Meet Our Team

Yeriel D. Estrada is a Clinical Research Program Director at the Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York. He earned his B.S from Rutgers University.  He joined the Tisch Cancer Institute at Mount Sinai in August 2000. He joined the department of Dermatology in 2013.

Emma Guttman-Yassky, MD, PhD
Professor and System Chair | Dermatology, Professor | Medicine, Clinical Immunology

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Our laboratory runs under the direction of Dr. Emma Guttman-Yassky, the Sol and Clara Kest Professor and Vice Chair for Research at the Department of Dermatology, Professor of Medicine and Clinical Immunology, and Director of the Asness Family Center of Excellence in Eczema and Allergic Conditions at Mount Sinai. She earned her MD from Sackler in Tel-Aviv, and a PhD from Bar-Ilan, Israel. After her Israeli Board certification in dermatology at the Rambam Medical Center at the Technion, Dr. Guttman moved to the U.S. to pursue a postdoctoral fellowship at Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology at The Rockefeller University and a second dermatology residency training at Weill-Cornell, NY.  She is board certified in dermatology both in the US and Israel.

Dr. Guttman has co-founded the international eczema council/IEC, for which she functions as president. This organization now comprises of the vast majority of top experts in atopic dermatitis/eczema worldwide. She is also on the scientific advisory board of the national eczema association. She was elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation/ASCI, the American Dermatological Society/ADA, and received the Young Investigator Award (2011) from the AAD, as well as other awards. She has also been elected to serve on the board of the American Skin Association.

Digpal Gour, PhD
Instructor

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Dr. Digpal Singh Gour is a Senior Scientist at the Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases. He is working on Genomics, Single-Cell, and Special Transcriptomics. His primary focus is on translational dermatology with pharma-sponsored clinical trials. Before joining Mount Sinai, Dr. Gour was a Research Scientist at the University of Idaho. At UOI, he has been awarded the University of Idaho’s highest honor, the “President’s Medallion,” for his work on the pandemic response during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He served as Assistant Professor of Biotechnology at the School of Biotechnology Engineering, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Mexico, and at the School of Life Sciences, Jaipur National University, India. He is a notable tiger conservation geneticist. He worked at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, India, as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. He did his M.S. and Ph.D. in Biotechnology from premier Institutes in India with prestigious scholarships. Outside work, he loves wildlife photography, which has been recognized in different photography exhibitions and the National Geographic® Portal. He loves swimming and playing cricket. He is also a weekend chef; his friends claim he is a good host.

Doris Almonte
Chief Laboratory Supervisor

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Doris Almonte is a highly skilled and dedicated Mohs Technician with an impressive career spanning seven years in the field. In addition to her substantial experience in Mohs surgery, Doris has specialized in Immunohistochemistry. Her dedication to her profession, precision in technique, and commitment to staying at the forefront of medical advancements make her exceptional at her work.  Outside the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family and listening to music.

Ragasruti Metukuru (Sruthi), MSc
Associate Researcher

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Ragasruti Metukuru is an Associate Researcher at the Guttman Lab. She completed her MSc degree in biotechnology at NYU in December 2022 and has a bachelor’s degree in the same from India. While the scientific research process as a whole interests Sruthi, over the years she has developed a special interest in immunology as she studied how the immune system plays a key role in most diseases. Her interest in immunology brought her to the Guttman Lab where she finds her research interests grow and evolve as she comes into contact with people from a wide variety of backgrounds. Sruthi is also interested in genetic/genome engineering and how gene editing technologies can be used to alter/manipulate immune response (such as in the case of car-t cells). Her next step is to work towards a PhD in order to pursue her research questions in depth. Sruthi’s hobbies outside of the lab include reading, cooking, and learning new languages.

Xinyi Lin, MS
Associate Researcher

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Xinyi/Erika is an Associate Researcher at Guttman Lab, holding a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology from McGill University and a master’s degree in biotechnology from New York University. Her research interest is centered on unraveling the biomarkers underlying inflammatory skin disease progression and development. Outside of work, she is an avid runner and an adventurous food enthusiast, always eager to explore new culinary experiences.

Swaroop Bose, MS
Senior Associate Researcher

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Swaroop specializes in NGS based translational Dermatology with focus on Clinical Trials. He has delivered on multiple industry sponsored trials using skills in Illumina and Thermofisher technologies to establish mechanisms of drug action in Inflammatory skin disorders. He is also responsible for on-boarding new protocols and implementing process improvements for the RNA pipeline. He previously worked with the CAGT (Genomics Core) where he served on the Mount Sinai COVID response team in translational NGS efforts in 2020.

Swaroop is also experienced in cancer biology and Adoptive T cell therapy having worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York and Children’s National hospital in Washington DC. He graduated from The George Washington university with a MS in Genomics, and received his engineering degree B.E. in Biotechnology from BMSCE, VTU in Bangalore, India. Outside of work, he enjoys organizing social hangouts, cooking, exploring NYC’s neighborhoods and traveling. He is also a cricket aficionado.

Manali Shah, MS
Associate Researcher

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Manali completed her master’s in Molecular Biology from Fordham University in May 2024, after earning a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from India. Her research interests focus on understanding the molecular basis of genetic disorders and the role of genetic biomarkers in disease development and progression. Additionally, Manali has a strong interest in immunology, particularly in studying how inflammatory biomarkers influence immune system responses in various health conditions. She is keen on exploring the impact of these biomarkers on chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and their potential as diagnostic tools or therapeutic targets. Outside the lab, Manali enjoys practicing yoga, reading, and spending quality time with my family.

