Skip to main content
Glycobiology Research & Training Center GRTC
  1. Glycobiology Research & Training Center
  2. Research & Training
  3. K12 National Consortium
  4. Scholars

National Consortium for Excellence in Glycosciences: Scholars

  • Anabel Alvarenga, PhD

    Anabel Alvarenga, PhD

    Mentors: Jean Kim & Ronald Schnaar, Johns Hopkins University

    Focus: Siglec-8 ligand expression in healthy and diseased patients
  • Amy Attaway, MD

    Amy Attaway, MD

    Mentor: Srinivasan Dasarathy, Cleveland Clinic

    Focus: Study of intermittent hypoxia-mediated O-GlcNAcylation dysregulates skeletal muscle proteostasis and mitochondrial function in cellular and murine models
  • Francesca Boscolo, PhD

    Francesca Boscolo, PhD

    Mentor: Adam Engler, UC San Diego

    Focus: Role of proteoglycans in determining muscle stem cell fate during pregnancy
  • Michelle Brenner, DO

    Michelle Brenner, DO

    Mentors: Karin Hoffmeister, Translational Glycomics Center & Nancy Dahms, Medical College of Wisconsin

    Focus: The role of inflammation on the glycosylation pattern and function of platelets
  • Elizabeth Calle, MD

    Elizabeth Calle, MD

    Mentor: Robert Langer, Massachusetts General Hospital, Institute of Health Professionals

    Focus: The Endothelial Glycocalyx and the Air/Blood Barrier in the context of Lung Transplantation
  • Kevin Chandler, PhD

    Kevin Chandler, PhD

    Mentor: Robert Sackstein, Florida International University

    Focus: The Role of Fucosyltransferase-2 (FUT2) Repression in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Signaling
  • Ryan Jajosky, MD

    Ryan Jajosky, MD

    Mentors: Sean R. Stowell, Brigham & Women's Hospital & Robert Sackstein, Florida International University

    Focus: Studying the role of glycans on red blood cells
  • Patricia Lenhart-Pendergrass, MD, PhD

    Patricia Lenhart-Pendergrass, MD, PhD

    Mentor: Victor Nizet, UC San Diego

    Focus: Host Pathogen Interactions in Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections in Cystic Fibrosis
  • Olurotimi Mesubi, MBBS

    Olurotimi Mesubi, MBBS

    Mentors: Mark Anderson and Natasha Zachara, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

    Focus: Cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) O-GlcNAcylation and aberrant calcium release in atrial fibrillation
  • Anny Mulya, PhD

    Anny Mulya, PhD

    Mentors: Serpil C. Erzurum and Vince Hascall, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute

    Focus: Fuel Bioenergetics Pathway on Hylauronan in Asthma
  • Mark Murakaumi, MD

    Mark Murakaumi, MD

    Mentor: Robert Sackstein, Florida International University

    Focus: E-selectin ligands in normal and malignant lymphopoiesis
  • Ogechi Ogoke, PhD

    Ogechi Ogoke, PhD

    Mentor: Joseph Lau, Roswell Park Division, State University of New York

    Focus: The role of sialyltransferase - ST6GAL1- in mediating hematopoietic stem cell biology
  • Chelsea Painter, PhD

    Chelsea Painter, PhD

    Mentor: Philip Gordts, UC San Diego

    Focus: Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Lipoprotein Metabolism and Dyslipidemia
  • Kyriakos Papanicolaou, PhD

    Kyriakos Papanicolaou, PhD

    Mentors: Brian O'Rourke & Natasha Zachara, Johns Hopkins University
    Focus: Dynamics and Impact of O-GlcNAcylation in Experimental Heart Failure
  • Alejandro Roisman, PhD

    Alejandro Roisman, PhD

    Mentor: Karin Hoffmeister, Translational Glycomics Center

    Focus: Impact of epigenetic regulation of protein glycosylation in HSC function and its contribution to the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies
  • Kate Rosenbalm, PhD

    Kate Rosenbalm, PhD

    Mentor: Karin Hoffmeister, Translational Glycomics Center

    Focus: Sialic acid modulation of hematopoiesis
  • Nehru Viji Sankaranarayanan, PhD

