Arun Iyer, Ph.D.
Director: U-BiND Systems Laboratory
Dr. Arun Iyer directs the Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory
Dr. Iyer is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA; and an Affiliate Scientific Member of The Molecular Imaging Program (MIP) at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI), Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his PhD in 2008 in Polymer Chemistry/Advanced Drug Delivery Systems under the mentorship of Prof. Hiroshi Maeda (2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Nominee) from the Graduate School of Engineering at Sojo University, Japan. He undertook Postdoctoral Fellowship in Drug/Gene Delivery at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University, Boston, and in Cancer Radiology and Molecular Imaging at the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Iyer received the DoD CDMRP Early Career Investigator Award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), an Exploratory Research Grant Award from the NCI/NIH and the prestigious CRS T. Nagai Research Achievement Award from the Controlled Release Society (CRS) for his outstanding contribution to Controlled Release Science and Technology. Iyer's Lab is broadly focused on designing use-inspired nano-medical technologies aimed towards clinical translation using bio-compatible delivery systems that have enhanced disease targeting with reduced toxicity burden to patients. The long-term focus is to evolve an independent and robust research program in the area of drug/gene delivery systems and nanomedicine with an emphasis on targeted disease diagnosis, imaging and therapy.
Dr. Iyer is an Associate Professor with Tenure in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (EACPHS), Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA; and an Affiliate Scientific Member of The Molecular Imaging Program (MIP) at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute (KCI), Wayne State University School of Medicine. He completed his PhD in 2008 in Polymer Chemistry/Advanced Drug Delivery Systems under the mentorship of Prof. Hiroshi Maeda (2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry Nominee) from the Graduate School of Engineering at Sojo University, Japan. He undertook Postdoctoral Fellowship in Drug/Gene Delivery at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Northeastern University, Boston, and in Cancer Radiology and Molecular Imaging at the Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). Dr. Iyer received the DoD CDMRP Early Career Investigator Award from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), an Exploratory Research Grant Award from the NCI/NIH and the prestigious CRS T. Nagai Research Achievement Award from the Controlled Release Society (CRS) for his outstanding contribution to Controlled Release Science and Technology. Iyer's Lab is broadly focused on designing use-inspired nano-medical technologies aimed towards clinical translation using bio-compatible delivery systems that have enhanced disease targeting with reduced toxicity burden to patients. The long-term focus is to evolve an independent and robust research program in the area of drug/gene delivery systems and nanomedicine with an emphasis on targeted disease diagnosis, imaging and therapy.
Current Members
Somrita Dey (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Dr. Somrita Dey is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She has completed his Ph.D. from University of Calcutta, India in 2018 and her work was on the development of combinational therapy using antibiotics, antioxidants, inhibitors against MRSA in murine peritoneal macrophages focusing on protection of host cell against inflammatory damage. She worked as a Post-Doctoral Fellow in Dr. Andrew Berti’s Lab in EACPHS focusing on CRISPER-Cas9 for genome editing in MRSA. She has published several research papers in peer reviewed journals.
Amirreza Samarbakhsh (Research Assistant)
Amirreza Samarbakhsh is from Sari, Iran. He received B.S. in Biochemistry from The College of Saint Rose, Albany, NY in 2017. He received M.S. in Chemistry (Organic Chemistry) from Wayne State University in 2020. His work during his Master's degree focused heavily on the field of carbohydrate chemistry. Upon graduating from Wayne State University, he is working as Research Assistant in both U-BiND Lab and Gavande Discovery Lab as a joint member.
Jeremy M. Kelm (PhD Student)
Jeremy Kelm is a PhD student in the Gavande Discovery Lab at Wayne State University with research interests within cancer biology and medicinal chemistry. He is being currently co-mentored in U-BiND Lab and Gavande Discovery Lab. He seeks to advance our understanding of KRAS-mutant driven cancer phenotypes and the pertinent crosstalk and resistance pathways that emerge upon drugging KRAS or other targets within the MAPK/PI3K pathways. Specific aims of his work include the discovery of novel KRAS inhibitors and biological targets within the sphere of proliferation and survival pathways. Prior to beginning his PhD studies, Jeremy completed his Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) at Wayne State University in 2016. As a clinician, he gained experience within specialties including oncology, ICU, specialty pharmacy, and community pharmacy. Secondarily to his research, Jeremy holds an adjunct faculty position at Delta College where he teaches pharmacology courses for students of the health professions.
