Lionel Blanc, Principal Investigator
Lio Blanc graduated in 2008 from the University of Montpellier with a PhD in Molecular Medicine. His graduate training in cell biology and biochemistry provided him with a variety of methods with which to assess protein sorting and trafficking in reticulocytes, using rats as an animal model. His studies on the mechanism by which exosomes, small vesicles secreted by maturing red blood cells, are cleared led him to identify a pathway similar to the one involved in the clearance of apoptotic bodies. It was during that time that Lio became fascinated with the shape of red cells and the erythroid differentiation system.
Lio moved to New York in 2008 to join the lab of Dr. Mohandas Narla as a postdoc at the New York Blood Center. Under Dr. Narla's mentoring, Lio strengthened his knowledge in hematology, particularly in red cells and erythropoiesis. In addition, he developed expertise in basic molecular biology and biophysics. To further his training in mouse genetics, he spent a year with Dr. Luanne Peters.
After four years at the New York Blood Center, Lio opened his lab at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, where he is now the Nelkin Professor of Pediatric Oncology.
Lio spends his spare time with his family. They love to travel.
Staff
Julien Papoin
Assistant Investigator, Lab Manager
Experience: Visiting Scientist, New York Blood Center; Research Assistant, CNRS
Research Interests: Biotechnology; stem cell biology; translational hematology research
Most memorable hike: Macchu Pichu
Yuefeng Tang
Assistant Professor, Research Scientist
Experience: Postdoc, UMass
Research Interests: Stem cells in cancer; metabolism and translation regulation
World marathon majors run: Six
Mushran Khan
Research Assistant
Research Interests: Developmental biology
Rachel Josselsohn
MD/PhD Candidate
Experience: Undergrad Research Asst, Paradis Lab, Brandeis U; Research Technician, Thompson Lab, Memorial Sloan Kettering
Research Interests: Anemia of inflammation; translational hematology research
Favorite Weekend Activity: Volunteering with Hearts & Bones Animal Rescue
Riaz Rao
Research Assistant, Computational Biologist, Webmaster
Research interests: Systems biology; biostatistics; method development and validation
Linux distribution: Arch
Maaryj Ahmad
Clinical Research Coordinator
Experience: CRC, A1 Clinical Research
Research interests: Steroid therapies
Ambition: Run a clinical research business
Students and Interns
These students gain research experience through the Feinstein Institutes' Visting Scholars Program and Summer Research Internship Program.
- Fatima Khan, BS Biochemistry, Hofstra U
- Jonah Kamen, BS Biology, Syracuse U