“We are an interdisciplinary team of research biologists, medical doctors, engineers, mathematicians, and computer scientists. We collaborate extensively with other biomedical researchers and clinicians within and beyond Washington University on large-scale cancer projects.”
Principal Investigator
Li Ding, Ph.D.
David English Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Genetics, Director of Computational Biology, Oncology Assistant Director, McDonnell Genome Institute Washington University School of Medicine
Li Ding, PhD, is the David English Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Washington University. Dr. Ding's research focuses on integrating cancer proteogenomics (including single cell and spatial omics), patient-derived cancer models, functional genomics, and drug development to advance cancer biology and precision medicine. This work spans many cancer types, including acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, glioblastoma, and multiple myeloma, with key findings including the identification and characterization of pathogenic germline variants and somatic cancer drivers, and discovery of age-related clonal hematopoiesis. Her research team has also developed widely-used computational tools, including VarScan, SciClone, BreakDancer, MSIsensor, Pindel-C, HotSpot3D, and MuSiC and she plays significant roles and co-chairs various groups within The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC), the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), the Patient-Derived Xenografts Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet), Patient Engagement and Cancer Genome Sequencing (PE-CGS), Cellular Senescence Network (SenNet), and Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN). She also serves on the Steering Committees of CPTAC, TCGA, PDXnet, PE-CGS, SenNet, and co-chairs the HTAN Steering Committee. Dr. Ding has been recognized several times among Thomson-Reuters’ surveys of influential researchers, including listing among “The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds”, and was a member of a group honored with the American Association of Cancer Research Team Science Award for contributions to TCGA. Her work continues to be inspired by the ultimate goal of making personalized medicine a reality for cancer patients.
Group photos
Faculty and Staff
Michael Wendl, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Medicine
I completed undergraduate and graduate training at Washington University, after which I joined the nascent Human Genome Project working with Dr. Robert Waterston on signal analysis (basecalling),
bioinformatics algorithms, and operations-research theory applied to genomic sequencing. My interests continue to be in the mathematical and statistical aspects of cancer biology and biophysics.
Matthew Wyczalkowski, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
I was born in Poland, grew up in Pennsylvania, and received my PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Washington University. As a data scientist I develop large scale computational pipelines to support bioinformatics research, and specialize in visualizations of such data to help communicate results. I manage our lab’s support of consortia including CPTAC3, HTAN, and SenNet. Outside of work I am involved in The BALSA Foundation and enjoy photography, cycling, and baking bread.
Song Cao, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine
After obtaining my Ph.D in Physics, I dedicated several years to studying RNA folding. Now, I have shifted my focus to cancer genomics, cancer proteomics, and cancer virology. Throughout my career, I have developed multiple models and pipelines across various spectra of the bioinformatics field. For instance, I created the Vfold model, which accurately predicts RNA’s two and three-dimensional structures. I also designed the VirusScan pipeline, capable of detecting viruses from NGS data. Additionally, I developed the Somaticwrapper and Germlinewrapper pipelines, which identify somatic and germline variants, respectively. Moreover, I designed the MiSplice pipeline, which detects mutation-induced splice sites, and the 10Xmapping pipeline for mapping variants to single-cell RNA-Seq data. In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities such as gardening, fishing, running, and hiking.
R. Jay Mashl, Ph.D., Senior Scientist
My research includes developing computational tools and building pipelines for genetic variant analysis and interpretation in relation to human disease. During these efforts, I have contributed to
several large-scale consortium projects. In my personal pursuits, I enjoy hiking and running.
Reyka Jayasinghe, Ph.D., Instructor in Medicine
I hail from Los Angeles and spent a few years in San Francisco before coming over to the Lou. In Dr. Ding’s group I use bulk and single-cell to understand the transcriptional dynamics that are altered in tumor and immune cells due to treatment and over the course of disease progression. With Dr. DiPersio I use single-cell technologies to optimize clinical and preclinical models of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to treat cancer. I also help run the Opportunities in Genomics Research Program (OGR) with Dr. Jim Skeath that provides research opportunities to underrepresented students in genomics and related fields.
