Lab Members

Principal Investigator

Raghu Kalluri, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Cancer Biology, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Adjunct Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine
Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering, Rice University

Dr. Kalluri earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology from the University of Kansas Medical Center and his M.D. from Brown University Medical School. Kalluri was a postdoctoral fellow and a research associate at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and studied immunology and mechanisms associated with tissue injury and repair employing organ fibrosis as model system. In 1997, he moved to Harvard Medical School as an assistant professor of medicine and as a faculty member in the Department of Medicine at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. In 2006, Kalluri was appointed the Chief of the Division of Matrix Biology and was promoted to professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. He held faculty appointments in the Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, and Harvard Stem Cell Institute in the division of nephrology of the Children’s Hospital Boston. Kalluri was recruited to MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2012 as a professor and chair of Cancer Biology and the director of the Metastasis Research Center. His laboratory is broadly interested in investigating the functional contribution of cell and tissue microenvironment and exosomes in cancer progression and metastasis.

Michelle Kirtley, B.S., M.P.H.
Laboratory Manager
MLKirtley@MDAnderson.org
Phone: 713-745-9528

Michelle graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. degree in marine biology and from Florida International University with a master's degree in public health. Prior to joining the Kalluri Lab in 2017, she worked at the University of Texas Medical Branch, where she investigated virulence gene regulation, pathogenic mechanisms, and vaccine candidates for select agent pathogens. Currently, Michelle serves as the laboratory manager for the Kalluri Laboratory, overseeing reagent purchasing, animal colony management, laboratory logistics, IACUC and IRB submissions and approvals, and general laboratory maintenance. Additionally, Michelle actively participates in and contributes to several research projects. In her free time, she is an enthusiastic hockey fan, cheering on her favorite team, the Dallas Stars, and is also an avid aquarist.

Krishnan Mahadevon, M.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2016

Krishnan completed his M.D. from JIPMER, India in 2013. He worked as a clinical research fellow at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston until 2015. He joined the Kalluri Laboratory in 2016. His thesis goal is to understand the role of T-cells in pancreatic cancer progression and therapy response.

Meagan Conner, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2022

Meagan received her B.S. from Texas A&M University in psychology in 2012. She then went on the attend Stony Brook University in New York where she researched early-stage Parkinson’s disease-related cognitive decline and earned her Ph.D. in neuroscience in 2021. Her current research focuses on the role of tumor stroma and the functional contribution of extracellular matrix components in influencing the initiation and progression of glioblastoma. 

Kate McAndrews, Ph.D.
Instructor
Joined the lab in 2015

Kate received her B.S. from the University of Nevada Reno in chemical engineering in 2010 and her Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology in chemical and biomolecular engineering in 2015. Kate is employing novel transgenic mouse models to investigate intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles/exosomes in normal physiology and cancer. Her research also focuses on determining the functional contribution of fibroblasts to pancreatic cancer progression and response to therapy.

Lakshmi Kavitha Sthanam, Ph.D. 
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2022

Kavitha earned her Ph.D. in biosciences and bioengineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay in 2019, where she worked extensively on the mechanobiology of stem cells and fibroblasts. Her research led to multiple first author publications, a patent and an Excellence in Ph.D. research award. After a short postdoc at Georgia Institute of Technology during COVID-19, she joined the Kalluri Lab in November 2022 to study evolution of fibroblast heterogeneity during PDAC progression and metastasis. She is particularly interested in understanding the role of CAFs in modulating immune response in solid tumors, especially PDAC. Kavita spends her free time gardening, cooking and reading books. She loves traveling and learning about different cuisines whenever she can.

Thao Tran, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2022 

Thao received her Ph.D. in biochemistry in 2021 from Kangwon National University, South Korea. Her Ph.D. thesis focused on the function of exosomal miRNAs derived  from KRAS mutant breast cancer on osteolytic bone metastasis. She joined the Kalluri Laboratory in 2022 to investigate the novel regulators of exosome release  and uptake in normal cells and cancer cells using whole genome CRISPR screening.  She is also interested in understanding the mechanism of DNA-containing  exosomes derived from cancer cells.

