Current Laboratory Staff and Personnel

Principal Investigator (PI)

Aijun

Aijun Wang, Ph.D.

Chancellor's Fellow Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering

Laboratory Manager

Chris Pivetti, M.S. ([email protected])

Christopher Pivetti is a scientist for the Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis Health in Sacramento, CA. He received both his bachelor’s degree (2001) and his master’s degree (2004) in general biology from the University of California, San Diego. He serves as the laboratory supervisor and he oversees the daily research operations of five principal investigators. His research interests include using stem cell therapy to treat congenital anomalies such as spina bifida, and diaphragmatic hernia. He also specializes in small animal microsurgery and serves as a microsurgery instructor for the department.

Project Scientist

Priyadarsini Kumar, Ph.D. ([email protected])

Dr. Priya Kumar is the lab's senior scientist with over 25 years of research experience. She obtained her PhD degree from University of California, Davis, and Master’s/Bachelor’s degrees from University of Madras, India. Her research focuses on stem cells and stem cell derived extracellular vesicles for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. She led the GMP production of our placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) for our team, which led to the successful approval of the IND from the FDA to conduct a Phase1/2a spina bifida clinical trial, which started in 2021. Her other research focuses on utilizing PMSC-derived extracellular vesicles (PMSC-EVs) to develop a serum-free cell-free product for other clinical applications, such as adult acquired spinal cord injury. Teaching has always been her passion and she loves to mentor aspiring scientists. During her free time, she loves cooking Indian food, watching soap operas in her native language (Tamil), reading books about inspiring personalities, and loves taking care of neighborhood cats.

Scientific Grant Writers

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Fallon Duffy, B.S. ([email protected])

Fallon earned her Bachelor of Science degree in General Biology from UC Davis with minors in Professional Writing and Religious Studies. She helps manage the writing projects in the lab including preparing grant proposals for state, federal, and private funding. She has a particular interest in scientific writing and editing which she explored during her undergraduate degree, including an internship writing news articles for the UC Davis College of Engineering. Outside of lab, Fallon likes to see live theater, bake new recipes, and hang out with her cats Liza and Midge.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Luis E. Contreras-Llano, Ph.D. ([email protected])

Dr. Luis Contreras-Llano holds B.E and M.S. degrees in Biotechnology and has carried out research in laboratories in Mexico, Spain, and the US in areas including plant & microbial biochemistry, molecular biology, and synthetic biology. Luis obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Davis under the supervision of Dr. Cheemeng Tan, where his work focused on developing cell-free protein expression systems (PURE and WCE), synthetic (artificial cells) and semi-synthetic cells (cyborg cells). After his PhD, he worked at the digital cell biology company Berkeley Lights as a Molecular Biology Scientist where he developed high-throughput screening assays for proteins of relevance in agriculture using cell-free expression systems. His research has been published in journals as Advanced Science, Nature Chem Bio, Nature Comms, ACS Appl Mat & Interfaces, mBio, and has been featured in Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, Advanced Science News, BGR, and the Nature Portfolio Bioengineering Community. He joins the laboratory of Dr. Aijun Wang with the aim of developing new therapeutic approaches using a combination of synthetic biology, materials science, and molecular biology tools.

Kaitlin Clark, Ph.D. ([email protected])

Dr. Kaitlin Clark (Kasey) is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab. She received her Ph.D. in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (BMCDB) Program, at UC Davis, and is emphasizing in translational research. She received her bachelor’s degree from UC Davis and her master’s degree in Stem Cell biology from CSU Sacramento. Kasey started her research career at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 2009 focusing on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) treatments for animals. She is currently investigating the use of placenta derived MSCs (PMSCs) for the treatment of spina bifida in English Bulldogs. Kasey’s main research focus is the immunoregulatory properties of PMSCs and is also investigating the use of PMSC derived extracellular vesicles (PMSC-EVs) for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. In her free time, Kasey enjoys playing sports, riding her horses and spending time with her rescue dogs.