Siqi Chen, M.D. Ph.D., Instructor in Medicine
I grew up and obtained my MD in Chongqing, China. I then completed otolaryngology residency in Beijing and received my PhD in Hong Kong. My research interests include genetic disorders, cancer biology, and translational medicine. Currently, I am exploring cancer heterogeneity using spatial gene expression, single cell sequencing, and pre-clinical cancer models. Outside of work, I enjoy dancing, yoga, photography, and outdoor activities.
Michael Iglesia, M.D. Ph.D., Instructor in Medicine
I grew up in North Carolina and obtained my MD and PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from UNC Chapel Hill. I completed Internal Medicine residency here at WashU/BJH and am currently a clinical fellow in Hematology/Oncology. My primary research interest is using genomics approaches to explore the tumor microenvironment, particularly with regard to the host immune system. I also enjoy hiking, birdwatching, and freshwater fishkeeping.
André Targino, Ph.D., Staff Scientist
I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After becoming a Fulbrighter, I worked for startups from the U.S. and the U.K., among other countries. I am passionate about making the most of my Mathematical skills, Image Processing expertise, and Artificial Intelligence experience, to help startups thrive as a Google for Startups Accelerator Mentor and to collaborate with my fellow lab mates in all things Life. Oh, and I also love to lift, hang out, and eat ice cream!
Preet Lal, Ph.D., Staff Scientist
I hail from Himachal Pradesh in northern India. I obtained my Ph.D. in Biomolecular Sciences from the University of Trento in the Italian Alps. Now, in collaboration with the Chen Lab, I am involved in the deep discovery and clinical interpretation of germline and somatic cancer drivers using in-vitro and in-vivo cancer models. I am a vegetarian, and I like hiking, cooking my favorite foods, and sometimes singing Bollywood songs.
Andrew Houston, Senior Research Technician
I'm from Omaha, Nebraska and have come to Saint Louis to pursue my academic career. I obtained my bachelor's degree in Biology at Saint Louis University. My work is primarily focused on assisting in wet lab experiments. I like to listen to music, play golf, and watch sports.
Yingduo Song, Research Assistant
I was born and raised in Beijing, China. After getting my bachelor's degree in biology, I came to Washu studying in MSBDS program. And now I learn and work on cancer genomics and solve problems using single-cell technology. Also, I love reading and running in my free time.
Faria Anjum Simin, Research Technician II
Born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I moved to the United States in 2021 to pursue graduate studies. I have a bachelor's degree in pharmacy from North South University, Bangladesh, and a master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I am eager to utilize my knowledge of pharmacology and wet lab expertise to identify potential therapeutic targets for cancer and urogenital diseases. In my spare time, I enjoy watching and learning about space exploration programs.
Yuting Zhao, Research Technician II
I grew up in Shenzhen, a southern city in China. I came to the state and obtained my bachelor's degree at The University of the South, with a biochemistry major and music minor. In addition, I obtained my master's degree in biomedical science at the University of Pittsburgh. I hope that I can learn more advanced techniques in the wet lab and meet more diverse people here. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and the piano.
Qingqing Li, Research Assistant
I grew up in Guangzhou, China, where the pace of life was vibrant and the city's culture and cuisine both left a deep mark on my childhood. I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Biostatistics and Data Science, and I am passionate about applying statistical methods to solve biomedical problems, especially in the era of big data. During my leisure time, I enjoy running, hiking, listening to the music and reading.
Fankun Zeng, Research Assistant
I spent my formative years in Hebei before relocating to Jiangsu, from the northern to the southern regions of China. Holding the Master's degree in Computer Science from Washington University, my academic journey has fueled a passion for the diverse applications within the realm of computer science. Beyond my professional pursuits, I enjoy traveling, reading novels, singing, playing video and board games, and watching movies.
