Cardiovascular Imaging T32
Current Fellows
Fatemeh Ostadhossein, PhD
10/1/2019 – 3/31/2022
Project: Smart Nanoprobes for the Detection of Hypoxic Regions in Ischemia, Teratoma Formation, and Stem Cell Apoptosis
Mentor: Joseph Wu, MD, PhD
My long-term goal in research is to achieve comprehensive solutions to biomedical challenges via fundamentally engineering biomaterials/ nanomaterials demonstrating the enormous potential for mimicking in vivo conditions. My current research interest is geared towards harnessing the power of these materials on the nano and macroscale for cancer immunotherapy.
Rahel Woldeyes, PhD
9/1/2019 – 2/28/2022
Project: Visualizing the Structures and Subcellular Organization of Macromolecules Inside Cardiomyocytes Using Cryo-Electron Tomography
Mentor: Wah Chiu, PhD
Using cutting-edge advances in cryo-electron tomography, I will establish a new platform for studying cardiomyopathy integrating the spatial scales from the near atomic to cellular level. By connecting structural and cardio biology, my project aims to accelerate our understanding of mechanisms leading to cardiovascular disease.
Domenico Mastrodicasa, MD
7/1/2020 – 6/30/2022
Project: High-Temporal and Spatial Resolution 4D-CT Angiography in Patients with Aortic Dissection
Mentors: Dominik Fleischmann, MD; Koen Nieman, MD, PhD
The goal of this project is to develop a new 4D-CT angiography protocol that will allow for the assessment of the detailed morphology of aortic dissection combined with functional information. The combination of morphology and function is fundamental to understand the development of false lumen aneurysm formation, to develop individualized risk prediction models, and to conceive new treatment strategies in patients with aortic dissection.
Ebrahim Mostafavi, PhD
2/1/2021 – 1/31/2023
Project: Development of in vitro clinical trials in a dish (Organoids, bioengineered heart tissues, vascular grafts) for cardiovascular disease modeling and drug screening
Mentor: Joseph C. Wu, MD, PhD
The goal of this project is to integrate advanced biomaterials, biology, nanotechnology, and cardiovascular imaging techniques to engineer 3D in vitro cardiac tissues models that can overcome some of the key limitations impeding heart regeneration/repair after myocardial infarction (MI). My long-term goal in research is to design and develop various in a dish 3D models (i.e., cardiovascular organoids, 3D bioprinted constructs, vascular grafts) for cardiovascular disease modeling and drug screening, as well as CRISPR/Cas gene-editing for cardiovascular diseases
Past Fellows
Gennifer Smith, PhD
9/1/2019 – 8/30/2020
Project: Risk Stratification of Atherosclerotic Plaques Through DNA Methylation Profiling
Mentors: Shan Wang, PhD, and Sarah Heilshorn, PhD
Currently an Assistant Professor at the University of San Francisco
Sangkyun Cho, PhD
4/1/2019 – 3/31/2021
Project: Reversal of Myofibroblast Differentiation and Cardiac Fibrosis by Cooperative Chemo-mechanical Signaling
Mentors: Francois Haddad, MD, and Joseph Wu, MD, PhD
Recipient of NIH F32 grant. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.
David T. Paik, PhD
11/1/2016 - 10/31/2017
Project: To determine the effects of low-dose radiation on cellular responses in patients undergoing cardiac CTA; and determine novel gene expression signatures for radiosensitivity in response to low dose radiation.
Recipient of K99/R00 grant. Currently an Instructor at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute.
Nicole De Jesus, PhD
1/1/2016 - 12/31/2017
Project: Tools for mending broken hearts: non-invasive imaging assessing stemcell based therapy for treatment post myocardial infarction and heart failure
Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Radiology, at Stanford
Mirwais Wardak, PhD
8/3/2015 - 8/2/2017
Project: Methods to Enhance the Value of Positron Emission Tomography for Cardiac Disease Detection and Therapy Monitoring
Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Radiology, at Stanford
Edward Lau, PhD
2/1/2017 - 6/30/2017
Project: Leveraging mass spectrometry-based imaging modalities to visualize the localization and expression of cell-surface protein markers on iPSC-CM in the context of in vitro iPSC-CM maturation.
