-the ‘mION’ team
Principal Investigator: Dr. Girgis Obaid
Dr. Girgis Obaid, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and has over 10 years of experience in developing tumor targeted nanomedicines. Dr. Obaid has been supported by an NIH-NCI K99/R00 award to develop strategies to better engineer tumor-specific nanomedicines using molecular imaging. His postdoctoral research fellowship at the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard Medical School focused on molecular targeted NIR photoactivable combination therapies for cancer. His current research integrates nanomedicines with photodynamic therapy to improve tumor drug delivery, reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy, activate the immune system, and improve treatment responses. Other research avenues include image guided surgery and immunotherapy.
Hobbies/Interests: “I’m a huge fan of the great outdoors! I enjoy road trips, mountain biking, hiking and fishing, as well as exploring Texas and all the little towns in the South and Southwest.”
Postdoctoral Associate
Dr. Chanda Bhandari, PhD
Current Project: Photodynamic modulation of the tumor stromal and immune microenvironment using engineered nanoformulations.
Hobbies/Interests: “I enjoy playing badminton and tennis. I also love spending time traveling, cooking and baking.”
Ph.D. CANDIDATES/STUDENTS
Nimit Shah, BS, MS
Current Project: Light activated lipid nanoparticles for enhanced immune stimulation in cancer therapy
Hobbies/Interests: “Playing Cricket, Listening to music are my favorite free time hobbies. I also like to go for unplanned road trips.”
Austin Peter Nguyen, BS
Current Project: Light activated protein conjugates for targeted multi-agent delivery
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time I like to longboard, photograph interesting locations, cook, play video games, and tend to my aquariums”.
Aarati Upreti, BS
Current Project: Nanoparticle-mediated Nucleic Acid Delivery for Cancer Therapy
Hobbies/Interests: “I love creating memories with family and friends, exploring diverse cultures, and natural landscapes.”
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Maxwell Bortei Quaye, BS
Current Project: Developing new activatable conjugates for targeted cancer therapy
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to play soccer and tennis and go to the gym on my free time”.
Doha Walid Mahmoud, BS
Current Project: Triggerable drug delivery systems and controlled drug release
Hobbies/Interests: I like to bake, crochet and do Arabic calligraphy. I also enjoy watching crime shows or k-dramas in my free time.
Ashritha Malkoochi, BS
Current Project: Exploring photodynamic therapy on chemo-resistant cells
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time, I enjoy baking, singing, and painting. I also love to explore new places whenever I get the chance!”
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Micah Alexander Keown
Current Project: Lipid conjugates and antibody conjugates for targeted multi-agent delivery
Hobbies/Interests: “I enjoy weightlifting, playing basketball, playing violin, and rock climbing. I love Torchy’s Tacos!”
Meghana Vadlamudi
Current Project: Solid lipid nanoparticle formulations for PDT and antibody-conjugated nanodiamonds for quantum sensing
Hobbies/Interests: “I enjoy skateboarding, knitting/crocheting, and learning about global health!”
Taksheel Aileni
Current Project: Applications of PDT in inducing Immunogenic Cell Death
Hobbies/Interests: In my free time I like to listen to music, play basketball, cook, watch sports, play video games, and go out.
Arden Peterson
Current Project: Synthesis of lipid nanoparticles and conjugation to antibodies for targeted cancer therapy
Kunal Karambelkar
Current Project: Synthesis of lipid nanoparticle and conjugation to antibodies for conjugation studies for targeted cancer therapy.
Hobbies/Interests: “I enjoy reading and watching new TV shows. I also like running, swimming, and baking, especially experimenting with new recipes.”
Nikhita Koya
Current Project: Light activated targeted proteins for photodynamic immunotherapy.
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time, I like boxing, competing in taekwondo, lifting weights, and listening to music”
Ronitha Tedla
Current Project: Lipid conjugates and antibody conjugates for targeted multi-agent delivery.
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time I enjoy taking photos as a portrait photographer, drawing or participating in anything crafty, reading, and watching movies! I also love music!”
Bhavana Sudula
Current Project: Exploring solid lipid nanoparticle formulations for photodynamic therapy (PDT)
Hobbies: “In my free time, I love watching movies, playing the viola, and exploring new coffee shops with my friends! I also have a growing interest in photography!”
Aarya Namburi
Current project: Developing lipid nanoparticles for PDT focused on improving drug delivery.
Hobbies/Interest: I enjoy playing all sports, cooking, and working out in my free time.
Anusha Gouravajhala (Clark Summer Research Program 2025)
Project: Developing light activated lipid based therapies for pancreatic cancer
Hobbies: I like playing video games, Brazilian jiu jitsu, going to the gym, and kickboxing
LAB ALUMNI
Current Project: Synthesizing FRET-based liposome structures for use in PDT.