Jessica Beaziz
Senior Associate Researcher

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Jessica is a French dermatologist who graduated from the University of Paris. She completed her residency and clinical fellowship in Paris. During her master’s program, she spent a few months in professor Guttman’s research lab and recently returned as a senior associate researcher to deepen her expertise in inflammatory dermatology, particularly atopic dermatitis. Outside of her professional career, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family.

Akbobek Amangeldiyeva, MPH
Biostatistician

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Akbobek Amangeldiyeva holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biological Sciences from Nazarbayev University. As a Biostatistician proficient in R and SAS, she applies advanced statistical methodologies to analyze clinical and biomarker data, supporting data-driven decision-making in both internal and external projects.

Teresina Laragione, PhD
Associate Professor

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Teresina Laragione is an Associate Professor in the Guttman Lab. Originally from Italy, she earned her Master’s degree in Pharmacological Chemistry and Technologies and her PhD in Pharmacology before moving to the United States, where she has spent more than two decades advancing research in autoimmune diseases, specifically Rheumatoid Arthritis, Colitis, and Psoriasis. She discovered new genes, pathways, and therapeutic strategies. Her scientific interest is on identifying novel biomarkers to develop more effective treatments and improve patients’ lives. Outside the lab, Teresina enjoys reading, traveling, exploring new foods, and spending time with her family.

Christine Chikomborero Butawo
Associate Researcher

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Christine Chikomborero Butawo is an aspiring physician with a focused interest in pathology and translational research. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry from Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Shadowing a pathologist, reinforced a passion for understanding disease mechanisms and their diagnostic relevance. Interested in how research can inform diagnostics and advance patient care, she hopes to build a career at the intersection between medicine and investigative science. Christine is an associate researcher in the Guttman Lab where the focus on inflammatory skin diseases will deepen her understanding of the intersection of pathology, immunology and diagnostic medicine. She enjoys cooking, reading, watching shows and cycling in her free time.

Steven Garrido Hidalgo
Associate Researcher

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Steven Garrido Hidalgo is an Associate Researcher in the Guttman Lab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Johns Hopkins University. Steven has a strong research interest in identifying key molecular markers of chronic inflammatory skin conditions. He also plans to pursue an MD and complete a residency in Dermatology. Outside the lab, Steven enjoys spending time with his family, running, and exploring new cuisines.

Jerry Zhou, MS
Research Fellow

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Jerry is a medical student at Columbia University and a Research Fellow in the Guttman Laboratory. He earned a combined B.S./M.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from Yale University, where he used CRISPR to genetically engineer anti-inflammatory CAR-T cells for the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus under the direction of Dr. Matthew Dong and Dr. Sidi Chen. His research interests center on translational science, with a focus on developing novel therapies for patients with inflammatory skin diseases. Outside of the lab and classroom, Jerry enjoys running, playing cello, and eating dessert.

Gianluca Avallone, MD
Senior Associate Researcher

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Gianluca is a Senior Associate Researcher at the Guttman Lab. He received his MD from Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan and completed his residency in Dermatology and Venereology at the University of Turin. His training included international clinical fellowships at Hôpital Edouard Herriot (Lyon), Hôpital Saint-Louis (Paris), Policlinico of Milan, and the Dermatopathology Division of the Medical University of Graz. His clinical expertise and research are focused on inflammatory skin diseases, with particular interests in atopic dermatitis and hair and scalp disorders. Outside the lab, Gianluca enjoys traveling, playing dodgeball and pickleball, and learning new languages.

Zachary Kim
Associate Researcher

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Zachary Kim is an Associate Researcher in the Guttman Lab at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Stanford University. Zachary is passionate about uncovering the molecular pathways that drive inflammatory skin diseases and investigating how different therapeutic approaches influence these conditions, with the goal of advancing more effective treatments. Zachary also applies advanced statistical methods to clinical and biomarker datasets, transforming complex information into clear insights that support stronger strategies and outcomes across research projects. Outside the lab, he enjoys reading, playing guitar and exploring the outdoors through hiking.

Jacob Fiedler, MS
Research Fellow

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Jacob Fiedler, B.S., M.S., is a medical student at New York Medical College and a Research Fellow in the Kimberly and Eric J. Waldman Department of Dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He earned his undergraduate degree in chemical and biological engineering from Tufts University, where his senior thesis focused on process design for the autologous expansion of CAR T cells. Following graduation, he worked as an investor relations analyst at Endurance Advisors, consulting on data communication and fundraising strategies for immuno-oncology pharmaceutical companies.
 
Jacob then joined the Craft Lab in the Department of Immunobiology at Yale School of Medicine, where he investigated the pathogenesis of lupus with a particular focus on T cell biology. During this time, he also completed a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Tufts School of Medicine.
 
His current research centers on inflammatory skin diseases—including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and alopecias—with an emphasis on translational studies that bridge molecular mechanisms and clinical outcomes. Outside of medicine, Jacob is a recording artist and enjoys snowboarding, surfing, and cooking.

Meredith Manson
Research Fellow

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Meredith Manson is a Research Fellow in the Laboratory of Inflammatory Skin Diseases and a member of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Class of 2027. She earned her undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Linguistics from Duke University. Before medical school, she worked at Goldman Sachs, where she contributed to the initial development of their Transaction Banking platform.

Her research interests include understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying various inflammatory skin diseases and healthy skin processes, including skin aging. She is a recipient of the 2025 PeDRA Research Fellowship.

Outside of the lab, Meredith enjoys playing tennis and golf and is an avid musical theatre fan.