    Nehru Viji Sankaranarayanan, PhD

    Mentors: Umesh Desai, Virginia Commonwealth University

    Focus: Developing AI-based tools for identifying sites of GAG binding on proteins
  • Yan Wang, MD, PhD

    Yan Wang, MD, PhD

    Mentors: Vincent Hascall & Edward Maytin, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute

    Focus: Delineation of the role of Hyaluronan in regulating fibroblast function in normal and diabetic skin wound healing and obesity
  • Dawn Wenzel, PhD

    Dawn Wenzel, PhD

    Mentors: Nancy Dahms & Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, Medical College of Wisconsin

    Focus: The role of O-GlcNAcylation in the regulation of cytokinetic abscission

Alumni

  • Amina Abbadi, PhD

    Amina Abbadi, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Research Associate, Cleveland Clinic

    Career Development Site: Johns Hopkins / Cleveland Clinic (2018-2020)
    Program Mentors: Vincent Hascall & George Muschler, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute

    K12 Project: The role of Intracellular hyaluronan and TSG-6 in monocyte/macrophage biology and differentiation under a hyperglycemic stress.

    Email: abbadia23@gmail.com 
  • Daniel Kwame Afosah, PhD

    Daniel Kwame Afosah, PhD


    Initial position after K12 program: Assistant Professor, Washington & Lee University

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2018-2021)
    Program Mentor: Umesh Desai, Virginia Commonwealth University

    K12 Project: Isolation and structural characterization of Glycosaminoglycan.

    Email: afosahd@vcu.edu
  • ​Waseem Anani, MD

    ​Waseem Anani, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: Medical Officer, Canadian Blood Services

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2018-2020)
    Program Mentor: Karin Hoffmeister, Translational Glycomics Center

    K12 Project: Glycomics in transfusion medicine - Defining glycans in outcomes.

    Email: waseem.anani@blood.ca 
  • Sophia Balderman, MD

    Sophia Balderman, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: Hematology and Medical Oncology, Cleveland Clinic

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2021)
    Program Mentor: Joseph Lau, Roswell Park Division, State University of New York

    K12 Project: Investigating the Role of Extrinsic ST6GAL1 in MDS associated dyspoiesis.

    Email: sophiaRbalderman@gmail.com
  • Phillip Bartels, PhD

    Phillip Bartels, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Scientist I, Codex DNA

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2018-2021)
    Program Mentor: Yitzhak Tor, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Developing Guanidinylated Neomycin-Enzyme Conjugates to Treat Lyososomal Storage Disorders Linked to Parkinson’s Disease.

    Email: phillipbartels@gmail.com
  • Julia Callender, PhD

    Julia Callender, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Scientist, Neuroscience, Lundbeck La Jolla Research Center

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2019-2022)
    Program Mentor: Christina Sigurdson, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Manipulating PrP glycan structure to understand toxic signaling pathways driving prion-incused neurodegeneration.

    Email: julia.callender@gmail.com
  • Chen Chen, MD, PhD

    Chen Chen, MD, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Professor, LSU

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2020)
    Program Mentor: Nancy Dahms, Medical College of Wisconsin

    K12 Project: Therapeutic peptides based on carbohydrate-binding against neutrophil migration.

    Email: cchen10@lsu.edu
  • Dillon Chen, MD

    Dillon Chen, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: Assistant Professor Division of Child Neurology, Department of Neurosciences

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2019-2022)
    Program Mentor: Ajit Varki, UC San Diego

    K12 Project: Characterize the roles of polysialic acids and Sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectins (SIGLECs) in the brain.

    Email: dyc017@health.ucsd.edu
  • Jiaxuan Chen, PhD

    Jiaxuan Chen, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: TBD

    Career Development Site: Harvard (2019-2022)
    Program Mentor: Elliot Chaikof, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    K12 Project: Podoplanin Glycopeptide Mimetics for Treatment of Venous Thrombosis.

    Email: jchen13@bidmc.harvard.edu
  • Jane Cheng, MD

    Jane Cheng, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: General Surgery Resident, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    Career Development Site: Harvard (2019-2021)
    Program Mentor: Richard Cummings, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    K12 Project: Identification of carbohydrate antigens and its application in human diseases and disorders.

