Laura Heiser, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Vice Chair, Biomedical Engineering
Associate Director of Complex Systems Modeling, CEDAR
Co-Leader, Quantitative Oncology, Knight Cancer Institute 
503-346-4617 | heiserl@ohsu.edu | Faculty bio

Mark Dane
Senior Research Associate
dane@ohsu.edu

Daniel Derrick
Senior Research Assistant
derrickd@ohsu.edu

I'm a computational biologist working primarily on the analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data. My work focuses on aligning the diverse cell types, states and behaviors observed in single-cell datasets with the established frameworks of known biology, particularly in the context of breast cancer and models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). I work to bridge gaps between experimental data and biological insights. I graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Biology in 2016 and an M.S. in Biology in 2017. 

Tiera Liby, M.S.
Lab Manager
liby@ohsu.edu

I manage the daily wet lab operations including inventory, equipment maintenance, safety and training. Focused on experimental repeatability and consistency, this dynamic role includes wet bench support in forms of, but not limited to, protocol development, cell bank management, sample-dependent experimental techniques and multiple imaging modalities. I can be found on Saturdays leading the Day & Knight Hikers around the great PNW. 

Eric Berens
Integrated Training in Quantitative and Experimental Cancer Systems Biology T32 Fellow 

In my research, I investigate a phenomenon in which neoplastic epithelial cells express genes commonly attributed to leukocytes. My research primarily uses murine and cell line models of breast cancer to study cellular phenotypes identified via single-cell RNA-sequencing. 

Co-mentored by Drs. Laura Heiser and Lisa Coussens

Nicholas Calistri
calistri@ohsu.edu
Integrated Training in Quantitative and Experimental Cancer Systems Biology T32 Fellow 

I study the dynamics of drug response in triple negative breast cancer and how changes in gene expression and cell-cell interactions drive adaptive drug resistance and create immunosuppressive microenvironments. 

Co-mentored by Drs. Laura Heiser and Rosalie Sears 

Ian McLean
Graduate Student
mcleania@ohsu.edu

I am pursuing a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and am interested in single-cell sequencing and machine learning, and how they can be applied to understanding the tumor microenvironment in breast cancer. I worked for four years as a manufacturing engineer at a medical device company based in Seattle, after which I spent two years at Colorado State University developing a microfluidic device for culturing tissue explants. 

Tara Ziglari
Integrated Training in Quantitative and Experimental Cancer Systems Biology T32 Fellow 

My research investigates how tiny fluid-filled sacs from senescent cells, called extracellular vesicles, contribute to the immune system's ability to clear out cancer cells that persist after treatment. These senescent cells stop dividing but don't die off, which can increase the risk of cancer recurrence. My work involves developing and validating a novel engraftment-based senescence model. This model, along with computational analysis techniques, enables me to explore the precise role of senescent cell-derived extracellular vesicles in recruiting and activating various immune cell subsets. This mechanism ultimately may facilitate the efficient removal of senescent cancer cells and the prevention of tumor recurrence. 
 
Co-mentored by Drs. Laura Heiser and Ferdinando Pucci