Ayatakshi Barari (MS)
Ayatakshi Barari is a Master's student in U-BiND Lab, Pharmaceutical Sciences program at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from West Bengal University of Technology, Kolkata, India, in 2019. During this time, she interned at Gluconate Health Pvt. Ltd. where she learned about the various manufacturing and quality control processes of different dosage forms. Her goal is to gain expertise on developing targeted nanoparticle drug delivery systems.
Salma Altobaiti (M.S. Student)
Salma Althobaiti is a Master's student in U-BiND Lab, Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from the College of Pharmacy at Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia in 2016. She is a Teaching Assistant, Taif University, Saudi Arabia. She has experience in teaching several courses, such as Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Medicinal Chemistry, and Clinical Microbiology.
Disha Iyengar
Disha Iyengar is a rising sophomore at Northville High School, Michigan, USA. She joined the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA during the summer of 2019. She is mainly interested in biology and chemistry, and is looking to pursue a career in the medical field in the future.
Duy Luong (Research Tech.)
Duy Luong is currently a research tech in Iyer lab. He completed his MS Degree in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He received his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2012. He worked on developing Multifunctional Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Coated Dendrimers for Cancer Imaging and Therapy. He was the recipient of the Graduate School Retention Scholarship from Wayne State University during his Master's degree. He has several publication in various national and international journals to his credit.
Samaresh Sau, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor - Research)
Dr. Samaresh Sau is currently an Assistant Professor - Research in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was a Senior Research Scientist in Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University. He completed his Ph. D from CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, India. Dr. Sau then joined as Post-Doctoral Fellow with Prof. Philip S. Low, Purdue University, Indiana, USA. At Purdue, Dr. Sau worked in collaboration with Prof. Low founded biomedical company, Endocyte. Inc, which was acquired by Novartis with $2.1 billion. While at Purdue, his project was directly funded from Endocyte. Inc in developing of sustained drug delivery formulations for autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis. He has multi-disciplinary experience of disease specific target evaluation; target specific drug design; developing liposomes, polymer and nanoparticle drug delivery systems; and evaluating their efficacy in animal models. He is the author of >40 publications in high impact international journals and a lead inventor of 2-U.S patents. He is a topic associate editor of Frontiers in Pharmacology. Dr. Sau have conceptualized and jointly written several grants with Dr. Arun Iyer. He is a recipient of prestigious Burroughs Wellcome Fund (BWF) Collaborative Research grant and he is a Co-Investigator of U.S Department of Defense (DOD), and Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) grant. Currently, he is working on immunotherapy, antibody drug conjugates, small molecule drug conjugate, and nanoparticle drug delivery system for Alzheimer's disease, cancer and antibiotic-resistant superbugs with the highest goal of translating the technology in clinic.
Past Members
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Mohd Ahmar Rauf, Ph.D. (Post-Doctoral Fellow)
Dr. Mohd Ahmar Rauf was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He has completed his Ph.D. from Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh in 2017 and his work was on the development of Nanoformulations against skin cancer and MRSA based skin infections. After completing his Ph.D., he won Henan-Macquaire Fellowship and worked in China for an year. He has published 26 articles and 2 book chapters. He worked on the development of nanoformulations to achieve Blood Brain Barrier in U-BiND Lab.
Sushil K. Kashaw, Ph.D. (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Dr. Sushil K. Kashaw was a member of the Use‐Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U‐BiND) Systems Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He joined under the mentorship of Dr. Arun K. Iyer as a Raman Postdoctoral Fellow funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India. He is currently an Assistant Professor (Stage-III) in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour University, (A Central University; ‘A’ Grade by UGC-NAAC), Sagar (M.P.), India. His area of research is drug design, medicinal chemistry and nanogels as drug delivery systems. He has thirteen years of academic and research experience. He has completed three research projects and directs two research projects that are ongoing that are sponsored by the M.P. state government and the Indian Government. Currently, he is guiding four PhD scholars, and 34 M.Pharm students have completed their research thesis under his guidance. He has published 58 research articles in high impact peer reviewed international journals and Edited a book entitled “Textbook of Organic Named Reactions” (CBS Publishers, New Delhi). He is a peer reviewer of several national and international journals. He has presented his research work in many national and international conferences and symposiums. His current areas of research focus is design and synthesis of anti-cancer, anti-malarial, anti-tubercular and anti-convulsant agents. He was awarded the Young Investigator Award from the Association of Pharmacy Professionals, India.
