Dr. Tesfaigzi is a member of the faculty in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Tesfaigzi graduated in Molecular Biology from the University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, in Germany and completed his fellowship in cell and molecular biology at University of California, Davis. Over the past two decades, the Tesfaigzi laboratory has contributed to the identification of genes and biochemical interactions of proteins that are responsible for maintaining a constant number of cells in airway epithelia. Based on mechanistic studies, peptides and small molecules have been discovered that are highly effective in reducing mucus-producing cells in animal models of chronic bronchitis and asthmatic bronchitis. Current efforts are to test these drugs in patients with these debilitating diseases. Dr. Tesfaigzi is author of over 140 original research publications; has served on grant review panels for more than 10 different organizations, including several branches of the NIH.
15 Francis Street Why are you interested in your current research? Conducting research to uncover the mechanisms behind airway inflammation, mucus overproduction, and their impact on chronic diseases like COPD, and asthma is what drew me to this field. The opportunity to apply advanced data (scRNA, bulk RNA, GWAS) analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets and improve our understanding of these conditions aligns closely with my interests and expertise.
What do you do outside of lab activities? I spend my leisure time primarily with my family and enjoy reading sci-fi novels, hiking, and playing badminton. Describe the Tesfaigzi lab in 5 words: Engaging, Collaborative, Inclusive, Challenging, Focused Why are you interested in your current research? Conducting research towards understanding the mechanisms of airway inflammation and mucus overproduction and discover new therapies for devastating diseases like lung cancer, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is what drew me to this field. What do you do outside of lab activities? I spend my leisure time primarily with my family and occasionally in socializing activities with my friends. Describe the Tesfaigzi lab in 5 words: Very focused, fun, cooperative and demanding What is your current research?
Current research in this lab involve a genetic variant of p53 in mucin regulation and role of base excision repair gene MUTYH in airway.
What do you do outside of lab activities?
Enjoy free time socializing with friends and sports.
Why are you interested in your current research? What do you do outside of lab activities? Why are you interested in your current research? As a RA I get to work along the post-docs and their respective research. I enjoy being an asset to all my lab coworkers as well as being part of every research in progress of the lab. The project I’m working on closely is in Human Airway Epithelial Cells ALI Differentiation. HAEC ALI differentiation is fascinating for exploring patient-specific variability, as airway epithelial cells from different donors indeed respond variably to identical stimuli. These differences can highlight how genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors shape cellular responses, impacting fields like personalized medicine and respiratory disease research. What do you do outside of lab activities? I spend the extra time playing volleyball and enjoying being outdoors Describe the Tesfaigzi lab in 5 words: Helpful, interesting, fun, challenging, collaborative. Why are you interested in your current research? Pulmonary was a completely new field of research for me but I am particularly interested in the enormous hands-on experience that this research position provides. What do you do outside of lab activities? I like to cook and explore new cafes in the city. David is from… Why are you interested in your current research? What do you do outside of lab activities? Sam is
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Yohannes Tesfaigzi, PhD
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 525 3480
E-Mail: ytesfaigzi@bwh.harvard.eduCongjian Liu
Congjian is from China and holds a DrPH in Biostatistics and an MS in Mathematics from Georgia Southern University, USA, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health Administration from Sichuan University, China.Zerihun Negasi
Zerihun is from Ethiopia, received his PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; MSc in Immunology from University Putra Malaysia, Malaysia and DVM from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia.Mizanur Rahman
Mizan is from Bangladesh. Bachelor and Master in Microbiology from University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Master in Biotechnology and Master in Molecular Life science from Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University in Sweden. PhD in immunology from Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Post doctoral projects at Karolinska Institute in Sweden in pollutant and virus-induced lipid homeostasis and inflammation.Kamakshi Bankotti
Kamakshi is from India, she received her PhD inAndrea Vendrame
Andrea is from Venezuela, she received her undergraduate in Biomedical Science from North Carolina Wesleyan University, USA.Nguyen Nguyen
Nguyen (aka Len) is from Vietnam, she received her undergraduate in Biology from Lawrence University, USA.David Geller-Mcgrath
Lab Members
Alumni