    Email: jcheng3@bidmc.harvard.edu
  • Sun-Mi Choi, MD, PhD

    Sun-Mi Choi, MD, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Pathology Immunogenetics, UCLA

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2018-2021)
    Program Mentor: Victor Nizet, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Upper airway mucosal responses to MRSA in CRS.

    Email: goldensunmi@gmail.com 
  • Dorothy Contiguglia-Akcan, MD

    Dorothy Contiguglia-Akcan, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: Family Medicine Specialist in Miami, FL

    Career Development Site: Harvard (2020-2021)
    Program Mentor: Robert Sackstein, MD, PhD, Florida International University

    K12 Project: Glycobiology of exosome.
  • Yiwen Cui

    Yiwen Cui

    Initial position after K12 program: Physician, Orlando Health

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2022-2023)
    Program Mentors: Nancy Dahms & Stephanie Olivier-Van Stichelen, Medical College of Wisconsin

    K12 Project: O-GlcrNAcylation in the Development of Gestational Diabetes.
  • Michelle (Gloria) Ducasa, PhD

    Michelle (Gloria) Ducasa, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2019-2020)
    Program Mentor: Philip Gordts, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: The role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in non-shivering thermogenesis.

    Email: gmichid89@gmail.com
  • Graham Heberlig, PhD

    Graham Heberlig, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdoctoal Fellow, Michael Burkart Lab, UC San Diego 

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2021-2023)
    Program Mentor: Michael Burkart, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Structural Examination of Lipid A Biosynthesis Complexes.

    Email: graham.heberlig@gmail.com
  • Adam Kanack, PhD

    Adam Kanack, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdoctoral Fellow, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2019-2021)
    Program Mentor: Nancy Dahms, Medical College of Wisconsin

    K12 Project: Platelet and myeloid cell phenotypes in a rat model of Fabry disease.
  • So-Young Kim, PhD

    So-Young Kim, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Scientist I, OncoC4, Inc.

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2019-2021)
    Program Mentor: Mark Fuster, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Glycosaminoglycan-based lung cancer immunotherapy.

    Email: skim@sternekessler.com
  • Sridevi Krishnan, PhD

    Sridevi Krishnan, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Assistant Professor, Precision Nurtition, University of Arizona, Tucson

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2021-2023)
    Program Mentor: Nathan Lewis, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Nutrition and cardio metabolic disease: A systems biology based multiomic investigation.


    Email: skrishnan@arizona.edu
  • Melissa Lee-Sundlov, PhD

    Melissa Lee-Sundlov, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Senior Manager, Clinical Science and Translational Research, Vor Biopharma

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2018-2021)
    Program Mentor: Karin Hoffmeister, Wisconsin Blood Research Institute

    K12 Project: The Role of Sialylation and Lectin Receptors in Blood Production in the Bone Marrow.

    Email: melissa.lee.my@gmail.com
  • Samuel Merrill, MD, PhD

    Samuel Merrill, MD, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Physician

    Career Development Site: Johns Hopkins / Cleveland Clinic (2018-2019)
    Program Mentors: Ronald Schnaar & Robert Brodsky, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

    K12 Project: The role of complement in sickle cell disease and hyper hemolysis.

    Email: mcbaedes@gmail.com

  • John O'Malley, MD, PhD

    John O'Malley, MD, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Senior Director of Clinical Research, Sanofi Pharmaceutical

    Career Development Site: Harvard (2018-2019)
    Program Mentor: Robert Sackstein, Brigham and Women's Hospital

    K12 Project: Defining the glycosignature of E-selectin ligands in skin-tropic hematologic malignancies.

    Email: jtomalley@bwh.harvard.edu
  • Pavani Pingali, PhD

    Pavani Pingali, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdoctoral Fellow

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2022)
    Program Mentors: Umesh R. Desai & Bhaumik B. Patel, Virginia Commonwealth University

    K12 Project: Role of Glycosaminoglycans in Anti-Cancer Immunity.

