Yohannes Tesfaigzi, PhD
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.
- Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
- Director of Cigarette Smoke Exposure Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
- Airway Epithelia in COPD and Asthma
- Effects of cigarettes smoke, wood smoke, viral and bacterial Infections, ozone on lung epithelia
- MS, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
- PhD, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany
- Postdoc, Department of Biochemistry, University of California Davis
- National Institutes of Health
- Pharmaceutical Companies
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
15 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115
Phone: (617) 525 3480
E-Mail: ytesfaigzi@bwh.harvard.edu
Congjian Liu
Congjian is from China…
Why are you interested in your current research?
What do you do outside of lab activities?
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.
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
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.
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.
Kamakshi Bankotti
Kamakshi is from India, she received her PhD in
Why are you interested in your current research?
What do you do outside of lab activities?
Andrea Vendrame
Andrea is from Venezuela, she received her undergraduate in Biomedical Science from North Carolina Wesleyan University, USA.
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.
Nguyen Nguyen
Nguyen (aka Len) is from Vietnam, she received her undergraduate in Biology from Lawrence University, USA.
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 Geller-Mcgrath
David is from…
Why are you interested in your current research?
What do you do outside of lab activities?
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