Brian Brown, PhD
Director, Icahn Genomics Institute
Associate Director, Precision Immunology Institute (PrIISM)
Professor, Genetics & Genomic Sciences
Brian is the PI of the lab. He did his doctoral studies in Canada and postdoctoral studies in Italy. He has developed a number of novel technologies, including a platform for controlling gene expression, which has led to improvements in experimental treatments for genetic disease, cancer, and viral infection. His lab is working to identify factors that control immunity & tolerance, and translate these findings in to strategies that can be used to direct the immune system in cancer, infectious disease, and inflammation.
Worked ambulance
Wrote science for a fashion mag in Milan
Taking lessons to pronounce ‘out’ the American way
Alessia Baccarini, PhD
Assistant Professor, Genetics and Genomic Sciences
Alessia is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences. She completed her PhD in Biotechnology from the University " La Sapienza” of Rome. Alessia is a recipient of the Paola Campese Award and the prestigious Italian Presidential Medal for her work on miRNA biology and and the Liz Tilberis Early Career Award for ovarian cancer research. Alessia is interested in understanding how post-transcriptional regulation modulates ovarian cancer sensitivity and resistance to the immune system.
Loves the Tragically Hip
Paints in spare time
Ran a NY Marathon!
Angelo Amabile, PhD
Assistant Professor, Icahn Genomics Institute
Director, RNA Nanoparticle Core
Angelo received his PhD from the San Raffaele University in Milan, Italy. He is an expert in gene engineering and is currently working to develop novel drug-regulated gene expression systems for gene therapy applications.
Two Truths and a Lie
Climbed Mount Everest.
Guest on National TV show.
Bathed in the Ganges River.
Chiara Falcomatà, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chiara received her PhD from the Technical University of Munich in Germany. Her research focuses on identifying and understanding the molecular determinants controlling the immune and stromal composition of pancreatic tumors.
Won a pie eating contest
Swam 100 meters in less than a minute
Grew 2 meter tall chilli plants
Camillia Azimi, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Camillia obtained her PhD from University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) under Dr. Kole Roybal developing CAR Pooling, a novel rapid pooled screen of CAR signaling domains in primary human T cells, and the BAFFR CAR. In her postdoc, she joins the Brown and Merad labs to pursue similarly innovative receptor design for in vivo myeloid cell engineering within cancer contexts.
Two Truths and a Lie
- Has only skydived in Namibia
- Is an avid trombonist
- Can read & write in 3 languages but only speak 1
Chunxi Wang, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chunxi received her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Duke University. She joins the Brown and Brody labs in her postdoc. In the Brown lab, she works on using CRISPR screening to identify key genes regulating LNP entry into tumor cells. Outside the lab, she loves visiting vinyl record stores and collecting rare vinyl records.
Two truths and a lie:
Has done research in 3 countries in 3 different continents
Lives with 3 cute chinchillas
Enjoys the climate in NYC
Gurkan Mollaoglu PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Gurkan received his master’s in molecular biology and genetics from Koc University (Istanbul, Turkey) and his doctorate in oncological sciences from the University of Utah. Joined the Brown and Merad labs to study how mutations in cancer cells regulate the tumor immune microenvironment.
Wrote a novel
His photograph was sent to space
Visited all 58 national parks in the US
Alex Tepper, BSc
MD/PhD Student
Alex is investigating how the interferon gamma pathway influences lung cancer resistance to immunotherapy using highly multiplexed immunophenotyping coupled to Perturb-map. Outside lab he enjoys crashing waves, babbling brooks, and wise trout.
Two Truths and a Lie:
Can hold his breath > 2 minutes
Has lassoed a shark
Rides horses
Luisanna Pia, BSc
PhD Student
Luisanna is graduate student in Immunology. Before joining the Brown lab is was at KSQ in Cambridge. She is applying high-dimensional CRISPR genomics to understand how genetic factors control the spatial architecture of the tumor microenvironment.
Two Truths and a Lie
Studied finance and marketing.
Danced flamenco semi-professionally.
Has an Irish twin.
Jaime Mateus-Tique, BSc, Msc
PhD Student
Jaime is a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences. After many years of entrepreneurship and corporate management, he decided to return to science. His current project focuses on modulating myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment.
Two truths and a Lie:
Watches Saturday Night Live on Sunday nights
Started a publicly traded company
Has produced 11 feature films
Adam Marks, BSc
MD/PhD student
Adam is an MD/PhD student in the lab that is working to understand how COVID disease can lead to immune dysregulation. He is also a carrier of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
Two truths and a lie:
Ran a marathon in 5 cities.
Hitchhiked across Chile
Has an identical twin
Reza Mirzaei, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Reza is working to identify genes controlling multiple myeloma resistance to immunotherapy.
Hunter Potak, BSc
Research Associate
Hunter is a Research Associate. He has a Bachelors in Science from New York University (NYU). He is carrying out multiplex imaging analysis, all day, every day.
Youngest of 10 siblings
Lived on a sailboat
Got lost in a Costa Rican rainforest
Ashwitha Lakshmi, BSc, MSc
Research Associate
Ash is a Research Associate. She is working with the gene engineering team to make more potent cancer killing T cells.
Two Truths and a Lie
Lived in 13 cities
Loves horror movies
Has 2 masters degrees
Matthew Phelan, BSc
Research Associate
Matt is a Research Associate. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University. He is working with the gene engineering team to develop and test targeted mRNA/LNP formulations for modulating antigen-specific immune responses.
Two Truths and a Lie:
Has biked coast to coast
Can do 7+ water sports that happen behind a ski boat
Has a flock of chickens
Jyll Yu
Administrative Assistant
Hates the smell of wine
Has visited over 10 countries
Was in her college marching band