Postdocs
Nadezhda Terekhanova, Ph.D., Postdoc
I grew up in Russia, where I obtained my PhD in mathematical biology and bioinformatics. Previously I was involved in projects on adaptation genomics and evolution of local mutation rate. I currently explore single cell sequencing approaches in cancer genomics.
Kazuhito (Kazu) Sato, M.D. Ph.D., Postdoc
I grew up in Tokyo, Japan. I obtained my MD/PhD from the University of Tokyo. I received training in colorectal cancer surgery and molecular biology. Lately, I’ve been interested in computational analyses. I also like Peter Martin’s music, playing catch, and jogging in Forest Park.
Xiang Li, Ph.D., Postdoc
I grew up in Shanghai, China. I then moved to Australia and completed my Undergraduate, Honours and PhD in Medical Biochemistry at the University of Newcastle. My previous research focused on neurology and oncology crosstalk, with the expertise in mass spectrometry-based proteomics, bioinformatics and biostatistics. Here at WashU, I joined the cellular Senescence Network (SenNet) project to develop the cellular senescence atlases for different human organisms using single cell-based multi-omics and imaging techniques. In my leisure time, I enjoy traveling, reading, games and movies.
Kapur Dhami, Ph.D., PostDoc
I belong to Nepal, a south Asian nation known for its natural beauty. I completed my doctoral degree from University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL). In my PhD, I studied the role of protein-immune cell interaction in Alzheimer’s disease. I am interested in translational research that leads to the discovery of potential therapeutic targets for diseases. I am working on different cancer models that can be organoid or PDX or mouse models to uncover the mechanism of disease initiation and progression leading to the identification of promising drug target. I love to spend my spare time with my family watching movies or listening eastern classics or exploring new places.
Atieh Abedin, Ph.D., Postdoc
I hold a BSc and MSc in Human Genetics from Iran, and during my PhD student in Canada, I focused on diabetic wound healing and regenerative medicine. Currently, I aim to enhance my wet lab skills while actively engaging in computational biology. During my leisure time, I find pleasure in embarking on road trips, hiking, and biking.
Yize Li, Ph.D., Postdoc
I grew up in Guangzhou, a southern city in China with warm weather, gorgeous views, and hospitable people. I now learn and work on cancer genomics research and cancer biology. Outside of the lab, I love various kinds of sports, especially basketball, badminton, and swimming. Besides that, I also enjoy hiking and reading.
Bailey Martin-Giacalone, Ph.D., PECGS Postdoc
I grew up in Belleville, IL, home to the second oldest philharmonic orchestra in the country and year-round hometown parades and festivals. During my postdoctoral training, I am studying the interplay of genetic and social determinants of health in the context of cancer health disparities and learning how to sensitively engage historically marginalized communities in genomic research. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, being in the sun, and reading novels.
Fernanda Martins Rodrigues, Ph.D., Postdoc
I grew up in Pelotas, a lovely city in southern Brazil known for its history and delicious desserts. I studied Biotechnology at the University of Pelotas and Bioinformatics at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At WashU, my goal is to use computational tools to better understand cancer genetics. In my spare time I enjoy hanging with friends, exploring the city and trying new bars and restaurants.
Wen-hung Chou, Ph.D., Postdoc
I grew up in Taiwan and obtained my undergraduate degree in physics. During my Ph.D. at UChicago, I studied cytoskeletal structures in cells using quantitative microscopy. In the Ding lab, my postdoc work will focus on cancer biology using multiomics and imaging approaches. Outside of the lab, I enjoy baseball and ballroom dancing.
Graduate Students
Ilya Strunilin, Graduate Student
I grew up in Moscow, Russia before moving to the US to study biology. I got my bachelors in Biology and Biophysics at Duke University. Doing research feeds my curiosity and helps me make sense of the world. I like electronic music, live shows, rock climbing and cooking with friends.
