe that the ARC-MD research program will help me develop my research skills so that I can engage in epidemiological research to better understand health disparities and improve the care available to patients. Having faculty members mentor, me and guide my research will enhance my analytical skills and improve my ability to detect clinical problems that need more investigation. Collaborating and learning with a like-minded cohort of peers at the ARC-MD program will enhance my perspective on research and clinical environments and provide me with the foundation to become an academic physician."

Isabella Robles

Alma Mater: UC Berkeley, B.A. Molecular and Cell Biology and Minor in English

About:
Originally from Sacramento, Isabella moved to the Bay Area to complete her B.A. at UC Berkeley. Taking a non-traditional path to medical school, she spent the last few years completing a post-baccalaureate program at San Francisco State University and working on various research studies at UCSF and Stanford. She loves to spend her free time running, baking, reading, and salsa dancing.

Research Interests:
I’m interested in researching how aging impacts the brain, specifically in the context of neurodegenerative diseases–how to prevent them and how to treat them. I’m also interested in palliative care research to find the best care options for chronically ill patients.

Publications:
Gonzalez, H., Mei, W., Robles, I., Hagerling, C., Allen, B., Okholm, T., Nanjaraj, A., Verbeek, T., Kalavacherla, S., van Gogh, M., Georgiou, S., Daras, M., Philips, J., Spitzer, M., Roose, J., and Zena Werb. Cellular architecture of human brain metastases. Cell. 2022 Feb 17.

Hagerling, C., Gonzalez, H., Salari, K., Chih-Yang, W., Lin, C., Robles, I., van Gogh, M., Dejmek, A., Jirstrom, K., and Zena Werb. Immune effector monocyte – neutrophil cooperation induced by the primary tumor prevents metastatic progression of breast cancer. PNAS. 2019 Oct 7.

Gonzalez, H., Robles, I., and Zena Werb. Innate and Acquired Immune Surveillance in the Post-Dissemination Phase of Metastasis. FEBS Journal. 2017 Nov 13.

Nithya was raised in the Bay Area and moved to the east coast to pursue a B.A. in Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College and a Masters in Bioethics (MBE) at the University of Pennsylvania. As an undergraduate and graduate student, she was involved in research at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, where she worked in the NICU, Emergency, and Cardiology departments. She is primarily interested in pediatric clinical research, pediatric ethical disputes, and the implications of ethics in pediatric critical care. In her downtime, she loves to read, travel, and attempt the NYT crossword. 

"I chose the ARC-MD program because of the like-minded community and the opportunity to engage in meaningful research while developing my clinical skill set. I am excited to watch myself and my cohort grow into effective academic clinician-scientists." 

Research Interests:  My research interests lie in optimizing diagnostic algorithms, linkage to care, and treatment delivery models to improve outcomes for diseases that disproportionately affect the world’s poorest. By demonstrating the highest standard of care can be delivered to those typically left behind by healthcare systems, I hope to advocate for larger structural change. I am passionate about global health and health policy. My previous experience has involved implementation of public health programs for tuberculosis and COVID-19.

Awards: Duke University Graduation with Distinction; Freemont Foundation Graduate Scholar, Northern California Scholarship Foundation Alumni Scholarship

"I chose ARC-MD because I felt that the longitudinal learning community and program mentorship would give me the support I needed as I began my journey into academic medicine."

Samantha is originally from the Sacramento region and moved to the Bay Area to pursue her B.A. and M.S. at Stanford University. She enjoys reading, listening to music and running. She is interested in serving diverse and under-served communities, particularly Asians and women of color. Her research experience includes tobacco prevention and cessation, health behavior change. She hopes to pursue research concurrently with clinical practice.

"I chose the ARC-MD program because I wanted to continue my research experiences throughout medical school, and I was drawn to the tight-knit community and mentorship opportunities.”

Research Interests: pediatrics, oncology, dermatology, health equity

Publications:

Kiuru, M., Kriner, M.A., Wong, S., Zhu, G., Terrell, J.R., Li, Q., Hoang, M., Beechem, J., McPherson, J.D. High-plex spatial RNA profiling reveals cell type-specific biomarker expression during melanoma development. J. Invest. Dermatol. 2021 Oct 23:S0022-202X(21)02370-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.041. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34699906.

Wong, S.L., Rehal, B.R., Kiuru, M. Hyaluronic acid embolus following intra-articular injection. J Cutan Pathol. 2021; 1– 4. https://doi.org/10.1111/cup.14036

Awards: Lasker Essay Award 2020

Benjamin Yang

About Ben:

Benjamin Yang is a first-generation Taiwanese American originally from Riverside County, a medically under-served region in Southern California. He obtained his B.S. in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology from UCLA, where he discovered his passion for working closely with under-served and marginalized communities. He also has a diverse range of clinically translational research interests and, thus far, has been involved with projects related to Environmental Cardiology and Dermatology/Wound Healing. Throughout his career, Benjamin hopes to advocate for the health of all patients through community outreach programs, research, and possibly policy. In his free time, Benjamin enjoys playing tennis, reading, and cooking.

"I chose the ARC-MD program because I hope to incorporate research into my medical school education and my future career as a physician. The support and guidance I received from the ARC-MD directors and an intimate community also played a large role in my decision."

Publications:

Kim, Jane H., Benjamin Yang, Amanda Tedesco, Elyson Gavin D. Lebig, Paul M. Ruegger, Karen Xu, James Borneman, and Manuela Martins-Green. “High Levels of Oxidative Stress and Skin Microbiome Are Critical for Initiation and Development of Chronic Wounds in Diabetic Mice.” Nature News. Nature Publishing Group, December 17, 2019. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-55644-3.

Moheimani, Roya S., Roya S. Moheimani David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, May Bhetraratana, May Bhetraratana Division of Cardiology, Kacey M. Peters, Kacey M. Peters Division of Cardiology, Benjamin K. Yang, et al. “Sympathomimetic Effects of ACUTE E‐Cigarette USE: Role of Nicotine and Non‐Nicotine Constituents,” September 20, 2017. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.117.006579.

Shervin Zoghi