Mandana Arbab, PhD
Manda Arbab is the Lodish Family Assistant Professor at the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School Department of Neurology. Manda received her PhD in Regenerative Medicine at the Hubrecht Institute for Developmental Biology and Stem Cell Research and Utrecht University in The Netherlands where she worked on induced pluripotent stem cell modeling of motor neuron diseases and advancing CRISPR technologies. She went on to complete an NWO Rubicon postdoctoral fellowship at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in the lab of Prof. David Liu where she developed a high-throughput genome-integrated platform to measure the activity of CRISPR tools at synthetic loci in mammalian cells. These data elucidated how target sequence features, DNA repair pathways, and genome editor characteristics affect genome editing outcomes, and enabled the development of predictive machine learning models of genome editing outcomes that facilitate precision genome editing strategy design. She has applied these insights to develop in vivo genome editing therapeutics to cure and treat genetic neurological disorders in cells and animal models of human disease.
She and her team continue to pursue their goal of developing novel genome editing therapeutics, translating these drugs from bench to bedside, and using genome editing technologies to uncover the pathogenic processes that underlie neurodegenerative diseases. In 2021, Manda was awarded the Pathway to Independence Award from the NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Current group members
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Kwangjun Lee
Role Postdoctoral fellow
Education PhD Biomedical Science, Florida State University
Research interests I have created mutant cell and mouse models by CRISPR-mediated homology-directed repair to investigate functional short sequence motifs in circadian clock genes. My goal is to broaden my expertise in genome editing therapeutics, aiming to cure and treat genetic disorders in cell and animal models of human diseases.
Hobbies I am a passionate sports fan. Currently, I enjoy playing tennis and golf. Additionally, I enjoy spending time at the gym and swimming to stay active and fit.
Fun fact In 2022, I made a hole-in-one, we believed that it brings good fortune for three years! It is still valid!!
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Andrea Bianchi
Role Postdoctoral fellow
Education PhD Translational and Molecular Medicine, Milan
Research interests Genome editing is my passion. I transitioned to cancer immunology, exploring the role of B cells in cancer and became an expert in genetically modifying these cells for innovative cell therapies. My interests further include the tumor microenvironment mechanisms of aging.
Hobbies Good food, organizing social gathering, perfume making.
Favorite quote Your self respect has to be stronger than your feelings. -
Mikey Chatigny
Role Program Coordinator II
Education B.S. Psychology/English
Research interests: Neuropathology, Histology
Hobbies: Reading, Writing, Gaming, Snowboarding
Favorite quote: Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.
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Jing Zhao
Role Data Analyst
Education M.S. in Bioinformatics from Northeastern University
Research interests My work focuses on designing and optimizing computational workflows for high-throughput biological data analysis, including creating pipelines for CRISPR screening, and RNA-seq analysis, to solve complex biological problems and contribute to the understanding of human health, diseases, and genomics.
Favorite activities Tennis and hiking.
Favorite quote Work hard, play hard.
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Magdalena Lang
Role Graduate researcher
Education Medicine and Biomedical Neuroscience Master’s at TU Munich
Research interests Translating
discoveries into clinical practice—especially in Neurology. I’m on a quest to understand how the brain and body tick.
Favorite activity Dancing! Whether it's ballroom or in my kitchen waiting for something to bake, it’s my happy place.
Fun fact I was one of the dancers who helped open the UEFA Euro Soccer
Championship 2024. It was pretty epic! -
Adrian Quintana
Role: Research Assistant
Education: B.A in Neuroscience and Latino & Latina Studies at Vanderbilt University
Research interests: Neurodegenerative diseases, translational research especially in the field of neurology
Hobbies: Running, Cooking
Favorite activity: Sitting outside and soaking up the sun.
Currently watching/reading: Modern Family
Favorite quote: “You are made for this moment. You have what it takes to meet it and meet it you must.”
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Adam Eckardt
Education: B.S. Pharmacology & Toxicology, B.S. Biochemistry, Certificate in Biocore
Role: Harvard Biological & Biomedical Science (BBS) PhD Student
Research interests: I am fascinated by the power of emerging gene editing technologies and their potential to reshape our approach to neurodegenerative disease. My work centers on engineering genetic tools that not only expand our understanding of disease biology but also lay the groundwork for future therapeutic breakthroughs.
Hobbies: Chess, Golf & Powerlifting
Currently watching/reading: Shadows of the apt
Favorite quote: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic” – Arthur C. Clarke
Lab outings
December 2024 - Level 99
Former group members
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Zach Barsdale
Current Position: Rotating Graduate Student - University of California—Berkeley
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Sara MacManus
Current Position: BSc in Biochemistry at University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Aliyah Dawkins
Current Position: PhD Candidate for Neuroscience Program
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James Chacharone
Current position: MD Student at UMass
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Alanna Kirschner
Current Position: PhD Student at University of Heidelberg
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Lisa Diez
Current Position: Graduate Student at Harvard Medical School
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Ivy Nguyen
Current Position: Graduate Student at Harvard Medical School
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Junghyun Yoo
Current Position: Graduate Student at Harvard Medical School
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Marissa Sumathipala
Current Position: Graduate Student at Harvard Medical School
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Joy Horng
Current Position: Harvard BBS PhD Program