PhD Students
Ketki Sanjay Bhise, (Ph.D. Student)
Ketki Sanjay Bhise was a PhD student in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She has completed her Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology from Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai, India in the year 2016. Her Master's thesis was on the Quality by Design (QbD)-based approach in development and evaluation of nanostructured lipid carriers for the co-delivery of two potent anticancer agents derived from natural sources. Her Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology Engineering was from Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India, wherein she had worked on the extraction, quantification and purification of Safranal obtained from different plant sources.
Rami Alzhrani, (Ph.D. Student)
Rami Alzhrani was a PhD student in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He also works as a faculty member at College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Saudi Arabia. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from the College of Pharmacy at King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2011 and his Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA in 2016. He is now an Assistant Professor, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Ghazal Nabil, (Ph.D. Student)
Ghazal Nabil was an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology, School of Veterinary medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. She joined the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA as a part of her joint mission to learn the from the expertise of U-BiND Systems Laboratory in the application of the Nanomedicine in the field of Oncology. She got her Bachelor's degree in 2010 and Master degree in Pharmacology in 2013 from School of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. She is now a Faulty member of Cairo University, Egypt.
Hashem Alsaab, PharmD, (Ph.D. Student)
Hashem Alsaab was a PhD student in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He also works as a faculty member at College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Saudi Arabia. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree (Pharm.D.) from the College of Pharmacy at King Abdul Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2010 and his Master of Science degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences with Industrial Pharmacy option from College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA in 2015. His Master's degree thesis work was with Dr. Sai H.S. Boddu where he worked on synthesis and characterization of PLO gel system for transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents. He is now the Head of Pharmaceutics Department and Assistant Professor, Taif University, Saudi Arabia.
Masters Students
Deepti Pandey (M.S. Student)
Deepti Pandey was a Master's student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Gavande Discovery Lab in EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She has completed her Bachelor's degree from G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Uttrakhand, India in 2008. She completed her Diploma Certificate in Pharmacovigilance from Apollo Hospital educational & Research Foundation, Hyderabad, India in 2015. She also has various certification courses in Data Science, Design and Interpretation of clinical trails for Drug Development from Johns Hopkins University, USA. She has more than 7 years of field experience (Veterinary Medicine) in India as well as in the USA. She joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in September 2019 and is being currently co-mentored in U-BiND Lab and Gavande Discovery Lab. Her goal is to learn more about the technology (Designing Nanoparticles) associated with Drug delivery and Drug development in a systematic and comprehensive manner.
Kushal Vanamala (M.S.)
Kushal Vanamala was a Master's student in U-BiND Lab, Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Osmania University, Hyderabad, in 2018. He is motivated towards working on developing nanoparticle drug delivery systems for infectious diseases such as MRSA. He graduated in 2020.
Kaustubh Gawde, (M.S.)
Kaustubh Gawde was a Master's student in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He completed his Bachelors of Pharmacy from the University of Mumbai, Mumbai, India. In 2013-2014, he pursued a fellowship funded by SEPPIC India, at Vivekanand Education Society's College of Pharmacy in Formulation and Testing of Solid Dosage Forms under the Guidance of Dr. Ganga Srinivasan. The project was based on formulation of tablets, their drug release profile, hardness, disintegration and dissolution studies. He has several publication in various national and international journals to his credit. He is now a Formulation Scientist, KVK Tech, Inc, Newtown, PA.
Zhaoxian Wang, (M.S.)
Zhaoxian Wang was a Masters Degree student in U-BiND Lab, Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He received his Bachelor of Pharmaceutics degree from the China Pharmaceutical University, China. He worked on working on developing targeting formulation to treat pancreatic cancer; and Combination of Doxorubicin with redox-active cerium oxide nanoparticles to treat lung cancer. He has several publication in various national and international journals to his credit. He is now a PhD Student, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS.
