TEAM

PhD Student

Maria completed her bachelor's degree in molecular biology and chemistry from Rutgers University in New Jersey. After working in a malaria research lab at Seattle Children's and as a forensic technician in Hawaii, Maria came back to pursue her graduate degree in Environmental Toxicology, studying the effects of cadmium on the gut-brain axis.

PhD Candidate

Anish earned his B.S. in biochemistry from USC in 2020. He uses kidney microphysiological systems to assess risk factors for chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). He loves spicy food, skiing and gaming.

PhD Candidate

Brad is a Toxicology PhD Student in the UW School of Public Health. He is co-advised with Dr. Elaine Faustman. He is interested in in-vitro models to study reproductive and developmental toxicity. 

PhD Student

Eric graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2022 with a B.S. in Pharmacology. He worked at Amgen for 2 years in Process Development before pursuing a PhD in Pharmaceutics. He is currently working on optimizing MPS platforms to integrate in vitro data with computational modeling to predict renal drug clearances.

PhD Candidate

Eimear received her B.S. in genetics, cell biology, and development from the University of Minnesota in 2020. She spent two years as a clinical development scientist for a private pharmacogenomics company. Eimear is currently a pharmaceutics PhD student researching natural drug product interactions in the gut. 

Masters Student

Scott received his B.S in biomolecular science from the University of Michigan in 2024. He is currently a master’s student studying Environmental Toxicology co-advised with Dr. Libin Xu. He is working on a project assessing the impact of benzalkonium chlorides (BACs) on oral drug uptake using the enteroid monolayer model. 

PhD Candidate

Tim graduated from University of California Los Angeles in 2019 with B.S. in chemistry. He is currently working on a PhD in Pharmaceutics The title of Tim's project is “The Regulation of Renal Transporters by Pregnancy Hormones and Pro-inflammatory Cytokine in Proximal Tubular Epithelial Cells”.

Research Scientist

Brooke has her B.S. in cellular molecular biology from Cal Poly Humboldt. She also completed a year long internship as a stem cell researcher at the University of California Davis. Brooke now works on the kidney chip project and the intestinal organoid team.

Research Scientist

Kai received his B.S. in biochemistry from Virginia Tech. He achieved a Masters degree in pharmaceutics at UW. His research project focuses on investigating the effect of cytokines on drug transporter regulation in human enterocytes.

Undergraduate Researcher

Sachiko is working towards her B.S. in Biochemistry and B.A. in Dance at UW and minoring in Bioethics and Humanities. She is interested in learning all she can about kidney chips and working in a research lab.  When not in the lab, Sachiko can often be found in the Meany studios working on her next choreographic project. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Jolene is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington pursuing a B.S. in Biochemistry. Her research focuses on optimizing kidney extracellular matrix scaffolds to enhance the biomimicry of kidney-on-a-chip systems. She aims to contribute to the development of more physiologically accurate models for studying renal function, disease mechanisms, and pharmaceutical testing.

Undergraduate Researcher

Madison is working towards a B.S. in Biochemistry, expected to graduate in June 2026. Working in hand with her mentor Eimear O’Mahony, she is using a complex in vitro system of the small intestine to evaluate extrinsic and intrinsic influences on intestinal drug metabolism and transport. Outside of the lab, Madison enjoys hiking, running, and attending Husky football games.

Undergraduate Researcher

Ishani is working towards her B.S. in Biochemistry at the University of Washington. 

Postdoctoral Fellow

Priyanka was the first postdoctoral fellow in the Kelly Lab. In addition to performing research, Dr. Rohatgi earned an MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Kelly lab (Thesis Title: Characterization of a Lamellar Ichthyosis-Associated P450, CYP4F22 and Bietti’s Crystalline Dystrophy-Associated P450, CYP4V2). Currently a Partner at Novo Holdings. 

Pediatric Nephrologist, Research Fellow

Born and raised in Texas, Ranita completed her medical doctorate program at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and residency program at the University of Texas at Austin's Dell Children's Medical Center. Upon finishing her pediatric nephrology fellowship with the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital Division of Nephrology, she is continuing as a research fellow in the Kelly Lab.

Acting Instructor, Pulmonary Fellow

Pavan is a physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the Department of Medicine; a member of the Kidney Research Institute; and acting instructor at the University of Washington.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ed co-mentored Tom with Dr. Anna-Karin Sjögren at AstraZeneca in Gothenburg, Sweden. Currently Scientist at Mosa Meat, Maastricht, Netherlands.

Visiting Scientist

Sara spent her post-doctoral fellowship with the Dept. of Pharmaceutics here at the University of Washington before she assumed her position at Hebrew University in Israel. She returned to Seattle in July 2018 to join the Kelly Lab for a "mini-sabbatical". During her stay, she assisted in vitamin-D related experiments with kidney-on-a-chips.