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time, I enjoy running, going out for a late-night or early-morning drive, and baking.”
Currently attending medical school at UTSW
Siddharth Reddy Soma, BS
Rola Medhat Mukhtar
Past Project: Cognitive changes resulting from chemotherapy and Transcranial Photo Biomodulation (TPBM) therapy.
Hobbies/Interests: I like reading and working out. I also enjoy writing a lot.
Currently attending medical school at TCOM
Azophi Rafay Moffat, BS
Current Project: Fluorescence imaging and Osmium-based Photodynamic Therapy
Hobbies/Interests: “I’m an avid fan of building computers and playing video games in my free time. I also spend my free time working out, reading, and learning more about medicine.”
Currently attending medical school at Long School of Medicine
Sarah Ahmed, BS
Current Project: Nanodiamond conjugation for T-cell imaging
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time, I like to read and cook. When I get the chance, I love to travel with family.”
John William Fakhry, BS
Project: Fluorescence imaging and Molecular Targeted Photodynamic Therapy
Hobbies/ Interests: “I like to spend my time working on computers, hanging out with friends and playing video games. I also am an active participant in our church services and club.”
Currently attending medical school at UTSW
Menitte Lim Eroy, BS
Project: Liposomal Synthesis, Desmoplasia in Head and Neck Cancer
Hobbies/Interests: “I like to cook, bake, and try new restaurants. As for interests outside of research, I’m involved in Filipino cultural organizations and also volunteer at a local hospital.”
Currently a Biomedical Engineer at Department of Veteran Affairs
Taylor Hinchliffe – Jones Lab and Obaid Lab
Previous degree: B.S. In Biology and B.A. in Chinese studies (University of Houston, US)
Project: Immune engineering and nanomedicine for sepsis and cancer
Hobbies/Interests: In his free time, he enjoys writing and creating visual art.
Drashti Shah
Previous degree: Integrated Masters’s Degree in Life Science from Ahmedabad University, India
Previous Project: Fluorescence imaging and photodynamic therapy of osmium-based photosensitizers
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time, I try to explore the various things to do in and around Dallas. During the weekends, you can find me painting, trying out new recipes or hiking!”
Jude Sundar Franklin – Schmidtke Lab and Obaid Lab
Previous degree: B.E. in Biomedical Engineering (Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN)
Previous Project: CytoPDMS and Photochemical Internalization
Hobbies/Interests: I’m learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu right now, but I’m a huge sports fan so you can always find me on the pitch, ready to play soccer. In my spare time, I produce audio and like to perform my music at gigs!
John Squire
Previous Project: Using Nanoscale Formulations to Treat Head and Neck Cancer
Hobbies/Interests: “I am passionate about solving problems in medicine with the power of technology and engineering. I enjoy playing video games or programming in my free time.”
Kevin Fritz – Bioengineering REU scholar’22
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering (The University of Oklahoma)
Previous Project: Biological Nanoparticle Coatings for NIR Photodynamic Therapy in Cancer
Hobbies/Interests: “In my free time I enjoy running, hiking, and playing with my cat”
Phuong Minh Tran Vu (Jade Vu)
B.S. in Biomedical Engineering
Previous Project: Biomaterials for drug encapsulation and delivery
Hobbies/Interests: “I love outdoor activities, badminton and traveling. Outside of research, I am interested in entrepreneurship and personal development habits.“
Sania Zeito
Previous degree: B.S. in Biology (University of Texas at Dallas)
Previous Project: Synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles to use them for PDT in Head and Neck Cancer.
Hobbies/Interests: “Playing tennis and volleyball. Doing large-sized jigsaw puzzles.”
Sushant Prajapati
Previous degree: B.Tech in Biotechnology (National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, India)
Previous Project: Nanotechnology-assisted Targeting for Photodynamic Therapy in Head and Neck Cancer
Hobbies/Interests: “Apart from Research, I am mostly oriented towards arts, so, there is always a pencil and a blank sheet of paper on my table. Besides that, I also enjoy writing, swimming, photography, and athletics.”
Mina Faris Guirguis
B.S. in Biology and Healthcare Management (University of Texas at Dallas)
Projects Involved in: “Membrane composition is a functional determinant of NIR-activable liposomes in orthotopic head and neck cancer” and Osmium Micelle
Hobbies/Interests: I spend most of my free hours playing soccer or sudoku and reading.
Currently attending medical school at UTSW
Navadeep Shrivastava
B. Sc. (Mathematics, Physics), University of Allahabad, Pryagraj, India (2010)
M. Sc. (Physics), University of Allahabad, Pryagraj, India (2013)
Ph. D. (Inorganic Chemistry), Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, Brasil (2017)
Projects Involved in: Inorganic nanoparticles for PDT-based applications
Current Position: Research Associate at Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, NC, USA