People

Katrina Bark is the research lab manager in the Di Paola Lab. Bark’s research interests include platelet function and platelet-related disorders, micro-surgery, microfluidics, thrombo-inflammation and investigation of novel antithrombotics and thrombolytics. No one is quite sure what Bark does when not in the lab, but it is rumored that she is secretly a robot.

Brooke Sadler is the co-director of a genetics and genomics core for a program project grant on the biology of von Willebrand Disease. She is engaged in performing bioinformatical analyses on large-scale exome and genome datasets. She is particularly familiar with rare-variant analysis strategies and copy-number variation analyses. In her free time Sadler enjoys collecting houseplants, science fiction and spending time with her kids.

Tissue factor (TF) triggers coagulation, which is critical in hemostasis to abate bleeding, however, TF also contributes unfavorably to thrombosis, inflammation, infections and cancer diseases. Tom Girard studies the initiation and regulation of hemostasis and how hemostastic mechanisms influence disease. His investigation center on tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), which is the endogenous regulator of coagulation and the major inhibitor of TF activities. Girard’s weekend “hobbies” include gardening (aka yardwork) and construction.

Nina Lasky is a Licensed Veterinary Technician responsible for managing a genetically modified and diverse mouse colony. She also assists in the technical aspects of performing experiments with these mice. Outside of work, her hobbies include exercising, reading, fashion and spending time with her extended family.

Angell He is the sole engineer developing the Zimmerman Analytic Platform (ZAP), a web-based platform for investigators researching von Willebrand Disease and other conditions related to abnormal VWF. To build ZAP, Angell He uses Laravel wiht PHP, MariaDB, Javascript, HTML, and CSS on an Ubuntu server. Outside of work, Angell enjoys spending time with her family and friends as well as traveling, photographing, and exploring outdoors.

Renumathi Subramanian is a Research Technician in the Di Paola Lab. She has 25+ years experience in molecular and cell biology and is currently assisting lab members in cell culturing and the genotyping of genetically modified mice. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Fan just got his Ph.D. degree in Cancer biology from the University of South Florida. He is studying the transcriptional, proteomic and functional alterations of platelets in MPN patients, especially in essential thrombocythemia and primary myelofibrosis. He is also very interested in learning bioinformatical analyses and coding. During spare time, he likes going hiking and trying novel foods around.

Lili received her PhD in Human and Statistical Genetics at WashU. Her research work and interests focus on the development and application of statistical methods, tools and pipelines for analysis and identification of genetic variants in large-scale genomic data.

Irem joined the lab after clinically heavy first year fellowship in pediatric heme-onc. Patients with hemostasis problems inspire her such as thrombosis related to infection or congenital heart disease. Her research interest focuses on inflammation-hemostasis cross talk and role of TFPI in inflammation models. She is learning coagulation techniques in the lab and meeting with mice in the facility. Before coming to US, she completed medical school and pediatric residency in Turkey. She enjoys doing Pilates and dancing.

Kimsey Platten is a graduate student in the Di Paola  and Bark lab. His research interests center around the mechanobiology of hemostasis and thrombosis in the context of blood flow. Specifically, he focuses on understanding the dynamics of the mechanosensitive plasma glycoprotein von Willebrand Factor, and how it responds under physiological and pathological flow. When not in the lab, Kimsey runs table-top role-playing games (D&D, etc.), works through his ever-extending backlog of history and sci-fi books, and showers his adorable, fluffy cat (and sometimes his wife) with affection.

Molly Brakhane is a gradute student in the Di Paola and Oh lab.  Molly studies the role of calcium in hematopoiesis and development of myeloproliferative neoplasms and dysregulation of signaling in platelet dynamics, particularly on the effects on platelet production, function, and survival in vivo and in vitro. Molly is very passionate about representation in STEM and is on the executive councils of the WashU branch of Women in STEM and Science and Healthcare Abilities Coalition, which works for representation and advocacy for those with disabilities or chronic illness in STEM. Molly is born and raised around St. Louis, and enjoys being close to family and friends in the area while living with her two cats.

Hyder, who has an M-Tech and PhD in Biotechnology, is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate in the Di Paola Lab. His work emphasizes on exploring the genetic and biological aspects of Kashmiri thrombocytopenia while conducting whole genome sequencing (WGS) and contributing to the bioinformatics analysis of the data. Hyder works on the functionalization of newly discovered gene variants by utilizing gene editing of CD34+ cells and differentiating them into megakaryocytes, in addition to the development of mouse models.

During his free time, Hyder enjoys using his camera lens to capture breathtaking sunsets. He has a passion for traveling and is a self-professed food enthusiast.

Josh is a clinical fellow joining from the adult Hematology and Medical Oncology fellowship program. He found his way to St. Louis from Philadelphia – by way of Rhode Island – and has joined the lab to investigate how megakaryocytes and platelets react to systemic disease in the development and bleeding and thrombotic disorders. Before completing medical school he trained under Dr. Valder Arruda in the development of gene therapy strategies for hemophilia, including defining gain-of-function Factor VIII and IX variants. In St. Louis he actively seeks out the many craft bars and restaurants, and carefully explores his neighborhood rock climbing gym.

Shelley Choudhury joined the lab and world of hematology after developing an interest in hepatic venoocclusive disease as a pediatric gastroenterology fellow. Her research interest focuses on the mechanism of action of defibrotide, an antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory medication ​used to treat this disease, on platelets and endothelial cells. Outside of the lab, Shelley enjoys vintage clothes and antique shopping, working on house projects with her husband, walks with her dog, and traveling.