Visiting Research Scientist

Tomoki was a visiting scientist from Japan. With an educational background in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic research, he is exploring the applications of a microphysiological model of the human renal proximal tubule to evaluate and predict renal handling of drugs in humans. He also has strong interest in studying chemical toxicity related to environmental diseases.

Collaborator

Mariko began collaborating with Dr. Kelly while working on her dissertation, titled “Biochemical Characterization of CYP4V2 and Its Role in the Retinal Disease Bietti’s Crystalline Dystrophy.”.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Jeremy received his PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from University of Louisville in 2016, where he studied alcohol-induced gut-liver injury in alcoholic liver disease. He continued training as a postdoc in neuroscience and behavioral research in Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics (CARE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago before he joined Dr. Catherine Yeung’s lab in July 2020. Jeremy is interested in pharmacokinetic modeling and microphysiological system (MPS) in the application of drug metabolism and disposition research. 

Research Scientist

Kirk attended the University of Washington to earn both his MS in fisheries and Ph.D in toxicology. While working in the Kelly Lab, Kirk was engaged in the investigation of the implementation of microfluidic devices (organs-on-a-chip) to evaluate the toxicity and pharmacology of drugs and toxicants exposed to renal and hepatic cells growing in a 3D connective tissue matrix. Outside of lab, he is a Expert Toxicology Witness for the King County Department of Public Defense and Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology.

Research Scientist

Jade started as an Undergraduate Research Assistant and is now a Research Scientist in the Kelly lab. She graduated from the University of Washington in 2020 with a degree in Biochemistry.

Undergraduate Researcher

Jacelyn Bain graduated from the University of Washington in 2021 with a degree in Bioengineering. Her favorite hobbies include reading, movie-going, and hiking.

PhD Candidate

Chris is from Cleveland, Ohio. His research involves developing and characterizing intestinal enteroids for use in drug absorption modeling. He likes to make Italian pasta sauce, bouldering, and his cat Chives. 

Graduate Researcher 

Thesis Title: CFTR Mutations: Evaluation of uptake kinetics of ferret proximal tubule cells and impact of potentiators and correctors on renal excretory profile. MS, Department of Comparative Medicine, 2024. Current Position: Staff veterinarian for NASA, Johnson Space Center.

Masters Student

Yousif received his B.S. in environmental and occupational health sciences and is working on his Masters in the same program with an emphasis on environmental toxicology at the University of Washington. The title of his thesis is: "Characterization of the Long-Term Toxic Response of Proximal Tubule Epithelial Cells in a Microphysiological System".

Postdoctoral Fellow

Thesis Title: Examining relationships between long non-coding RNA and warfarin pharmacogenes. MS, Department of Public Health Genetics, 2023. Current Position: Applying to doctoral programs in public health genetics.

Graduate Researcher

Thesis Title: Examining the impact of microgravity on a microphysiologic model of kidney stone disease. Department of Pharmaceutics, 2023. (NCATS UH3TR002178 Diversity Supplement, UW Health Sciences Center Annual MLK Community Service Award, Elmer M. Plein Endowed Research Fund Awardee, William E. Bradley Endowed Fellowship, Department of Pharmaceutics Shen Travel Award, University of Washington Husky 100 Recognition, UW Black Opportunity Fund Awardee). Current Position: Manager, Clinical Pharmacology, Pfizer, Inc.

Graduate Researcher

Thesis Title: Regulated bioanalysis in the biopharmaceutical industry. MS, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 2021. Current Position: Commissioning Editor at Springer Nature Group.

Graduate Researcher

Kevin received his PhD in June of 2021. Kevin's work focused on utilizing a microphysiological model of the human renal proximal tubule to evaluate whether phosphorothioate backbone chemistry is a major determinate of antisense oligonucleotide-induced renal injury. Kevin was also interested in understanding how human serum components affect proximal tubule epithelial cell phenotype. Kevin currently holds a position at RayzeBio. 

Graduate Researcher

Francine earned her MS in 2021. Her Thesis is titled, "Development of a Cystic Fibrosis Microphysiologic Model of Glomerular Filtrate Reabsorption". Following graduation, she has taken a position as a Pharmacokinetic Scientist at Altasciences.

Graduate Researcher

Eli earned his Ph.D in 2018. His thesis was titled "Development of a Microphysiological Model of the Kidney Proximal Tubule and Application in Predictive Toxicity Testing of Polymyxin Antibiotics." Shortly after graduating, he started his position as a clinical pharmacologist at Gilead in Forest City, California.