Julia Wang, Graduate Student
I grew up in Cupertino, California, and attended UC Berkeley as a biochemistry major (go Bears!). Upon graduating, I worked for two years as a lab tech in the Genome Engineering and iPSC Center at WashU, then decided to continue my education in St. Louis. My rotation project aims to characterize how the post-translational modification of transcription factors are affected in cancer cells. Outside of lab, I enjoy reading true crime, painting, and spending time with my cat.
Wagma Caravan, Graduate Student
I was born and raised in Queens, NYC, and received my bachelors degree in Chemistry at Adelphi University. In my free time I enjoy traveling, spending time with friends and family, and listening to music.
Simon Mo, Graduate Student
I am a Biomedical Engineering student born and raised in Taipei, Taiwan. I am a biochemist by training but have developed an interest in bioinformatics in recent years. I moved from Durham in North Carolina to St. Louis last year and have been enjoying the wider selection of Asian gourmet food here in St. Louis. Outside of the lab, I enjoy good food, shows, movies, and lifting.
Alla Karpova, Graduate Student
I grew up in Russia, where I obtained my undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology at Moscow State University. After moving to the US, I studied Biomedical Engineering here at WashU, and earned a MS degree with the thesis focusing on regulation of histone and non-histone proteins by acetylation in breast cancer. Now I’m in the middle of my PhD and I shifted my interests towards tumor microenvironment, which I tackle via single cell and spatial transcriptomics technologies. When I’m not in the lab, I love rock climbing, traveling, hanging out with friends, watching good shows and maybe cooking.
Erik Storrs, Graduate Student
I am from St. Louis and received my undergraduate degree from Saint Louis University, where I majored in computer science and geology. I'm especially interested in the application of machine learning - particularly deep learning - in cancer proteogenomics. When I'm not in front of a computer screen you will find me hiking, reading, or drawing.
Austin Southard-Smith, Graduate Student
Although I was raised in Nashville, Tennessee, I attended UNC Chapel Hill in North Carolina where I earned a B.S. in Biochemistry. From there I participated in single cell methods development work at Vanderbilt University before arriving at WashU. Here, I aim to use multi-omic approaches to study tumor heterogeneity. Outside of lab I enjoy being objectively bad at various video games, listening to music, and cycling.
Jingxian “Clara” Liu, Graduate Student
I grew up in Beijing, China and studied biology and computer science at Cornell University. I am interested in learning and applying new multiomics techniques to understand cancer. Outside of lab, I enjoy nature, food, cooking and always excited to try new ice cream flavors.
Yizhe Song, Graduate Student
I grew up in Shandong, a coastal province of East China. I love the ocean, rain, and snow. I also enjoy the sun, breeze, and fallen leaves. These regular things are the spark in my life. Usually, I'm resistant to cold and hot weather. I also like zoning out for a moment when I stay indoors.
Omar Ibrahim, Graduate Student
I am a descendant of the Pharaohs and grew up in the sunny Mediterranean city of Alexandria, where I earned my Pharmacy degree and completed my Oncology Pharmacy training. I am a Fulbright alumnus in Tumor Biology and Immunology from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in New York. Herein, I employ a blend of multiomic computational strategies to discover therapeutic targets, advance drug development, and precision engineer the immune system to combat cancer. When I am not researching, I enjoy listening to pop music while reading about speculative philosophy, lifting weights, or watching soccer games.
Evan Peng, MD, Graduate Student
I am a gastroenterologist from Taiwan. While seeing patients for years, I developed an interest in biomedical research and decided to become a physician-scientist. Now, I am interested in using various sequencing technology to unravel the disease mechanisms and improve personalized medicine. Outside of work and research, I enjoy reading, jogging, listening to podcasts, and finding ways to get my daughter to go to bed.
Ambrose Plante, PhD, Medical Student
I grew up in New York and attended Cornell University with majors in Physics and Chemistry. I received my PhD from Weill Cornell Medical College during which I applied biophysics and machine learning to uncover novel functional mechanisms of molecular machines. I am pursuing my MD at WashU with a focus on the application of artificial intelligence-based solutions to clinical problems. Outside of the lab I enjoy playing guitar, singing, surfing, and rock climbing.