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He Xia, Ph.D. ([email protected])

Dr. He Xia (Helen) is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab. She received her Ph.D. in Material Science from Shandong University, where her work focused on developing biomaterials for bone and nerve regeneration. She is now focusing on 3D bioprinting, tissue engineering, and membrane surface engineering for cell therapy. Outside the lab, she enjoys swimming, reading and traveling.

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Fariba Mohebichamkhorami, PhD

Fariba Mohebichamkhorami, PhD, is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Surgery at UC Davis Health. She earned her BSc and MSc degrees in Genetics and her PhD in Tissue Engineering from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Fariba has interdisciplinary experience in regenerative medicine spanning cell-based and cell-free therapies, nanoparticle and biomaterial platforms, and modulation of inflammatory pathways. She has practical experience with translational disease models, including Alzheimer’s disease and wound healing. Her work is driven by the goal of translating fundamental discoveries into clinically meaningful outcomes. She supports the students and peers in the lab, encouraging problem-solving and independent scientific thinking. Outside the lab, Fariba enjoys cooking Persian cuisine, traveling, and spending time in nature.

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Anand Kumar Agrahari, PhD ([email protected])

Dr. Anand Kumar Agrahari is a Postdoctoral Scholar in the lab. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry where his research focused on click chemistry inspired synthesis of glycodendrimers and their applications. After his Ph.D., he joined Prof. Xi Chen’s group as a postdoctoral scholar, where his research centered on the chemoenzymatic synthesis and functional study of complex glycans.

He is currently focused on developing targeted modifications of placenta-derived MSCs (PMSCs) and PMSC-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) for nanotherapeutic applications using click chemistry. In addition, he is involved in the development of biomaterial platforms for regenerative medicine and other therapeutic applications.

Outside the lab, Anand enjoys playing badminton, listening to music, and cooking Indian food.

Research Surgical Residents

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David Rosas, M.D., M.B.A. ([email protected])

David Rosas is a general surgery resident at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. He completed his B.A. in Psychology at Williams College in Massachusetts and then completed his undergraduate medical education at University of California San Diego. While in San Diego, he completed a dual-degree MD/MBA through the UCSD Program in Medical Education – Health Equity, a UC initiative to train physician-leaders to eliminate health disparities. Through his MBA at the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, he developed leadership and communication training programs for physicians and sharpened his mission for medical education. As a clinical resident, he continued his work as an educator on the wards and was selected by medical students for the resident educator award in 2025 through the Wake Forest School of Medicine. He cemented his interest in pediatric surgery finding it truly rewarding to help children and their families through difficult times in their lives. He joined the Farmer/Wang Lab to develop an understanding for basic science research in curing disease and incorporating research into a surgical career. He is funded by a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine grant to investigate novel therapies for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias. David enjoys playing sports, strength and conditioning training, and spending time with his fiancé who is also a surgical resident at CMC and currently a Surgical Education Fellow at Stanford University.

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Elizabeth Reynolds, M.D. ([email protected])

Dr Elizabeth Reynolds is a general surgery resident at Brooke Army Medical Center. She completed her undergraduate education at Syracuse University, MS in biology at Duke University, and MD at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. She is interested in pediatric surgery and applications of stem cell therapy on treatment of congenital diseases. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs on the trails, training for marathons, and listening to audiobooks.

PhD Students

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Nikita Mohapatra, B.S. ([email protected])

Nikita is a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering. Her research focuses on exploring extracellular vesicle-based diagnostics to develop accessible, point-of-care testing solutions. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, crocheting, and watching sports.

Samuel Emerson, B.S. ([email protected])

Sam is a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG), where he studies the engineering, preservation, and functional enhancement of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as therapeutic agents for conditions of the central nervous system. He earned his B.S. in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Cal Poly Humboldt and joined the lab as a CIRM Bridges intern before continuing his work as a doctoral student. Sam’s interest in regenerative therapies is driven by a personal connection to multiple sclerosis, motivating his focus on novel EV-based treatments for MS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Outside the lab, Sam enjoys playing guitar, running, camping, and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends.

