New York, New York, United States
Research Scientist at NYU, New York Immunologist with over a decade of international research and teaching experience, specializing in hematopoietic stem cell function and innate immune signaling. Author of 22 peer-reviewed publications. Passionate about scientific innovation, collaboration, and advancing our understanding of immune regulation and stem cell biology.
Research I study how aging affects blood-forming stem cells and explore ways to rejuvenate them, with the goal of improving the health of older individuals.
Research and Teaching Hematopoietic stem cells are essential to cure hematological malignancies, such as leukemia, and to correct genetic defects via bone marrow (BM) transplantation. Unfortunately, the clinical use of HSCs is hindered by multiple problems. The major difficulty is related to collection of a sufficient number of HSCs from BM or other sources. Only a low number of HSCs can be isolated from a donor, and many attempts have been made to expand these cells in vitro without success. I identified a new subset of primitive HSC (VAP-1+ HSC) that is positive for amine oxidase, and targeted through a drug called LJP-1586 to overcome these problems. I demonstrated that the level of reactive oxygen species can be fine-tuned by inhibiting SSAO activity. Importantly, treatment with LJP-1586 facilitates in vitro and invivo maintenance and expansion of human HSCs obtained from human umbilical cords and BM. I believe that my results detailing a strategy to expand human HSCs in vivo will facilitate the clinical application of these cells.
Research Targeting lymphatic endothelial cells to limit cancer cell migration and organ metastasis: The most devastating aspect of cancer is its ability to spread or metastasize. Cancer cells spread through the blood or lymph circulation. Metastasis occurs more frequently via the lymphatic system than via the blood system in most carcinomas, including breast cancer. Cancer cells migrate from the primary tumor to the sentinel (nearest) lymph node, ultimately leading to metastasis. The lymphatic system comprises a network of lymphatic vessels and interconnected lymph nodes distributed throughout the body. In normal physiological conditions, afferent lymph carries antigens and immune cells from tissues to draining lymph nodes, whereas efferent lymph carries lymphocytes away from lymph nodes. The two arms of the lymphatic system are equally important for the immune response and cancer metastasis. The mechanism by which cancer cells enter the sentinel lymph node via afferent lymphatic vessels has been partially elucidated, whereas the mechanism underlying egress of cancer cells from lymph nodes via efferent lymphatic vessels is entirely unknown. Despite the fundamental importance of the two arms of the lymphatic system in the immune response and cancer metastasis, their molecular characteristics are completely unknown. I performed transcriptomic analysis of these two arms and found that there are at least three distinct types of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in lymph nodes. I discovered that MSR1 (macrophage scavenger receptor 1) is expressed on both murine and human afferent lymphatic vessels and regulates entry of lymphocytes into the lymph node parenchyma. Lymphatic vessels act as a barrier for all cell types; therefore, manipulating the function of LECs might help to limit cancer cell migration and organ metastasis. At present, a couple of researchers are actively following up these findings and attempting to translate them to humans.
I started my research career in Chubu University. Together with a group of senior researchers, I helped to develop a novel hairless mouse model and analyzed hair growth and melanoma. To the best of my knowledge, this remains the only in vivo model in which to test the effects of drugs on hair growth.