I-Ling Chiang, Resident Physician (Vanderbilt)
I grew up in Fremont, California and studied chemistry/biology at MIT. In the lab, I am helping with the investigation of multiple myeloma with single-cell technology. Outside of work, I enjoy watching movies, exercising, and cooking.
Kelsey Gallant, Graduate Student
I hail from North Carolina and earned a B.S. in Biology from Spelman College. Post-graduation, I spent three years at the National Cancer Institute, developing a high-throughput imaging pipeline to study biomarkers of aging. As an MD-PhD student at WashU, I am interested in elucidating the systemic mechanisms underlying cancer and aging phenotypes, leveraging multi-omic and computational approaches. Through this, I aim to uncover insights that can shape the landscape of precision medicine. Outside academia, I enjoy ballet, contemporary dance, running, and epicurean adventures with friends.
Kyowon Koo, Graduate Student
While I was mostly born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, I have spent a significant amount of time studying in Singapore and the East Coast of the United States before moving to California to complete my bachelors in Biochemistry at USC. Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing video games, sampling local cuisines while traveling abroad with friends & family, and drawing on my iPad.
Winnie Pan, Graduate Student (Master’s Program)
I am from Beijing, China, and completed my bachelor degree in U of M Twin Cities. Then I attended to WashU and developed my interest in bioinformatics. Outside of lab, I enjoy skating, exercising, cooking and playing with my cat.
Jimmy Zhong, Rotation Student
I am from Guangzhou, a hot city 3 hours bus ride from Hong Kong. I graduated from Carleton College, MN and before that I went to high school in Seattle. I am excited to learn different methods to harvest valuable information from single cell sequencing data. Outside of lab, I enjoy cooking, wrestling/jit jitsuing, and playing the accordion.
Emily Luc, Rotation Student
I grew up in Antioch, IL, a small town north of Chicago. I completed my undergraduate and master's degrees in biomedical engineering at the neighboring Saint Louis University. I am excited to learn about techniques and analysis of single-cell sequencing in the context of understanding cancer. Outside of the lab, I enjoy trying out different foods in STL and while traveling, engaging in DIY projects, and spending time with friends and family.
Jennie Yao, Rotation Student
I am a PhD student in the Molecular Genetics and Genomics program, and my research interests lie in cancer research using computational tools. Before moving to St. Louis, I spent two years at Hopkins pursuing a Master’s degree in Biostatistics, and four years at the University of Toronto earning a Bachelor’s degree in Health & Disease and Statistics. I enjoy cooking, rock climbing, and traveling in my free time.
Isabel Risch, Rotation student
I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and attended university right here at WashU, where I studied Biology and Spanish. After graduation, I spent two years as a bioinformatician at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital before returning to St. Louis for medical school. I am currently an MD/PhD candidate in the CSB program, where I am interested in studying the complex interplay between tumors and the immune system. In my free time, I enjoy playing volleyball, writing poetry, and running D&D campaigns for my friends.
Undergraduate Students
Shreya Mangalam, Undergraduate Student
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. I’m interested in studying computational biology and genomics. I’m hoping to learn and explore more about disease development and the application of computational and experimental methods to further those findings. Outside of this, I hold a woman candidate master title in chess, play competitive chess, spend time with my friends and dog, and listen to pop music.
Samantha Livingston, Undergraduate Student
I grew up in Sleepy Hollow, NY. I am studying computational biology and genomics as an undergrad at WashU. I am hoping to learn more about combining computational and experimental tools to explore disease. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, playing tennis and spending time with friends and family.
Lauren Fulghum, Undergraduate Student
I am a Houston native studying Computational Biology and Genomics at WashU. I hope to better my understanding of how to build effective and efficient computational tools, particularly ones that can analyze the cellular mechanisms and origins of cancer. Outside of the lab, I enjoy baking, reading, and trying new yoga classes with friends.