Pujan Desai, M.S. ([email protected])

Pujan is a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG) and is co-advised by Professor Randy Carney. He is interested in developing extracellular vesicle (EV)-based diagnostics and therapeutics, with a focus on technologies that enable their clinical translation. Before UC Davis, he earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Master’s in Translational Medicine from UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco . He spent nearly a decade working at the intersection of life sciences startups and translational research, including helping launch a UCSF-founded drug delivery company into clinical trials. In his free time, Pujan enjoys plant parenting, herding his two cats, reading sci-fi novels, and playing DnD and other co-op games with his wife Amy and friends.

Tanner Henson, B.S. ([email protected])

Tanner Henson is a Ph.D student in the Biomedical Engineering program at University of California, Davis. His current research is focused on the use of artificial cells in gene therapy. (co-advised by Professor Cheemeng Tan). During his free time, he enjoys playing a multitude of video games and enjoys watching cooking shows on the side, even though cooking is not a skill of his.

Yofi Wyle, M.A. ([email protected])

Yofi is an MCIP PhD student with a passion for applied stem cell research and regenerative medicine. Yofi is hoping to spend his graduate studies developing organoid systems to generate stem cell-derived tissues for pediatric regeneration. Currently, he is working to implement organoid systems to model and treat myelomeningocele and congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

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Kuan-Wei Huang ([email protected])

Kuan-Wei Huang is a PhD. student in Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG) at University of California, Davis, co-advised by Professor Randy Carney. His research focuses on examining autotropism of EV's derived from primary brain cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. During his free time, he enjoys watching movies, snowboarding and playing with cats.

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Nhung Au ([email protected])

Nhung is a PhD student in the Pharmacology & Toxicology (PTX) program at the University of California, Davis. Her research project focuses on exploring the potential of Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles (PMSC-EVs) as a delivery system for novel anticancer agents. This approach aims to overcome the blood-brain barrier (BBB), a major challenge in glioblastoma treatment, and reach the brain tumor sites more effectively (Co-advised by Dr. YuanPei Li). In her free time, she enjoys cooking various types of dishes, reading books, and exploring nature.

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Arya Lall, B.A. ([email protected])

Arya Lall is a Chemistry and Chemical Biology PhD student, co-advised by Dr. Elizabeth Neumann. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from UC Berkeley. Her research focuses on using single-cell spatialomics to understand neurological and central nervous system development and related diseases. In her free time, she loves to read, bake, cook, and hike.

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Siyu Lin ([email protected])

Siyu Lin is a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of California, Davis. Her current research focuses on using spatial transcriptomics to decipher disease mechanisms and discover potential therapies. During her free time, she enjoys playing TRPG, painting, and caring for her betta fish.

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Negar Ahmadian, M.S. ([email protected])

Negar Ahmadian is a PhD student in the Integrative Pathobiology Graduate Group at the University of California, Davis. She earned her Master’s degree in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine from the University of Tehran, Iran. Her research focuses on integrating novel genome-editing tools into translational medicine, with the ultimate goal of developing gene-editing-based therapeutics for rare pediatric neurological diseases. Beyond the lab, Negar enjoys basketball, playing the violin, and driving. She aspires to translate her research into clinical applications.

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Darlene Rahbarian ([email protected])'

Darlene is a PhD student in the Neuroscience Graduate Group at UC Davis. Her research focuses on developing in utero gene-editing strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders such as Dup15q syndrome and Angelman syndrome, with the goal of enabling early, disease-modifying interventions. Her work aims to bridge fundamental neuroscience and clinical applications, ultimately contributing to innovative treatments that improve patient outcomes. Outside the lab, she enjoys painting, going to the gym, and spending time with family and friends.