Duy Luong, (M.S.)
Shaimaa Yousef, M.S.
Shaimaa Yousef was a Master's student in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt in 2010. Before joining the Master’s program at WSU, she was a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy Department at Cairo University. She was awarded the Graduate Professional Scholarship and the 2016 Frank O'Taylor Fellowship for her outstanding performance in the Graduate Program at Wayne State University. Her area of research is focused on developing new polymers and nanomaterials for drug and gene delivery that are based on ‘click’ chemistry approach. She is now a Lecturer, Cairo University, Egypt.
Rotating Masters Students
Ruchi Jaiswal (MS Lab Rotation)
Ruchi Jaiswal is a Master's Student in Pharmaceutical Science department at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. She received her Master's degree in Herbal Drug Technology from The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara (Gujarat, India) and Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from Gujarat University, India. Her Master's thesis was focused on - Development and Standardization Polyherbal Formulation in Management of Dyslipidemia. She also has nearly 2.5 years of experience as Quality Control/Assurance Chemist at Comed Chemicals Ltd., a pharmaceutical company located in Gujarat, India. She also has 1.1 year of experience of working as a Pharmacy Technician at CVS Retail Pharmacy in Northville, Michigan. She joined U-Bind Systems Laboratory as a Rotation Student in October 2019 and plans on learning the techniques carried out in lab during her rotation.
Tasnim Choudhury (MS Rotation Student)
Tasnim Choudhury is a Master's student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA in 2018. During her undergraduate years, she worked as an undergraduate lab assistant at the RTSF Genomics Core at Michigan State University. After graduation, she began working at Healthmark Industries Co., a healthcare products company in Fraser, Michigan, as a manufacturing chemist and has continued to work there alongside pursuing her graduate degree. She joined Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in November 2019.
Zheyun Peng (M.S. Lab rotation)
Zheyun Peng was a Master student, majoring in pharmaceutical science, at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA, graduated from Wuhan Institute of Technology in China. Zheyun joined Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory as a rotation student to basic experimental training and laboratory practices.
Yihan Wang (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Yihan Wang was a Master's student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Bachelor's degree in Pharmaceutics from Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, China and Master degree in Pharmaceutical Engineering from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China. She has published 4 research articles in international journals, 8 research articles in national journals and has 4 national patents. She joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in September 2016.
Anjali Patel (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Anjali Patel was a Master's student in Pharmaceutical Science department at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Master’s degree in Pharmaceutics and Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Gujarat Technological University, Gujarat, India. Her Master's Degree was focused on development of transdermal drug delivery system (transdermal patches) for celecoxib. She also worked as a Trainee Laboratory Technician at Animal Vaccine Institute - Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar and as a Junior Officer in Quality Control Department, Shrine Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd. in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. he joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in September 2016.
Lakshmi Neha Reddy (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Lakshmi Neha Reddy Alla was a Master’s student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She completed her intermediate education at Sri Chaitanya Junior College and Bachelor of Pharmacy Degree from Gokaraju Rangaraju College of Pharmacy in Hyderabad, India. She joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in September 2015.
Dhanashri Pawale (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Dhanashri Pawale was a Master's student in Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy from Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Pharmacy, Kondhwa, University of Pune, India in 2013. She has the credit for some interesting publications in international journals. She joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in September 2015.
Srinivas Ashok Kumar (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Srinivas Ashok Kumar was a Master's student in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy from MAHEER's Maharashtra Institute of Pharmacy affiliated with the University of Pune, India. He has published his work in some prestigious international journals. He joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in September 2015.
Siyu Ou (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Siyu Ou was a Master's student specializing in Medicinal Chemistry at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He received his Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China in 2013. His work is based on developing hybrid drugs targeting Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC). He joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in 2014.
Nivedita Singh (M.S. Lab Rotation)
Nivedita Singh was a Master’s student specializing in Pharmacology. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Master’s degree in Quality Assurance with focus in Pharmaceutics in India from C.U.Shah College of Pharmacy, Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, Mumbai, India in 2006. Her project for the Master's thesis was focused on 'Development of Topical Drug delivery systems for Tacrolimus'. She worked at Unichem Laboratories Ltd., in the pharmaceutical technology development department as a Research Assistant working on development of generic formulations for international markets and controlled release products for domestic market. She joined U-BiND Systems Laboratory as a rotation student in 2014.
