Mohammed Suhail Chaudhry, MD, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Phone: (212) 824-9365
Email: mohammed.chaudhry@mssm.edu

Suhail studied Medicine at the University of Cambridge, obtaining a First Class B.A. degree in Pharmacology in 2000 and earning his medical degree in 2003. After training in Internal Medicine, Suhail undertook specialist Hematology training in London in 2008. Suhail’s clinical interest focuses on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT), and he is dedicated to discovering novel strategies to improve outcomes in transplant recipients. He combined his clinical training with a PhD program at Imperial College London, funded by the Wellcome Trust, investigating the role of CD1d and NKT cells in tumor immunology. Subsequently, he conducted an initial period of postdoctoral research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, investigating post-transplant immune reconstitution. In 2017, Suhail joined the Ferrara Laboratory at the Icahn School of Medicine, in order to specifically focus on graft versus host disease, the primary complication of HSCT. Although he now lives in New York, Suhail remains a dedicated Arsenal F.C. fan, but still can’t get used to watching his team play at 7.30am on a Saturday morning.

 

Seihwan Jeong, BA, BS, M.Eng
PhD Student
Phone: (212) 824-9272
Email: seihwan.jeong@icahn.mssm.edu

Seihwan studied Biology, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering as an undergraduate at Cornell University and subsequently completed a Masters of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering. He joined the Ferrara Laboratory to study for a PhD, focusing on the role of Reg3γ in the pathophysiology of graft versus host disease (GVHD). Reg3γ, secreted by the Paneth cells of the intestinal epithelium, is known to exert antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria in the gut, and is one of the strongest biomarkers for intestinal GVHD. His research studies aim to investigate further the physiological role of Reg3γ in GVHD. Out of work, Seihwan unwinds through bowling, and at one time competed in the college league with an average of 150.

 

Dongchang Zhao, MD PhD
Assistant Professor
Phone: (212) 824-9268
Email: dongchang.zhao@mssm.edu

Dongchang was born in the middle of China in the city of Nanyang, and trained as a pediatrician in China. He came to the US in 2005, and prior to joining Mount Sinai, he researched graft versus host disease (GVHD) at the City of Hope Hospital and the University of Michigan. His current research focuses on the gastrointestinal tract in GVHD, and in particular he is investigating the role of antimicrobial peptides such as Reg3α (or its mouse homologue Reg3γ) in the regulation of acute GVHD. Dongchang speaks both English and Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese). Outside the lab, he likes cello music, and the Chinese form of music called er hu. He also enjoys working out in the gym, hiking, mountain climbing and fishing, particularly in Lake Michigan.

 

Steven M. Kowalyk, BS
Associate Researcher
Phone: (212) 824-9268
Email: steven.kowalyk@mssm.edu

Steven received a B.S. in Biology from Manhattan College in 2016, where he conducted an undergraduate research project involving the assessment and molecular characterization of human intestinal parasites in bivalves. He recently joined the Ferrara Laboratory team to conduct research involving the validation of plasma biomarkers for graft versus host disease (GVHD). His duties include ELISA testing as well as processing and maintaining patient blood samples in the MAGIC biorepository. The goal of this research is to better predict and diagnose patients who are at risk of developing acute GVHD, revolutionizing the way these patients receive treatment. In the future, Steven would like to obtain a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology. When not conducting research in the lab, he enjoys hiking through the lower Hudson Valley year round.

 

George Morales, BS
Sr. Associate Researcher
Phone: (212) 824-9269
Email: george.morales@mssm.edu

After graduating from Stony Brook University, George’s interest in cancer research has grown and brought him to the Ferrara lab at Mount Sinai, with the aspirations of helping the research in graft versus host disease (GVHD). He currently directs the MAGIC biorepository, which processes, collects and stores 10,000 samples from 1,000 patients each year. George is also currently working on identifying GVHD patients at high risk of severe disease, though a biomarker panel ELISA.  We are enrolling these patients onto a clinical trial in order to find an effective early treatment for this group of high-risk patients. Aside from his interest in cancer research, George is a fan of the performing arts and took many courses in music theory as an undergraduate at Stony Brook University. He enjoys playing cello and guitar when not in the lab.

 

Hrishikesh Srinagesh, MD
Medical Student
Phone: (212) 824-9365
Email: hrishikesh.srinagesh@mssm.edu

Hrishi studied Biology and History at Williams College prior to coming to Mount Sinai to pursue a joint MD and Masters of Science in Clinical Research as part of the highly selective Patient Oriented Research Training and Leadership (PORTAL) program. He joined the Ferrara lab after finishing his 3rd year of medical school to complete his Masters thesis studying two protein biomarkers important in acute GVHD pathophysiology, suppressor of tumorigenesis 2 (ST2), and regenerating islet-derived protein 3-α (REG3α). His project will focus on the potential of serial evaluation of these biomarkers over time to predict long-term outcomes in acute GVHD. Outside of lab, Hrishi enjoys playing golf, having competed at the varsity level in college, as well as walking dogs all over Manhattan.