Master’s Students & CIRM Bridges Students

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Shufei Luo, B.S. ([email protected])
Shufei Luo is a master's student in biomedical engineering at the University of California, Davis. Her current research focuses on spatial transcriptomics and neurological diseases, with the aim of developing advanced treatment options for these conditions. In her free time, she enjoys painting and hiking.

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Han Jing B.S. ([email protected])

Han is a Biomedical Engineering student working on his Master’s degree. He is currently working on designing and synthesizing a 3D printable, cell-loaded hydrogel ink and scaffolding system for repairing fetal cleft palate, combining materials science and tissue engineering tools to provide innovative solutions for treating congenital structural defects.

During his time off, he loves to be close to nature and often goes hiking and climbing, enjoying both peaceful and challenging experiences. He is also a music lover, and music is an important way for him to relax.

Arundhuti Sanyal, B.S.

Arundhuti earned her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in Biology from UC Irvine. Her research focuses on utilizing single-cell multiomics to detect dysregulated molecular pathways and develop targeted gene therapy solutions. Specifically, her work involves consolidating transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data to identify differentially expressed genes in neurological diseases, such as Canavan disease, glioblastoma multiforme, and Rett syndrome. In her free time, Arundhuti enjoys reading, hiking, watching movies, and traveling.

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Isha Maisuriya, B.Tech ([email protected])

Isha is a Master’s student in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG). She earned her B.Tech in Biotechnology from SRM IST, India. She is passionate about stem cell research and genetic engineering. Isha's research focuses on engineering and exploring the potential of Lipid Raft Nanovesicles (LRNVs) for gene-editing as well as drug-delivery. In her free time, Isha enjoys playing table tennis, hiking, cooking and traveling.

Junior Specialists

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Zoe Enders, B.S. ([email protected])

Zoe received her B.S. in Psychology with a Biology emphasis from UC Davis, where she investigated psychedelics and neurotherapeutics. She is currently pioneering gene editing strategies to treat neurogenetic disorders in utero, with a concentration on conditions such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Dup15q/Angelman syndrome. Beyond the lab, Zoe enjoys traveling, exercise, and spending time with family and friends. She aspires to delve deeper into psychiatric/alternative therapeutics research and clinical translations.

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Mira Ramachandran, B.S. ([email protected])

Mira is a member of the CuRe Trial cell team. She holds a B.S in Global Disease Biology from UC Davis where her research focus was AAV9-mediated gene therapy of myasthenic syndromes. In her free time, she enjoys thrifting, hiking, and traveling.

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Kirtney Mae Flores De Vera, B.S. ([email protected])

Kirtney Mae earned her B.S. in Human Biology with a minor in Asian American Studies from UC Davis. Her current research focuses on developing in-utero gene editing therapies for rare genetic disorders such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Dup15q syndrome. In addition to her research role, she works part-time as a scientific grant writer, helping prepare proposals for the lab. In her free time, she enjoys making matcha and journaling.

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Taylor Tran, B.S. ([email protected])

Taylor graduated from UC Davis with a B.S. in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and is a Junior Specialist in the lab. She currently works with the vascular team to evaluate the capturing ability of vascular grafts coated with LXW7 ligand, which capture endothelial cells in hopes of improving in situ endothelialization and long-term patency. She also helps research stem cell-derived treatments for spinal cord injury and helps manage general lab operations. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga, and dancing.

Medical Students

Blaine Baker, B.S. ([email protected])

Blaine is a medical student at the UC Davis School of Medicine. They have a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Sonoma State University and have studied structural biochemistry at UC San Diego and gene editing/DNA repair at Graphite Bio. Their current research is focused on the production, isolation, and uptake of extracellular vesicles as well as engineering EVs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s Disease. During their free time, they enjoy hanging out with their fiancé, family, friends, and their Bernedoodle Benny. They love chess, slam poetry, contemporary art, fashion, and retro video games.