David Wang, Undergraduate Student
I'm originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I'm working towards a Data Science degree at WashU. I'm really interested in connecting the dots between computational biology and neurobiology. I'm looking forward to learning more about bioinformatics and programming. Outside of the lab, I enjoy listening to music, playing piano, and going on runs.
Affiliated Faculty, STAFF, AND STUDENTS
Feng Chen, Ph.D.
Kimberly Johnson, Ph.D.
Michael McLellan
Xiaoyan Wang, M.D.
Alumni
Ding Lab
Faculty, Staff & Postdocs
Qingsong Gao, Ph.D.
Kuan-lin Huang, Ph.D.
Dawn King, Ph.D.
Wen-Wei Liao
Jie Ning
Beifang Niu, Ph.D.
Clara Oh
Adam Scott, Ph.D.
Sohini Sengupta, Ph.D.
Sunantha Sethuraman, Ph.D., Postdoc
Lisa Thammavong
Jiayin Wang, Ph.D.
Amila Weerasinghe, Ph.D., Postdoc
Kai Ye, Ph.D.
Houxiang Zhu, Ph.D., Postdoc
Mamatha Serasanambati, Ph.D., Postdoc
Hua Sun, Ph.D., Postdoc
Wen-Wei Liang, Ph.D., Postdoc
Nataly Naser AL Deen, Ph.D., Postdoc
Hanin Elfandi
San Kwon
Yige Wu, Ph.D, Graduate Student first, then Postdoc
Andrew Shinkle
Rita Lu
Yanyan Zhao, Lab Technician
Graduate & Medical Students
Ling Liao, Graduate Student
Fankun Zeng (rotation)
Xiangyu Chen (rotation)
Liang-Bo "Bobo" Wang, Ph.D
Daniel Cui Zhou, Ph.D.
Douglas Abrams (rotation)
Daniel Mendez (rotation)
Winston Anthony (rotation)
Matthew Bailey, Ph.D.
JooHee Choi (rotation)
Emily Coonrod (rotation)
Jennifer Flynn (rotation)
Steven Foltz, Ph.D.
Arielle Homayouni (rotation)
Yang Li (rotation)
Shuangjia Lu (rotation)
Di Liu (visiting Graduate Student)
Ju Heon Maeng (rotation)
Peter Ronning (rotation)
Sam Sun, M.D.
Xinxin Wang (rotation)
Naomi Wilson (rotation)
Wing Hing Wong (rotation)
Mingchao Xie, Ph.D.
Yitan Chen (rotation)
Lijun Yao, Ph.D
Liting Zhang, Visiting PhD Student
Ruiyang Liu, Ph.D
Alice Kao (rotation)
Diana Odhiambo (rotation)
Undergraduate Students
Prag Batra
Maheetha Bharadwaj
Jonathan Chen
Justin Chen
Erin DeNardo
Nathan Dollinger
Guanlan Dong
Ani Gururaj
Malik Hadjri
Felix Hu
Mo Huang
Shrikar Iragavarapu
Caleb Ji
Sean Kelso
Akhil Kondepudi
Monica Lim
Carolyn Lou
Edwin Qiu
Rachana Reddy
Ryan Sachar
Moses Schindler
Terrence Tsou
Weihua Wang
Jessika Baral
Fred Hua
Akshay Govindan
Medical genomics
Ken Chen, Ph.D.
Nathan Dees, Ph.D.
Xian Fan
Chris Harris
Xin Hong
Mark Johnson
Krishna Kanchi
Dan Koboldt
David Larson, Ph.D.
Ling Lin
Charles Lu, Ph.D.
Rick Meyer
Chris Miller, Ph.D.
John Osbourne
William Schierding
Heather Schmidt
Dong Shen, Ph.D.
Yuzhu Tang, M.D.
Joelle Veizer
John Wallis, Ph.D.