    Email: pingalip@vcu.edu
  • Ryan Porell, PhD

    Ryan Porell, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Technical Manager, Macromolecules Innovation Institute/GlycoMIP Facility

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2018-2021)
    Program Mentor: Kamil Godula, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Design and Synthesis of Fluorogenic Proteoglycan Mimetic Polymers.

    Email: ryan_porell@hotmail.com
  • ​Richard Sanchez, PhD

    ​Richard Sanchez, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdoc, UC San Diego

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2019-2020)
    Program Mentor: Gulcin Pekkurnaz, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: O-GlcNAc dependent cytoskeletal influences on mitochondrial localization under varying cellular metabolic states.

    Email: rgsanchez@ucsd.edu
  • Kai-Ting Shade, PhD

    Kai-Ting Shade, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Principal Scientist, Dupixent Research, Sanofi

    Career Development Site: Harvard (2018-2020)
    Program Mentor: Robert Anthony, Massachusetts General Hospital

    K12 Project: Novel Role of Sialic Acids in IgE Biology.

    Email: ikayabi@gmail.com
  • Ruth Siew, MD

    Ruth Siew, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: Assistant Professor, UC San Francisco

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2019-2022)
    Program Mentor: Victor Nizet, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: Sialic acid interactions in cystic fibrosis.

    Email: ruthsiew@gmail.com
  • Kathryn Stackhouse, MD

    Kathryn Stackhouse, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: General Surgery Residency at Cleveland Clinic

    Career Development Site: Harvard (2018-2019)
    Program Mentor: Richard Cummings, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    K12 Project: Glycans as Early Detection Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.
  • Angelica Maciel Gomes Ueltschy, PhD

    Angelica Maciel Gomes Ueltschy, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Sr. Research Scientist, Trailhead Biosystems Inc.

    Career Development Site: Johns Hopkins / Cleveland Clinic (2018-2020)
    Program Mentors: Mark Aronica & Vincent Hascall, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute

    K12 Project: Hyaluronan function in adipogenesis and metabolism.

    Email: angelicaueltschy@gmail.com
  • Priya Umapathi, MD

    Priya Umapathi, MD

    Initial Position after K12 program: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

    Career Development Site: Johns Hopkins / Cleveland Clinic (2020-2022)
    Program Mentors: Mark Anderson, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine & Gerald Hart, University of Georgia

    K12 Project: O-GlcNAcylation and YAP: Defining a novel pathway in heart failure.

    Email: mumapat1@jhmi.edu
  • Ryan Weiss, PhD

    Ryan Weiss, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Assistant Professor, CCRC, UGA

    Career Development Site: UC San Diego (2018-2020)
    Program Mentor: Jeffrey D. Esko, University of California, San Diego

    K12 Project: CRISPR-Cas9 Dissection of Heparan Sulfate.

    Email: rjweiss86@gmail.com
  • Nicole Welch, MD

    Nicole Welch, MD

    Initial position after K12 program: Mentored Researcher on a K08 in the Dasarathy Lab, Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute

    K08 Project Title: Mechanisms of HIF1 alpha mediated dysregulated skeletal muscle proteostasis in alcoholic liver disease

    Career Development Site: Johns Hopkins / Cleveland Clinic (2018-2021)
    Program Mentors: Srinivasan Dasarathy & Vincent Hascall, ​Cleveland Clinic, Lerner Research Institute

    K12 Project: Hyaluronan 35 prevents endotoxin mediated dysregulated skeletal muscle proteostasis during ethanol exposure.

    Email: welchn@ccf.org
  • Sheena (Tianxin) Yu, PhD

    Sheena (Tianxin) Yu, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdotoral Fellow

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2019-2020)
    Program Mentor: Joseph Lau, Roswell Park Division, State University of New York

    K12 Project: Glycobiology in Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

    Email: tianxin.yu@roswellpark.org
  • Chris (Jinchao) Zhang, PhD

    Chris (Jinchao) Zhang, PhD

    Initial position after K12 program: Postdotoral Fellow

    Career Development Site: BloodCenter of Wisconsin (2018-2020)
    Program Mentor: Joseph Lau, Roswell Park Division, State University of New York

    K12 Project: The role of the sialyltransferases and sugar donors from platelets in regulating the sialylation.

    Email: jinchao.zhang@roswellpark.org