Recipient of a K99 grant. Currently a faculty member at Univ of Colorado School of Medicine.
Ian Ying-Li Chen, MD, PhD
7/1/2014 - 12/31/2016
Project: A Novel Split Reporter Strategy for Interrogating the Regulation of SNAP29 Homodimerization in Starvation-Induced Autophagy
Recipient of Stanford Women & Sex Differences Center Seed Grant and Stanford Translational Research and Applied Medicine Grant. Currently an Instructor at the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford
Sandra DePorter, PhD
9/22/2014 - 8/31/2016
Project: Engineered Multispecific Proteins to Target Angiogenesis and Inflammation for Diagnosis and Treatment of Vascular Diseases
Currently an Investigator II at the Genomics Institute of the Novartis Foundation
Hossein Bahrami, MD, PhD
7/1/2013 - 8/31/2015
Project: Inflammatory Markers Associated with Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease in HIV Infected Patients
Recipient of NIH K23 grant. Currently an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School. Currently an Assistant Professor of Medicine at USC
Nicholas Mordwinkin, PhD
7/1/2013 - 6/30/2014
Project: Modeling diabetic cardiomyopathy mechanism using human pluripotent stem cells
Currently a Director of Corporate Strategy at Ultragenyx Pharmaceutic al, Inc.
Mai T. Lam, PhD
7/1/2011 - 6/30/2013
Project: Optimizing Cardiac Stem Cell Therapy Using Bioengineering Approaches and Molecular Imaging
Currently an Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering, at Wayne State University
Raiyan T. Zaman, PhD
10/1/2011 - 9/30/2013
Project: Catheter-based optical imaging system to detect 18F-FDG in atherosclerotic plaque
Recipient of AHA Fellowship and NIH K99. Currently an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School
Paul Jaegu Kim, PhD
7/1/2011 - 6/30/2013
Project: In-Vivo Manganese-Enhanced MRI of Embryonic Stem Cell Viability in Murine Myocardial Injury
Recipient of Cardiology Fellowship, Stanford Translational Research and Applied Medicine Pilot Grant, Heart Failure Society of America Clinical Research Fellowship Award, Mentored KL2 Award. Currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego Health, David Geffen School of Medicine
Catherine N. Dao, MD
7/13/2009 - 7/12/2011
Project: 3D Echo and Cardiac CT evaluation of the aortic valve/root in patients undergoing surgical and percutaneous aortic valve replacement
Currently a Physician (Cardiologist) in the Washington Hospital Healthcare System, Fremont, CA
Hadas Shiran, MD
7/1/2011 - 6/30/2013
Project: Non-invasive assessment of the aortic wall in patients with Marfan syndrome to optimize timing of intervention
Recipient of Marfan Foundation grant. Currently a Cardiologist / Stanford Affiliate; Internal Medicine (Cardiovascul ar Disease) physician at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose
Hochong H. Wu, PhD
10/1/2009 - 9/30/2011
Project: Accelerated MRI acquisition techniques to provide 3D whole-heart cardiac and coronary imaging
Currently an Assistant Professor, Radiological Sciences, at UCLA
Natesh Parashurama, MD, PhD
7/1/2009 - 6/30/2011
Project: Quantitative multimodality molecular imaging of spatiotemporally regulated cardiac stem cell function
Currently an Assistant Professor, Chemical and Biological Engineering and Medicine, at the University at Buffalo, Schools of Engineering and Medicine
Ryan Spilker, PhD
7/1/2009 - 5/20/2011
Project: Predicting outcomes of extracranial-to-intracranial bypass in Moyamoya with MRI and patient-specific hemodynamic models
Currently working for Siemens Healthineers, Greater Boston Area