Yellowstone
Research Group: Lab Members
Hamid Ghandehari, PhD
Principal Investigator
I received my B.S. in Pharmacy and Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry from The University of Utah. My PhD training was under Professor Jindřich Kopeček, a pioneer in macromolecular therapeutics. Currently our lab focuses on novel methods of controlled drug delivery and better understanding of the influence of physicochemical properties of nanoparticles on their toxicity. I spend most of my time doing research, teaching, and academic service. In my free time, I like to spend time with family, travel, hike, and ski. I grew up in Tehran-Iran before immigrating to the US.
Nitish Khurana, PhD
Research AssISTANT PROFESSOR
My projects in the lab focus on improving patient quality of life at the interface of pediatric pharmacology, otolaryngology, biomaterials, and drug delivery. I grew up in Delhi, India, and received my B.Sc. from Delhi University, majoring in Chemistry. I received my M.Sc. from Pune University majoring in Medicinal Chemistry and my Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutics Chemistry from The University of Utah. In my free time, you can find me cooking, listening to music, spending time with my friends, or simply spending a day inside with a book.
Cansu Ümran Tunç, PhD
Research ASsociate
My research focuses on the design and synthesis of nanoparticles for mRNA delivery. I am from Adana, Turkiye; I received my B.S. from Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkiye, majoring in Molecular Biology and Genetics, and my PhD in Biotechnology from Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Turkiye. In my free time, you can find me spending time with my son, camping, swimming, traveling, and reading.
Priyanka Arunachalam
PhD Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
My research assesses the immunotoxicity of PEGylated silica nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. I am from Chennai, India. I received my Bachelor of Technology, majoring in Bioengineering, and my Master of Technology in Medical Nanotechnology from SASTRA University, India. In my free time, you can find me doing yoga, road biking, or practicing music.
Kholod Elhasany
PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics
My research focuses on matrix-mediated delivery of glycosaminoglycans with silk-elastinlike copolymers for prophylactic treatment of radiation-induced proctitis. I am from Alexandria, Egypt. I received my B.S. in Pharmacy and my M.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from Alexandria University. I like to hike, bake, and lift weights.
Oliver Hamilton Hubbard
PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics
My research project focuses on developing a low-cost mimic of an ECMO oxygenator for high throughput screening of drugs passing through the life support system. Data from my research can be used to optimize drug dosing for patients on ECMO. I was born and raised around the US Midwest before moving to Utah in my teens. I received my B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Utah. In my free time, I like to ski, climb, anything in the mountains! As well, I love to play the drums, play video games, and read novels.
Adnan Md
PhD Graduate Student, Molecular Pharmaceutics
My research focuses on synthesizing and characterizing mesoporous silica nanoparticles and exploring the influence of their physicochemical properties such as shape on immunotoxic effects. I am from Chittagong, Bangladesh, a coastal area. I received my B.S. from International Islamic University Chittagong, Bangladesh, majoring in Pharmacy, and my M.S. in Biomedical Science from Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, South Korea. In my free time, you can find me doing outdoor activities like cricket, soccer, hiking, or fishing.
John Michael Thomas
PhD Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering
My project is to develop, characterize, and test the efficacy of protein-based polymeric materials as embolic drug delivery scaffolds for treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. I am from Winter Park, Florida. I received my B.S. from the University of Florida majoring in Biomedical Engineering. In my free time, you can find me skiing, hiking, and exploring the mountains.
Olivia Pomerleau
Pharm D Student
My research focuses on loading a fluorescent dye, Indocyanine Green (ICG), into exosomes to effectively target and delineate solid tumor margins to improve fluorescent-guided surgery for patients with HPV+ Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I am from West Hartford, Connecticut, and received my Bachelor of Science in Biology from Trinity College in Hartford, CT. In my free time, I enjoy skiing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Kahlil Monje
undergraduate student, biomedical engineering
My project focuses on developing tissue phantoms to study the encapsulation and retention of fluorescent ICG dye for application in cancer tissue identification during transoral robotic surgery. I grew up in Boise, Idaho, and came to the University of Utah to major in biomedical engineering. In my free time, I like to learn songs and play guitar.
Andrew Larsen
undergraduate student, biomedical engineering
My research project focuses on the validation of our novel high-throughput screening method for drugs in low-cost mimic ECMO circuits. I am from Holladay, Utah, and am a student in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Utah. In my free time, I like to adventure in the outdoors, including skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and more.
Ian Kim
high school student
My research project focuses on the liposomal encapsulation of the propofol drug to reduce its adsorption to Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) system components. I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah and have been living here the majority of my life. In my free time, I like going on hikes with my dog, listening to music, and playing the cello.