Current Trainees
Biomedical Engineering
Damea Pham
Elevating the efficacy of Clinical Islet Transplantation (CIT) by improving beta cell viability and function through surface conjugation of poly(ethylene) glycol (PEG) to the pancreatic islet capsule
Mentor: Dr. Cherie Stabler
immunology & Microbiology
Zainab Al Shakarchi
Leveraging 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, nano-scale microCT, and microelectrodes to develop biometric pancreatic vascular-islet environments that recapitulate the natural human cytoarchitecture.
Mentors: Dr. Allison Andrews and Dr. Servio Ramirez
Genetics
Austin Kratz
Generating sBCs with a mature functional β-cell phenotype as a model system to investigate different aspects of human β-cell biology, including how maturity relates to immunogencity.
Mentor: Dr. Holger Russ
Biomedical Engineering
Austin Stis
Determining the mechanism of secretion of GABA from pancreatic beta cells while also investigating the changes that occur in the GAD65/GABA system as T1D pathogenesis progresses.
Mentor: Dr. Ed Phelps
biomedical engineering
Sierra Jackson
Engineering an autogenic microfluidic device for in vitro culture utilizing stem cell derived beta cells, human endothelial cells, and CD8+ T cells to create a controlled platform for analyzing T cell trafficking, migration, and killing in T1D.
Mentor: Cherie Stabler
Former Trainees
Trainee | Name and Degree | Research | Mentors | Position | Employer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Andrea Lin, PhD | Immune changes with ATG+GCSF therapy and Its impacts on C-peptide preservation in T1D | Clayton Mathews, PhD, Michael Haller, MD, and Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD | Regional Medical Director | Tourmaline Bio |
 | Joshua Stewart, PhD | A dual-sized microparticle system for inducing immune tolerance in autoimmunity | Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD | Director | Pfizer |
 | Melanie Shapiro, PhD | Insulin-like growth factors as biomarkers with immunological impacts on the development of T1D | Mark Atkinson, PhD and Todd Brusko, PhD | Postdoc Assoc | University of Florida |
 | Nicholas Abuid, PhD | Engineering cerium oxide nanoparticle coatings for antioxidant/anti-inflammatory protection of biomaterials and tissue grafts | Cherie Stabler, PhD | Field Scientist | Carterra |
 | Matthew Becker, PhD | Advancing Therapies that Target the PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway for Type 1 Diabetes Autoimmunity | Edward Phelps, PhD | CEO | ImmunoShield Therapeutics |
 | Lucas Armitage, PhD | PTPN22 regulates induced MHC-II expression in macrophages | Mark Wallet, PhD and Clayton Mathews, PhD | Senior Scientist | LTZ Therapeutics |
 | Leeana Peters, PhD | Identification of Adaptive Immune Signatures and Dysregulated Pathways in Type 1 Diabetes | Todd Brusko, PhD and Cherie Stabler, PhD | Postdoc Assoc | University of Florida |
 | Mollie Huber, PhD | Investigating type 1 diabetes pathogenesis with the live pancreas tissue slice platform | Mark Atkinson, PhD and Clayton Mathews, PhD | Postdoc Assoc | Joslin Diabetes Center |
 | Elliott Dirr, PhD | Treatment of cardiometabolic dysfunction using targeted parasympathetic neuromodulation | Kevin Otto, PhD | Biomedical Engineer | Leidos |
 | Alexander Kwiatkowski, PhD | A tolerogenic dual microparticle system for treatment of multiple sclerosis | Benjamin Keselowsky, PhD | Postdoc Assoc | Vanderbilt University |
 | Magdalena Samojlik, BS | Engineering a dynamic three-dimensional in vitro platform for the investigation of human Type 1 Diabetes immunopathogenesis | Cherie Stabler, PhD and Clayton Mathews, PhD | Pre-doctoral Fellow (NIH F31) | University of Florida |
 | Anna Rushin, BS | Disease metabolism, using imaging and metabolic techniques to study glioblastoma and pancreatic islet function in the context of cancer and Type 1 Diabetes. | Matthew Merritt, PhD | Pre-doctoral Fellow (NIH F31) | University of Florida |
 | Daniel Rodriguez, MS | Using AI and machine learning to investigate the link between Type 1 Diabetes and cognitive decline, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. | Ruogu Fang, PhD | Graduate Assistant | University of Florida |
 | Christopher Ludtka, PhD | Angiogenic and inflammatory responses of endothelial cells and immune cells such as macrophages to unique environments and stimuli including utilizing simulated microgravity as a potentially pro-angiogenic culture environment, drug responses for cardiovascular applications, as well as sex-based differences studies | Josephine Allen, PhD | Graduate Assistant | University of Florida |
 | Taylor Lansberry, BS | Engineering a multi-therapeutic, 3D-printed scaffold to improve pancreatic islet transplantation by enhancing vascularization, engraftment, and immunoprotection for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes. | Cherie Stabler, PhD | Pre-doctoral Fellow (NIH F31) | University of Florida |
 | Miguel Medina-Serpas, PhD | Characterizing the follicular helper T-cell (Tfh) response in the secondary lymphatic tissue of human donors across the natural progression of T1D. | Todd Brusko, PhD | Postdoc Assoc | University of Florida |
 | Alex Hung, BS | Exploring the mechanisms of anti-PD-1-induced-T1D in various mouse models to elucidate how different genetic predispositions contribute to T1D onset during checkpoint inhibitor therapy. | Clive Wasserfall, PhD | Graduate Assistant | University of Florida |
 | Hannah Manis, BS | Developing a prototype of an innovative exposure and response prevention treatment for fear of hypoglycemia that is based in virtual reality environments. | Kimberly Driscoll, PhD | Graduate Assistant | University of Florida |