Current Azab Lab Members

The Azab Lab strives to cultivate an enjoyable yet intellectually rigorous environment that promotes both scientific and professional development. The diverse cultural and scientific backgrounds of our team members provide us with a unique ability to approach and solve scientific problems with broad perspective, while fostering teamwork and collaboration.

Azab Lab

Principal Investigator

Current Lab Members

Postdoctoral Fellows

    Current Research

    Seti's research is focused on the development of local delivery of cancer therapeutics to the tumor bed, for higher efficacy in the tumor, and lower side effects in distant normal tissues.

    Previous Research

    During her PhD dissertation, Dr. Arsalani developed advanced multifunctional nanoparticles designed for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Her research encompassed the synthesis, comprehensive characterization, and rigorous testing of these nanoparticles, specifically for their efficacy in magnetomotive ultrasound imaging and magnetic hyperthermia.

    Education

    Degree Area of Study Institution
    B.S. Biomedical Engineering Azad University of Tehran, Iran
    M.S. Medical Physics University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
    Ph.D. Medical Physics University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

    About Seti

    Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. Arsalani is proficient in three languages—Farsi, English, and Portuguese—and finds pleasure in delving into the customs, culinary delights, and languages of diverse cultures. With a keen interest in music, she derives enjoyment from both classic Persian melodies and Western compositions. Additionally, Dr. Arsalani is passionate about traditional Persian dance and Brazilian Forro.

    Graduate Students

      Katie Rubitschung, M.S.

      Ph.D. Student
      Biomedical Engineering

      Nanomedicine Track

      Katie Rubitschung, M.S.

      Current Research

      In the Azab Lab, Katie's research seeks to develop novel in vivo and in vitro patient-derived cancer models which accurately recapitulate the tumor microenvironment. Her research strives to enhance personalized medicine and drug development processes while reducing cost to improve accessibility and efficiency.

      Previous Research

      Under the supervision of Dr. Michael Bentley, Katie’s undergraduate research at Minnesota State University Mankato aimed to elucidate the influence of testosterone on bone mineralization. During her Masters, Katie remained in the Bentley lab and expanded upon her previous work by investigating the role of other sex steroids on bone mineralization.

      Upon completing her Masters degree, she joined Dr. Orhan Öz's research lab at UT Southwestern in the Department of Radiology. During this period, she employed tissue-specific transgenic murine models to investigate the physiological effects of aromatase deficiency. Additionally, she contributed to a clinical study comparing the diagnostic efficacy of 99mTc-labelled white blood cell SPECT/CT, MRI, and the established gold standard, bone biopsy, in cases of diabetic foot infection.

      Education

      Degree Area of Study Institution
      B.S. Biomedical Science Minnesota State University Mankato
      M.S. Biomedical Science Minnesota State University Mankato

      About Katie

      Originally from Northern Minnesota, Katie's upbringing was enriched by a plethora of outdoor pursuits, including ice fishing, bow hunting, and gardening. Beyond her professional endeavors, she finds fulfillment in the exploration of diverse cultures, animals, and diligently preparing for marathons alongside her canine companion, Batman.

        Obed Asare, M.S.

        Ph.D. Student
        Basic Sciences

        Cancer Biology Track

        Obed Asare, M.S.

        Current Research

        Obed's research focuses on the immune microenvironment in multiple myeloma, particularly the mechanisms underlying the role of macrophages in myeloma progression and drug resistance. Ultimately, he aims to translate his insights into novel treatments for myeloma.

        Previous Research

        Obed's master's thesis at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), under the supervision of Dr. Kim, focused on elucidating the complex interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in the context of Ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin carcinogenesis. This research aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the crosstalk between these two cellular processes and their contributions to the development and progression of skin cancer in response to UVB exposure.

        Education

        Degree Area of Study Institution
        B.S. Biochemistry Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
        M.S. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

        About Obed

        Having lived in many places, Obed has developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity, but is originally from Obuasi, Ghana (West Africa). This area is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and abundant natural resources, including one of the largest gold deposits in the world. In his free time, Obed enjoys playing soccer (football), traveling, sightseeing, and playing the piano.

          Winston Liu, B.S.

          Ph.D. Student
          Basic Sciences

          Cancer Biology Track

          Winston Liu, B.S.

          Current Research

          In the Azab Lab, Winston's research is centered on reactivating the tumor microenvironment. His work involves developing innovative nanoparticle systems for gene delivery to enhance T cell activation in both in vitro and in vivo settings.

          Previous Research

          Following his graduation, he worked as a Research Associate at Academia Sinica, the top national research institution in Taiwan, where he focused on developing novel liposomal platforms for enhanced drug delivery. 

          Education

          Degree Area of Study Institution
          B.S. Biotechnology National Chung-Hsing University

          About Winston

          Proudly Taiwanese, Winston hails from a country renowned for its friendly people and delicious food. Outside the lab, he enjoys sports, traveling, movies, and TV shows.

            Anne Alsup, B.S.

            Ph.D. Student
            Biomedical Engineering
            UT Arlington/UT Southwestern

            Anne Alsup, B.S.

            Current Research

            Anne is currently pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering through the joint UTA/UTSW program, with a concentration in computational bioengineering. Her research focuses on the normalization of disrupted vasculature and the development of computational methods to analyze fluorescence images related to this work.

            Previous Research

            Anne's prior research focused on developing a deep learning-based pipeline for the automatic segmentation and tracking of thousands of cells, significantly reducing analysis time and enhancing the accuracy of traditional methods, which require manual cell outlining and multiple software packages. This pipeline enables the identification of specific calcium spiking patterns and spatial localization of cells over time-series image stacks.

            Education

            Degree Area of Study Institution
            B.S. Biomedical Engineering University of Texas, Arlington

            About Anne

            Outside the lab, Anne enjoys quality time with her parents at their ranch near Fort Worth and exploring new restaurants with friends. She spends her weekends contributing to the upkeep of the garden and caring for the horses, cows, and goats.

              Varsha Venugopal, B.S.

              M.Sc. Student
              Biomedical Engineering
              UT Dallas/UT Southwestern

              Varsha Venugopal

              Current Research

              Varsha's research is focused on the development of local delivery of Cisplatin to cervical cancer, for higher efficacy in the tumor, and lower side effects in distant normal tissues.

              Education

              Degree Area of Study Institution
              B.S. Neuroscience UT Dallas

              About Varsha

              Outside the lab, Varsha is an Indian Classical Dancer who has mastered three traditional art forms. In her free time, she embraces a range of artistic pursuits, from dancing and painting to exploring new cuisines with family and friends.

              Visiting Students

                Mihika Desai

                Summer Undergraduate Research Foundation (SURF) Fellow
                Biomedical Engineering B.S. Student
                Purdue University

                Mihika

                Current Research

                Mihika is currently pursuing her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University. Her work in the Azab lab focuses on microfluidics.

                Education

                Degree Area of Study Institution
                B.S. Biomedical Engineering Purdue University

                About Mihika

                Originally from Peoria, Illinois, Mihika has also lived in Brazil and India. When she's not in the lab working on microfluidic chips, she enjoys baking, crocheting, singing, and playing the piano.