Bachelor Students, Research/Visiting Scholars
Shivani Naik (B.S.)
Shivani Naik is a senior year student in Bachelor’s of Pharmacy at Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. She is a visiting scholar at Dr. Iyer’s lab, Use-inspired Biomaterials and integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) System, Wayne State University who will use her time at the lab to complete her undergraduate thesis. Her work is on new methodologies and techniques associated with research in the field of nanomedicine and drug delivery technology for cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Rishab Miglani (PharmD Student, Research Scholars Program)
Rishab Miglani is a Pharm.D. student at the College Of Pharmacy, at Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He joined the Iyer lab as part of the research Scholars track within the Pharm D program. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry with distinction in 2017 from the University of Windsor. From this program, he wishes to learn more about the mechanism of action of immune checkpoints in cancer therapy. Overall from this program, he hoped to gain valuable research skills so that he can apply those within the field of clinical pharmacy.
Alex Petrovici (PharmD Student, Research Scholars Program)
Alex Petrovici was a Pharm.D. student in the pharmacy program at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He joined the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory as part of the research scholars’ track in the PharmD program. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry in 2015 from Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA. During his time at Oakland University, he worked in a research lab with Dr. Michael Sevilla and Dr. Amitava Adhikary on projects focused mainly on radiation chemistry and Cerium Nanoparticles.
BCAP Students
Shreya Pawar
Shreya Pawar is a senior at Troy High School and a student researcher at Wayne State University. She has researched the details of biology of cancer and potential treatments under a lab at the University of Michigan as well as the prospects of nanoparticle therapy in Alzheimer’s Disease and glioma at Wayne State University. She volunteers as a Science Olympiad coach at her former middle school. She serves as President of her school’s Entrepreneurship Club and has won awards in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) and Model United Nations. She is also involved in her school’s National Honors Society chapter.
Eva McCord
Eva McCord is a senior at Grosse Pointe South High School and has been a student researcher at Wayne State University since the summer of 2020. Before being honored with a stipend by WSU’s Biomedical Career Advancement Program, she received a scholarship from The Joyce Ivy Foundation to study neuroscience at Harvard College’s Secondary School Program in 2019. She helped to found her school’s Science Olympiad team, on which she serves as president, and is a 2020 National Top 25 Epidemiology Finalist.
Tejaswi Koneru
Tejaswi Koneru is a senior at Walled Lake Central High School. She has conducted research on the genes involved in opioid addiction through miRcore at the University of Michigan and has also researched on the Transferrin receptor and its use in targeted therapy at Wayne State University. She organizes many community service events as the President of her school’s National Honors Society, tutors students in different subjects, and volunteers at Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills.
Fardeen Nur
Fardeen Nur was a rising senior attending Cass Technical High School. He is currently involved in a internship program called the Biomedical Career Advancement Program, a medical program associated with Wayne State University and DMC. The program has allowed him to shadow other researchers as well as getting involved with their research. Fardeen's future goals are to become a pharmacist or a medical doctor.
Mahmood Marjan
Mahmood Marjan was a rising junior attending Cass Technical High School. He is currently participating in a summer internship program known as the Biomedical Career Advancement Program. This program is linked to the Detroit Medical Center (DMC) and Wayne State University. This program has been very beneficial to him and has allowed him to gain first-hand experience in the medical field. He is able to work alongside research professionals who have perfected their craft. Among Mahmood's future goals are to become either an entrepreneur. biomedical engineer, or computer science expert.
Madison Bryant-Carter
Madison Bryant-Carter was a rising 11th grade student at Renaissance school, who has accomplished a 3.7 gpa. Through the involvement in BCAP, she is gained hand-on experience and knowledge on the project description of nanoparticle cancer therapy by shadowing in Dr. Iyer’s in the pharmaceutical science department. This valuable experience has helped her learn basic principles that can contributed to her desired profession of being a biomedical engineer.
