Stanford University
Showing 1-10 of 157 Results
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Seraphine Kamayirese
Postdoctoral Scholar, Bioengineering
BioI am a protein and peptide biochemist with a focus on biophysical characterization, structural activity relationship (SAR)study, and design and optimization of peptides targeting disease-relevant proteins. My Ph.D. research focused on designing and optimizing ligands that target the 14-3-3ε protein to disrupt its interaction with the cell cycle regulator CDC25A, an interaction known to suppress apoptosis in squamous cell carcinoma. Inhibiting this pathway is expected to promote apoptosis in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. At Stanford University, I am expanding my research to study antimicrobial peptidoids and peptides such as LL-37 and their interactions with amyloid beta peptides, and the potential application of the resulting complexes as antiviral therapeutics. I bring strong experience in rational peptide design, structural activity relationship studies, molecular dynamics simulations, peptides and peptoids synthesis and purification, protein expression, and biophysical assays. My research has led to multiple peer-reviewed publications, presentations at national and international conferences, and awards, including the Young Investigator Poster Award at the American Peptide Symposium.
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Vanessa W.Y. Kan
Postdoctoral Scholar, Neurosurgery
BioI am a second-year postdoctoral researcher in Irene Llorente’s laboratory at the Department of Neurosurgery. I completed my Ph.D. at the Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences GSN-LMU in Munich, Germany, where I was trained as a circuit neuroscientist. During my doctoral work, I focused on dissecting the circuit mechanisms underlying cortical hyperexcitability in ALS, uncovering the pathophysiological role of hyper-responsive layer 2⁄3 neurons (one of the main inputs to layer 5) in the disease course. Currently, my research bridges circuit neuroscience, stem cell biology, and bioinformatics to explore mechanisms of neural repair and regeneration. I utilize advanced experimental and computational tools, including in vivo calcium imaging in awake, freely behaving rodents; machine learning-based motion sequencing (MoSeq); anterograde and retrograde viral tracing techniques; and transplantation of iPSC-derived glial-enriched progenitors and cortical interneurons. In parallel, I apply spatial transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing to map cell-type–specific interactions and molecular signatures during neural circuit remodeling.
My research focuses on understanding the circuit mechanisms underlying neurological conditions such as stroke and identifying how cell-based therapies mediate repair. The ultimate goal of my work is to uncover molecular and cellular processes that promote graft–host integration and functional recovery, paving the way for next-generation regenerative therapies for the injured brain.
In addition to translational research, I am also passionate about scientific education and outreach. I mentor community college students twice a year through the Stanford Science Small Group, in which I share my own experience in research and guide them through the research process. To expand my outreach efforts, in the past summer, I collaborated with Invent Your Own Future as well as The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and organized a summer camp on Neuroscience x AI research for over 20 high school students in Hong Kong. -
Vishnu Priya Kanakaveti
Postdoctoral Scholar, Oncology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am interested in elucidating molecular mechanisms of MYC-driven drug resistance and immune evasion in cancer using computational and experimental models.
