LAB MEMBERS

Lab Members

Alan D. D’Andrea, M.D.
Director: Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers
Director: Center for DNA Damage and Repair
The Fuller-American Cancer Society Professor
Harvard Medical School
Department of Radiation Oncology
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Alexandra Feinstein
Program Manager
Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers
Assistant to Dr. Alan D'Andrea

Sirisha Mukkavalli, Ph.D.
Lab Manager

Research Interns

Cecillia Ayala-Zambrano, M. Sc.
Research Focus: I study fork stability after stress induction (focusing on Fanconi Anemia deficient cells).
Fun Fact/Hobby: I don't eat blue M&M's or any other blue food.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Divya Iyer, Ph.D.

Research Focus: I am exploring how DNA repair regulation impacts the therapeutic responses to PARP inhibitors and platinum-based drugs. My work is supported by post-doctoral fellowship award from the Foundation of Women’s Cancer funded by TESARO
Fun Fact/Hobby: I love Hiking, cooking, word games, watching standup comedy shows. I am also a Potterhead.

Ramya Ravindranathan, Ph.D.

Research Focus: My goal has been to understand how DNA damage response pathway is regulated and how it can be exploited to develop effective targeted therapeutic measures. Specifically, my work focusses on development of novel biomarkers of DDR inhibitor response and to understand their mechanism of action.
Fun Fact/Hobby: Outside lab, I enjoy dancing and teaching dance.

Shuhei Asada, M.D., Ph.D.

Research Focus: I would like to develop novel therapeutic strategies for cancer and Fanconi anemia by targeting DNA repair pathways
Fun Fact/Hobby: I enjoy watching baseball games.

Martha Velazquez Avila, Ph.D.

Research Focus: My research is focused on two main aspects: 1) understanding DNA damage response in Fanconi Anemia (FA) cells and 2) exploring new therapies for FA patients that can improve bone marrow failure
Fun Fact/Hobby: I love salsa dancing

Alexandre André B. A. da Costa, M.D.,Ph.D.

Naoya Harada, Ph.D.
Research Focus: DNA repair pathways involved in drug resistance.

Fun Fact/Hobby: I like to watch baseball games.

Amira Elbakry, Ph.D.

Research Focus: I am interested in understanding how HR factors influence drug response in ovarian cancer cells in order to identify biomarkers tailored to maximize benefit of specific cancer treatments.
Fun Fact/Hobby: On a quest to find the best pizza place in Boston.

Jithma Prasad Abeykoon, M.D.
Research Focus: I am a visiting scholar and a hematologist from Mayo Clinic, MN, and involved in research focusing on DNA damage repair mechanisms in hematologic malignancies

Fun Fact/Hobby: Love to play Cricket. If anyone plays here, let me know.

Clinical Fellows

Jeffrey Patterson-Fortin, M.D.,Ph.D.

Research Focus: I study microhomology-mediated end-joining DSB repair, with particular emphasis on polymerase theta, and pancreatic cancer.
Fun Fact/Hobby: Outside of lab, I enjoy being active in the outdoors.

Instructors

Feng Li, PhD.

Research Focus: My research is mainly focused on understanding of the mechanisms of genome instability during cancer development and aging. I am particularly interested in DNA damage repair, DNA replication, cell cycle regulation and telomere biology.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I enjoy photography.

Staff Scientists

Arindam Bose, Ph.D.
Scientist II , Center for DNA Damage and Repair

Research Focus: With my expertise in patient derived organoid models, I implement organoid technology for testing and development of new therapeutic approaches in a pre-clinical setting. My research interest lies in evaluating how fresh tissues from tumor biopsy and debulking surgery respond to novel functional assays in ex vivo environment aiming to identify and distinguish responders and non-responders. I am also actively involved in early-stage drug development in collaboration with various bio/pharmaceutical companies and intensely participate in multiple ongoing clinical trials. Fun Fact/Hobby: If I had to choose it would be a tie between Billiards, Baking and Bass Guitar.

Bose Kochupurakkal, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist, Center for DNA Damage and Repair

Jean-Bernard Lazaro, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist, Center for DNA Damage and Repair

Huy Nguyen, A.L.M., M.S.
Computational Biologist, Center for DNA Damage and Repair
Research Focus: I perform various bioinformatics and computational analyses for scientists in D’Andrea laboratory and Center for DNA Damage and Repair.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I enjoy playing tennis with my colleagues and family.

Kalindi Parmar, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist, Center for DNA Damage and Repair

Lisa Moreau, M.S.
Senior Research Scientist and Director of Cytogenetics

Technicians

 Hanrong Feng

Tin Phan B.S.

Research Focus: I manage and catalog mouse colony at various sites. I also assist postdocs to carry out in vivo experiments.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I like watching TV.

Lige (Regal) Jiang B.S. (Lab Safety Officer)

Research Focus: I perform invitro experiments and assist postdocs on various aspects of Fanconi Anemia Research. I also play a key role in maintaining daily laboratory operations.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I like keeping busy.

Golbahar Sadatrezaei , M.S.
Center for DNA Damage and Repair

Research Focus: I use patient derived organoids as a model to study DNA damage and repair mechanisms.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I like to go on spontaneous adventures.

Yuqing Jiao, M.S
Center for DNA Damage and Repair

Research Focus: I help understand mechanisms of DNA damage repair processes and how they lead to genomic instability and drug resistance.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I enjoy traveling and swimming.

David Martignetti B.S

Research Focus: Translational DNA damage repair drug research. CDDR supplies and logistics.
Fun Fact/Hobby: Old Cars and Skiing

The Comprehensive Center for Fanconi Anemia

Jenni Krnavek B.S.
Cytogenetic Tech II

Research Focus: I perform Fanconi Anemia breakage testing in the clinical lab.
Fun Fact/Hobby: I have performed in Carnegie Hall and spent several years volunteering to take care of the Longhorn cattle at Johnson Space Center.

Dana Conceicao B.S
Cytogenetics Technician
Research Focus: I carry out clinical chromosomal breakage testing on peripheral blood and fibroblast specimens for the diagnosis of Fanconi Anemia.
Fun Fact/Hobby: Because I missed playing and reading music as a kid, I decided to learn how to play the ukulele. This little instrument is fun, easy, and brightens up any spare time I have.

Lucas O'Donnell
Cytogenetics Technician