Chioma Ugochukwu
Chioma Ugochukwu was a senior at Renaissance High school. She is here as a part of Biomedical Career Advancement Program (BCAP) GROUP, a medical internship program with DMC and Wayne State University. In the future, she wishes to join college as a premedical student, in hopes of pursuing a career in neonatology.
Jawane Brown
Jawane Brown is from Detroit, Michigan. He participated in the 2018 Biomedical Career Advancement Program at Wayne State University. In the future, he wishes to begin a medical career being an anesthesiologist or pediatrician.
Christina Gordon
Christina Gordon was an incoming senior at Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School. She joined as a part of the biomedical career advancement program (BCAP) for the summer of 2018. In the future, she likes to attend a university and major in chemistry/premedical and later attend medical school all in hopes of becoming an anesthesiologist.
SURF Students
Anthony Bally
Anthony Bally was an Undergraduate, majoring in Biochemistry at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Anthony completed his first lab experience through the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) in Dr. Iyer's lab, getting essential experimental training and laboratory practices.
Matthew Krinock
Matthew Krinock was a third-year student as a chemistry major enrolled in Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA as a recipient of the Heyl Scholarship. Participating in the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program, he worked as a Research Assistant in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. Matthew aspires to attend medical school after graduation to pursue neurosurgery.
Annie Nelson
Annie Nelson was a Junior at Kalamazoo College, Michigan, USA. She worked in the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA as a part of the SURF program. Her focus is on the development of SPION nanoparticles for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs.
Summer Students
Shriya Reddy
Shriya Reddy is a senior at Northville High School and a student researcher at Wayne State University and Karmanos Cancer Institute since 2017. She has conducted research in the fields of diagnostic imaging for melanoma and drug synergy for pancreatic and prostrate cancer. She volunteers as a Red Cross Screening Team Lead, as the Youth Co-Chair of American Cancer Society’s ResearchHERS campaign, and at local Northville non-profits.
Rohit Bollampally
Rohit Bollampally was a rising senior in high school attending the International Academy East in Troy. He was a volunteer at U-BiND Laboratory learning research techniques. He has a deep passion for research in medicine and for business management. My hobbies range from dancing to working out to playing tennis. His current research consists of developing a drug and nanoparticle based compound.
Srikar Kesamneni
Srikar Kesamneni was an upcoming senior, at Northville High School, Michigan, USA. He currently volunteers at Beaumont Hospital in Farmington Hills and has joined the Use-Inspired Biomaterials & Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA for the summer of 2017 to gain insight on scientific research and exposure to the lab environment. After graduation, he wants to major in biochemistry and is interested in becoming a Medical Scientist or Physician.
Tyler Cazier
Tyler Cazier was a senior, majoring in chemistry, at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Tyler joined the Use-Inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA, as part of his passion for cancer research. Tyler hopes to go to Pharmaceutical School after he graduates in order to continue working with medicine.
Jennifer Wickens
Jennifer Wickens worked in the U-BiND Systems Laboratory, EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA in 2016 as a part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at Lake Superior State University, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, USA.
Raghav Talreja
Raghav Talreja
Raghav Talreja was a second year undergraduate student in the College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA when he came to the U-BiND Systems Laboratory at EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering with both departmental and university honors, while on the pre-medical track. His focus was in the concentration of biomaterials with a strong interest in nanotechnology and tissue engineering. Some of his work has included the design and development of a prosthetic limb. Upon graduation he aspires to study medicine with the application of biomedical engineering.
Sara Pllumbaj
Sara Pllumbaj was in her junior year at Wayne State University finishing up her pre-pharmacy requirements when she joined the U-BiND Systems Laboratory, EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. She worked as a pharmacy technician at CVS for a few years and is currently working as a Pharmacy Technician at Henry Ford Hospital in Macomb. She is interested in pursuing oncology further with pharmaceutical technology expertise gained from U-BiND Systems Laboratory in the future.
Anisa Bici
Anisa Bici is a senior, majoring in Biology at the University of Michigan - Dearborn. She currently also works as a Pharmacy Technician at Henry Ford Health System. She joined the U-BiND Systems Laboratory, EACPHS, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA as part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program in May 2015. She worked on a project entitled "Dendrimers as nanocarriers for drug and gene delivery". She aspires to join the PharmD program at UMich.
Location
259 Mack Avenue
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