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. (cdpivetti@ucdavis.edu)

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. (pkumar@ucdavis.edu)

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. (ftduffy@ucdavis.edu)

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 project in the lab. She has a particular interest in scientific writing and editing which she explored during her undergraduate degree, including an internship writing news article for the UC Davis College of Engineering. Outside of lab, Fallon likes to shop for vintage clothes, see live musicals, and bake new recipes.

Postdoctoral Fellows

Luis E. Contreras-Llano, Ph.D. (lecontrerasllano@ucdavis.edu)

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. (kcclark@ucdavis.edu)

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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Yi Cheng, M.D., Ph.D. (yiicheng@ucdavis.edu)

Dr. Yi Cheng (Lottie) is a postdoctoral fellow in the lab and a vascular surgeon at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. She received her Ph.D. degree in Nanjing University Medical School. She is working on gene delivery, wound healing, microneedle patch and vascular stents. She likes drawing and crafts.

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He Xia, Ph.D. (hexia@ucdavis.edu)

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.

Research Surgical Residents

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Jose Castillo, M.D. (jcastillo@ucdavis.edu)

Dr. Jose Castillo is a neurosurgical resident at UC Davis with an interest in spinal surgery. He is from Oakland, CA and moved to Virginia after high school, where he drove school buses and worked his way up to driving a motorcoach transporting people all around the east coast. When he returned to school, he completed a bachelor’s degree in physics from George Mason University and then obtained his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. His work revolves around studying cell free therapies for the treatment of spinal cord injury using extracellular vesicles from placenta derived mesenchymal stem cells.

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Elizabeth Reynolds, M.D. (elreynolds@ucdavis.edu)

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

Samuel Emerson, B.S. (sjemerson@ucdavis.edu)

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. (pkdesai@ucdavis.edu)

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. (tjhenson@ucdavis.edu)

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.

David Wang, B.S. (dtwang@ucdavis.edu)

David is a Ph.D. student in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG). He is working on engineering extracellular vesicles (EVs) for central nervous system indications, namely Alzheimer's Disease. This includes engineering EV surfaces and cargo to modulate processes such as neuroinflammation, myelination and angiogenesis. In his free time, David enjoys playing piano, hiking and playing tennis.

Yofi Wyle, M.A. (ybwyle@ucdavis.edu)

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.

Kuan-Wei Huang

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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Abigail Humphries, B.S. (alhumphries@ucdavis.edu)

Abby is a PhD student in the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG) co-advised by Professor Randy Carney. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in History from UC Davis. Her research project focuses on engineering liposomes and extracellular vesicles with the goal of applying them to spina bifida care. In her free time, Abby enjoys outdoor activities like swimming, cycling, running, and hiking.

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Nhung Au (ntau@ucdavis.edu)

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. (ailall@ucdavis.edu)

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 (siylin@ucdavis.edu)

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. (nahmadian@ucdavis.edu)

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.

Master’s Students & CIRM Bridges Students

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Han Jing B.S. (hanjing@ucdavis.edu)

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.

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Amanda Ratcliff, B.S. (ajr172@humboldt.edu)

Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science in Cellular/Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Cal Poly Humboldt. Her research is centered around treatment of spinal cord injury using placental mesenchymal stem cells (PMSCs) and PMSC-derived extracellular vesicles (PMSC-EVs). In her free time, Amanda enjoys Muay Thai, Jiu Jitsu, video games, and spending time with her dog Mango.

Emma Loll, B.S., B.A. (egloll@ucdavis.edu)

Emma earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from UC Davis. She began working at the Center for Surgical Bioengineering in 2021 as a Junior Specialist, where she was responsible for managing general lab operations, providing perioperative care for sheep & rats, and assisting with histology for various animal studies. Emma is now a master's student currently working towards her M.S. in Integrative Pathobiology through the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently researching new methods to modify placental mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (PMSC-EVs) using click chemistry to create a targeted, cell-free treatment for multiple sclerosis alongside Dr. Clark. Emma is also interested in the pathophysiology of glioblastoma and engineering EVs to treat invasive brain cancer. Outside of research, Emma enjoys skiing, hiking, listening to music, spending time with loved ones, and snuggling up with her goldendoodle (Churro) and black cat (Soy).

In addition to her Master's degree work, Emma has also recently transitioned to a Financial Analyst role, to continue overseeing lab operations and acquiring products, materials, and services for the group and most importantly, for the Phase II clinical trial, the CuRe Trial. (csbfinance@ucdavis.edu)

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 (ismasuriya@ucdavis.edu)

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.

Staff Research Associates and Junior Specialists

Annie Jensen, B.S.

Annie graduated from Humboldt State University with a Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She was a part of the CIRM Bridges 3.0 program at Stanford University. Currently, Annie is a Junior Specialist in the lab and part of the cell culture team for the Spina Bifida Clinical Trial. She enjoys reading, hiking, paddle boarding, and baking.

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Taylor Martinez, B.S. (tgmartinez@ucdavis.edu)

Taylor earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in Public Health from UC Davis. Her research experience focused on stem cell-derived organoids. She is currently working as a Junior Specialist for the cell culture team for the Spina Bifida Clinical Trial. Outside of the lab, Taylor enjoys sewing, baking, and being a cat mom.

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Taylor Tran, B.S. (tlotran@ucdavis.edu)

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.

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.