Xunian Zhou, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2019

Xunian received her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the Chinese University of Hong Kong in Dec. 2017. During that time, she investigated the underlying anti-cancer mechanisms of a small molecule in breast cancer models. She studies the function of tumor stroma and exosomes in cancer. During her free time, she delights in cooking and reading. Additionally, she finds joy in exploring the outdoors and appreciating the beauty of nature, especially with her family.

Bingrui (Brian) Li, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2020

Brian received his Ph.D. in biomedical informatics from MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences in 2023. He joined the Kalluri Lab in 2020 as a graduate research assistant and has now transitioned to a postdoctoral fellowship. His research focuses on developing novel computational algorithms for exosome-based cancer diagnosis, investigating the tumor microenvironment by integrating various omics data and developing novel therapies.  

Viktoria Boeker, M.D., Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2023

Viktoria is from Germany and currently serves as a resident specializing in visceral surgery with a primary focus on conducting extensive research in the field of pancreatic cancer research. Viktoria is a highly athletic and open-minded surgeon, always eager to embark on great adventures and explore new cultures and the world.

Moumita Sarkar, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2023

Moumita received her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from Cotton College, Gauhati University, India in 2014 and her master’s degree in molecular biology and biotechnology from Tezpur Central University, India in 2016. She earned her Ph.D. from National Institute of Immunology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, India in 2022 where she worked on delineating the influence of female reproductive hormones on the growth and survival of cancer cells. She joined the Kalluri Laboratory in 2023 and her current research is focused on understanding the biology of stromal vascular cells, and exosomes in the context of aging, and cancer. In her leisure time, she finds joy in the culinary arts, savoring the experience of cooking. She also cherishes the moments she spends with her husband, family and friends. Music and dancing have been constants in her life, stemming from a passion cultivated since childhood. Recently, she has also embarked on a journey of discovery, finding enthusiasm in traveling to new places and capturing the beauty of her experiences through photography.

Kaira A. Church, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2023

Kaira received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and genetics in 2015 from Texas A&M University (GIG’EM AGS!). Following a brief period where she was a research science associate, she attended The University of Texas at San Antonio where she earned her Ph.D. in molecular microbiology and immunology in 2022, where she characterized the role of microglia-mediated inflammation in the development and progression of disease in murine models of multiple sclerosis (MS) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Her research interests include neuroinflammation and investigating the mechanisms governing glial and vascular biology in the healthy and diseased CNS to better understand the cellular dynamics that preface and provoke the development of various neurodegenerative disorders. Furthermore, she is particularly interested in the dynamics of vascular remodeling and the heterogeneity of glial cell populations and how this heterogeneity regulates glial cell subtype responses. As a pop-culture enthusiast mixed with a nerdy planetary science fanatic, during her free time, Kaira enjoys binging new reality TV shows and visiting science museums. 

Yingying Hu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2023

Yingying received her Ph.D. from the Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Science in December 2020. Her Ph.D. research focused on the development of protein/mRNA vaccines against various cancers. She joined the Kalluri Laboratory in March 2023 to investigate the personalized mRNA
vaccines-based combination strategy to control pancreatic cancer.

Yi Jiang, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Joined the lab in 2024

Yi received her Ph.D. in biology in 2023 from Tsinghua University. Her Ph.D. research focused on unraveling the effect and mechanism of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) on the metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). During her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, dancing, and yoga.

Xin Luo, B.S.
Ph.D. Student, School of Engineering, Rice University

Xin received her bachelor’s degree in science from Nankai University, China, in 2019. She joined Rice University in 2019 for her Ph.D. degree in engineering and joined the Kalluri Lab in 2020 for her Ph.D. thesis work. Xin’s current research focuses on the mechanistic properties of exosomes, elucidating single exosome biology and explaining translational potential of exosomes in cancer and COVID-19. Xin likes to do reading, hiking and traveling in her free time. 