Graduate Researcher

Shirley is an international student who comes from Taiwan. She got her BS degree from Fu-Jen Catholic University, Taipei, Taiwan, and her MS degree from National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan. Thesis Title: Development of a liver-kidney dual organ microphysiological system for predicting organ-organ interactions in the toxicity of xenobiotics: Aristolochic acid nephrotoxicity as a proof of principle. Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, 2016. (Colgate-Palmolive Award for Graduate Student Research Training in Alternative Methods-Society of Toxicology, Vitro Alternative Methods Specialty Section Award-Society of Toxicology). Current Position: Associate Director, Taiho Oncology, Inc.

Graduate Researcher

Thesis Title: Function and regulation of cytochrome P450 4V2 and the implications in Bietti’s Crystalline Dystrophy. Department of Pharmaceutics, 2016. (Elmer M. Plein Endowed Research Fund Award, The Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) TL1 training program, Young Scholar Award – Current Issues in Medicine and Pharma, Graduate Students, Ocular Toxicology Specialty Section – Covance – OSOD Graduate Student / Postdoctoral Fellow Research Award-Society of Toxicology, Graduate School Fund for Excellence and Innovation (GSFEI) travel award). Current Positions: Chief Science Officer at Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, Executive Director at the Biologics and Biosimilars Collective Intelligence Consortium.

Graduate Researcher

Jenna joined the Kelly lab in 2009 as a PhD student and graduated in 2015. Her thesis is titled "Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Derived Hepatocytes." Following graduation she took a position at Seattle Genetics as a Clinical Pharmacologist.

Graduate Researcher

Maria earned her Master's degree in 2013. Her thesis title was "Isolation, Propagation, and Characterization of Primary Human Renal Epithelial Cells.".

Graduate Researcher

Krystle graduated with her Master's degree in 2012. Her thesis was titled "Screening for MicroRNA Regulators of an Orphan Cytochrome P450 4V2 (CYP4V2)." After graduating, she has worked in the biotech industry as a Manager of Talent Acquisition at AbbVie, overseeing recruitment for oncology R&D in the West Coast.

Graduate Researcher

Hadar earned her Master's in Public Health in 2011. Her thesis title was "MicroRNA Regulation of Drug Metabolizing Enzymes, Including Ethical Implications for Pharmaceutical Research in Pregnant Women." She is currently a User Experience Researcher at Google. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Sarah is a senior working towards her double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry, along with a minor in Bioethics. She is working with Brad on a project working with human iPSCs to build a toxicology model. When not in the lab she loves hanging out with friends and exploring the city.

Undergraduate Researcher

Mei is working hard to obtain a B.S. in chemical engineering, expected June 2025. Her goal in lab is to craft a collagen matrix aimed at enhancing the functionality of the kidney chips to emulate the characteristics of human kidneys.

Undergraduate Researcher

Keemia is diligently working to receive a B.S. in chemical engineering. Her research project is to integrate kidney matrices into the kidney-on-a-chip to create a more biologically accurate model, while also maintaining its functional capabilities.

Undergraduate Researcher

Angela is working towards her B.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. She is currently working on investigating the impact of ochratoxin-A on chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology. She is a coffee aficionado frequently spotted at local cafes. 

I recently graduated with a B.S. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and a minor in Entrepreneurship. This fall, I'll be heading to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine to begin a Master's program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine. 

Undergraduate Researcher

 Sydney is working towards her B.S in biochemistry at UW. Her project focuses on analyzing Ochratoxin A renal clearance through a transport assay.

Undergraduate Researcher

Biochemistry, UW. Immunohistochemistry of developing testis to inform in vitro model development. (2022-2024) Current Position: MD Student at University of Virginia School of Medicine.

Undergraduate Researcher

Ethan is tenaciously working on his B.S. in biochemistry. He work on the CNI project, which evaluates he toxicity of different calcineurin inhibitors on the human kidney using microphysiological systems (organ-on-a-chip).

Undergraduate Researcher

Roshni got a B.S. in Public Health from the University of Washington. The research project she worked on involved Calcineurin Inhibitors, and looking for the phenotype of dysmorphic lysosomes on affected kidney cells. Her last poster was titled: Assessment of the Nephrotoxicity of the Immunosuppressants, Cyclosporine A and Voclosporin, Through the Use of a Kidney Microphysiological System.  

Undergraduate Researcher

Neuroscience, UW. Modeling COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury in a kidney MPS. GenOM ALVA summer intern. (2020). Current Position: Open to work.

Undergraduate Student

Phoenix Chen graduated from the UW with a degree in Biochemistry. He is a Seattle native and loves going on runs in the summer around Green Lake. He can also solve a Rubik's cube in under a minute.

Undergraduate Volunteer

Megan graduated from Cal-Poly State University in San Luis Obispo where she majored in biology and minored in Spanish and biotechnology.  She now attends medical school, serving as the president of the class of 2024 at University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Mickey intends to major in neurobiology and minor in global health. She hopes to become a neurosurgeon in the future. Her hobbies outside of lab and school include drawing, singing, and playing the ukulele. She is now doing a post-bac in pharmacology at the University of Washington.