Yuanyuan Zhu, B.S.
Graduate Research Assistant, MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School

Yuanyuan Zhu received her bachelor’s degree in medicine from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 2022. She joined the Kalluri Lab as a graduate student in 2022. Her research interests include PDAC-associated CAF metabolism and its contribution to disease progression and metastasis. Yuanyuan loves playing golf and cooking at home.

Paul Spezza, B.S.
Ph.D. Student, School of Engineering, Rice University

Paul received his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Columbia University in 2021. After graduation, he worked with a medical device company and the New York Blood Center for one year. In 2022, he joined Rice University for his Ph.D. degree in bioengineering and joined the Kalluri Laboratory for his Ph.D. thesis work. Paul’s current research focuses on understanding key molecular mechanisms underlying diseases to generate novel exosome-based drug therapies that target macular degeneration and pancreatic cancer. In his free time, he loves to explore the parks, restaurants and thrift shops of Houston, Texas.

Ana Maldonado, B.S.
Graduate Research Assistant, MD Anderson UTHealth Graduate School

Ana received her B.S. in biochemistry from New Mexico State University in 2022. She joined the Kalluri Laboratory in September 2022 for her M.S. thesis work. Ana’s current research focuses on the impact of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition program on the efficacy of a small molecule inhibitor of oncogenic KRASG12D in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Outside of lab, Ana is a dog mom and enjoys
reading, playing video games and staying active.  

Adrian Perdyan, M.D.
Graduate Student

Adrian completed his M.D. from MUG, Poland in 2021, where he started a Ph.D. on the impact of cosmic and ultraviolet radiation on human cells epigenetics. He worked at Stanford University as a visiting researcher from February 2023 to July 2023 on radiation induced carcinogen susceptibility. He joined the Kalluri Laboratory in 2024 for his Fulbright Junior Research Award. His research will be focused on utilizing single cell RNA sequencing method in the context of aging and cancer. During leisure time, he enjoys travelling and gastronomic tourism as well as admiring cityscapes from heights. 

Tristan Nguyen, B.S.
M.D/Ph.D. Student, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch

Tristan received his bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas A&M University in 2022. During his undergraduate studies, he worked as a researcher and later  advanced to a research assistant position. In these roles, he contributed to projects on the cytotoxicity of nanoparticles against breast cancer cells, the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment, the effects of circadian rhythm disruption on tumorigenesis, and more. Currently, Tristan is an M.D./Ph.D. student at the University of Texas Medical Branch, training to become a physician-scientist with a focus on cancer research. He will be conducting his Ph.D. thesis work under the direction of the Kalluri Laboratory. Outside of the lab, Tristan enjoys training and competing in judo, spending time with friends and family, and volunteering in the community.

Navid Sobhani, Ph.D.
Research Scientist

Navid is a passionate scientist dedicated to advancing medical research, particularly in the field of cancer. With a strong belief in the limitless possibilities  of discovery, he pursued his education in molecular biology, completing a Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies. He joined MD Anderson Cancer Center as a research scientist, helping to oversee next generation sequencing in the Kalluri Laboratory, focusing mainly on single-cell sequencing research. Navid is enthralled exploring more of the world with friends, learning from new cultures, and enjoying playing sports and music along the way.

Zahra Hooda, B.S.
Research Assistant l

Zahra received her bachelor's degree in biomedical sciences in 2021 from Auburn University in Alabama. After graduation, she worked as a research technician for NASA, exploring microbial interactions on solid motor rockets for the upcoming Europa Lander Mission. She joined the Kalluri Lab as a research assistant in 2022, and her research focuses on the role of exosomes as a therapeutic delivery mechanism in various disease states, including breast cancer, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Barbara Moreno Diaz, B.S.
Research Assistant II

Barbara received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Texas A&M University in 2021. She joined the Kalluri Laboratory as a research assistant in 2021 and provides histology and immunohistoclonal support. Additionally, she is involved in tumor microenvironment research.