GenOM-ALVA Undergraduate Researcher

Virginia Vaenuku graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School in Vancouver, WA in 2017. As a UW GenOM ALVA summer intern, Virginia tested the nephrotoxicity of an antibiotic, Gentamicin. As a pre-med student with interest in pediatrics, she hopes to also pursue research in drug-related nephrotoxicity in children.

Undergraduate Researcher

Biology, Smith College. Utility of a kidney MPS in modeling acute injury in responses to aminoglycoside exposure. (2016-2017). Current Position: Pediatric residency, UNMC.

GenOM-ALVA Undergraduate Researcher

Wade plans to major in physiology and minor in music as a pre-med undergraduate. Driven by his own experience in receiving a kidney transplant, he aspires to one day be a kidney transplant surgeon. Wade has also been playing the cello for 16 years.

Undergraduate Researcher

Claudia earned her MS in Applied Toxicology in 2021. Following graduation she worked as a forensic autopsy technician and tissue recovery specialist. She is an avid hiker and fiber artist. 

High School Volunteer

Kiera joined our lab in winter of 2015 as a junior in high school. In the fall of 2017, Kiera enrolled at UC Santa Barbara to pursue a major in Chemistry and Biochemistry with a concentration in Biochemistry. She then went to work in Dr. Thomas Weimbs lab.

Undergraduate Researcher

Bioengineering, UW. Assessing cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity using both conventional cell cultures and a kidney MPS. GenOM ALVA summer intern. (2015-2020). Current Position: Process System Safety Engineer, Amentum.

Undergraduate Volunteer

Christina is a lab technician for the Kelly Lab. She majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, graduating from UW in 2018, and will be continuing her studies as a dental student at UW's School of Dentistry. Her work mainly consisted of recombinant protein expression and purification. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Computer Sciences, UW. Gene mutation analyses in patients with Bietti’s Crystalline Dystrophy. GenOM ALVA summer intern. (2014-2016). Current Position: Technical Program Manager, Zillow.

Undergraduate Researcher

Biochemistry and Chemistry, UW. Protocol development for PCR-based genotyping of transgenic and knockout mice. (2012) Current Position: Lead Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Swedish Cancer Institute.

Undergraduate Researcher

Ying was a part of the Kelly Lab 2011-2012. After graduating from the University of Washington with her Bachelor's degree, Ying went on to earn her Pharm.D at the University of Southern California.

GenOM-ALVA Undergraduate Researcher

Mikias was in the Kelly Lab in 2011 as a GenOM-ALVA student. He is currently a Phlebotomist at Bloodworks Northwest. 

GenOM-ALVA Undergraduate Researcher

Development of PCR-based assays for identifying canine MDR1 gene mutations. GenOM ALVA summer intern. (2009). Current Position: Support Engineer, Ingeniux.

Undergraduate Volunteer

Ria worked with us in the summer of 2018 on recombinant protein expression. After this, she went on to college at Vanderbilt University. 

Undergraduate Researcher

Lukas is from Whitman College and is spending his summer researching "comprehensive retinoic acid responsiveness screening using a wide range of concentration of retinoids as well as specific inhibitor compounds for both enzymes and receptors" with our lab. He is working hard to obtain a degree in biochemistry, biophysics, and molecular biology.

Undergraduate Researcher

Vivian is a summer intern from Colby College. She is spending the 2024 summer working on optimization of media formulation for culturing primary renal epithelial cells.

Undergraduate Researcher

Mahi received her I.B. Diploma in 2022. She is now working towards her BS in Biology with an emphasis in Physiology, she is also minoring in Business Entrepreneurship here at UW. She is working on her research project which investigates avenues to derive M2 testicular resident macrophages in vitro.

Undergraduate Researcher

Jennifer is working on obtaining her BS in Biochemistry here at UW. She is working with Eimear to learn valuable lab skills.

Graduate Researcher

Oliver Parkinson worked in collaboration with the Kelly Lab between 2007 and 2012 on the effects and metabolism of toxic furans in CYP4B1 null mice, demonstrating that CYP4B1 bioactivates ipomeanol and perilla ketone in vivo. After graduating from UW Oliver went on to become an internationally acclaimed circus performer.

Graduate Researcher

Brian earned his Ph.D in 2017. He did a pediatric clinical pharmacology fellowship at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Graduate Researcher

Alenka graduated with her Ph.D in 2018. Her thesis was titled "Development and Characterization of Vascularized Proximal Tubule Microphysiological System as a Novel In Vitro Model for Renal Tubular Drug Secretion." She is currently a post-doctoral fellow at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.