Sarah Patel
Research Technician

Sarah received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston in 2022 and joined the Kalluri Laboratory in 2022. Her research interests include studying exosomal biology, and she is currently involved in a project relating to the trafficking of exosomes between organs.

Amari M. Sockwell, B.S. 
Research Assistant II
Joined the lab in 2021

Amari received her Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Houston Baptist
University where she studied cellular and molecular biology. Her undergraduate
research focused predominately on tissue regeneration before joining the
Kalluri Lab in 2021. She now works with other scientists researching cancer
therapies involving dendritic cell vaccines as a supplement to immune checkpoint blockade therapy and small molecule KRAS inhibitors. Outside of the lab Amari’s interest include fitness and wellness. She loves the gym, going on hikes in national and state parks around the country and improving her yoga practice. 

Hikaru Sugimoto, M.D., Ph.D.
Research Scientist

Hikaru completed his undergraduate and graduate studies in medicine at Okayama University, Japan. After having finished the residency program as a general physician, he trained as a diabetes specialist and a nephrologist. He moved to Boston in 1999 for a postdoctoral fellowship to study mechanisms associated with diabetic nephropathy. In 2001, he joined the Kalluri Lab in Boston to study tumor angiogenesis and develop novel angiogenesis inhibitors for treatment of cancer. His current research interests are to find new therapies for organ fibrosis and cancer metastasis. Hikaru also serves as the resident mouse surgeon in the laboratory and trains new graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Hikaru enjoys playing tennis when not focused on science.

Shreyasee Kumbar, Ph.D.
Research Scientist

Shreyasee Kumbhar received her master’s in cell biology from the University of Connecticut. Since then she has worked in industry in the US and India in various areas of drug discovery and development. She joined the Kalluri Lab in 2023 and is responsible for various flow cytometry and imaging platforms in the lab. She is involved in lab projects that require flow-based and spatial phenotyping experiments. She also helps lab members with studies using these technology platforms. When she is not working, Shreyasee enjoys cooking, listening to books and podcasts, watching movies and dancing.

Huda Alchikh Omar
Postbaccalaureate Trainee
Joined the lab in 2023

Huda received her bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Houston-Downtown. She joined the lab in July 2023, and her research project is focused on studying metabolism and resistance mechanisms in pancreatic cancer. Huda enjoys outdoor activities like swimming and hiking and loves to try new restaurants. 

Alexis D. Thomas
College Student
Joined the lab in 2024

Alexis D. Thomas is a Prairie View A&M University biology senior and recurring summer intern in the Kalluri Lab. Previous work includes working with Karia Church, Ph.D. in utilizing siRNAs packaged into exosomes to knockdown overexpression and alleviate pathological signs in retinal diseases.

Annelise Huynh
College Student
Joined the lab in 2024

Annelise is an undergraduate student at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a degree in chemical biosciences. Her current research project consists of a preclinical evaluation of a novel exosome-based cancer vaccine, building on her prior experience with cancer research at her home university. Following graduation, she plans to pursue an M.D/Ph.D. Outside of research, Annelise enjoys taking pictures on her film camera, watching movies and playing the piano, as she is also a piano performance major at OU.

Erin Suh
College Student
Joined the lab in 2024

Erin is a rising junior at the University of Georgia working toward a B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and minors in Biology, Spanish, and Nutritional Sciences. She joined the lab in June 2024 as a CATALYST CPRIT-CURE summer research intern. She is contributing to projects investigating the function of type 1 collagen homotrimers in organ fibrosis and pancreatic cancer. Outside of lab, Erin enjoys playing violin, baking, cooking, traveling, and going on scenic walks.