Athar Khalil
What is your student/job title?
I am a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Genetics & Genome Sciences. Also, I am an instructor in the Post-Baccalaureate Readiness Instruction for Biomedical Education (PRIME) program.
What is your fellowship project?
My journey in the scientific realm started during my graduate studies when we made a groundbreaking discovery about the role of the TBX2 subfamily of transcription factors in lung adenocarcinoma. Currently, I am actively working on translating these fundamental scientific findings into improved treatments for lung cancer. This involves creating a preclinical animal model specifically designed to study TBX2 subfamily-driven lung cancer while utilizing the innovative Tumor Barcoding with Ultradeep Barcode Sequencing technology (TuBa-seq).
What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
My favorite aspect of entrepreneurship lies in the dynamic and multifaceted nature of the journey. Networking enables you to learn from others' experiences and gain insights that can propel your business forward. Moreover, the challenges that entrepreneurship presents, while daunting at times, are opportunities for personal and professional growth. Overcoming obstacles fosters resilience and adaptability, ultimately leading to the satisfaction of achieving success on your own terms.
Do you have an entrepreneurial role model? If so, who?
Yes, I do have an entrepreneurial role model, and that would be Noubar Afeyan. As we both share Lebanese roots, his journey and achievements in the world of entrepreneurship resonate with me on a personal level. Noubar Afeyan's co-founding of Moderna and his commitment to fostering innovation in the life sciences industry are truly inspiring. His ability to turn groundbreaking ideas into successful companies demonstrates not only his entrepreneurial acumen but also his dedication to making a positive impact on society through innovation.
What is your favorite location to visit in Cleveland?
Cleveland Metroparks zoo
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
Exploring the great outdoors and preparing meals together with my husband.
Bijoya Basu
What is your student/job title?
I am a MD/PhD Candidate (MSTP) in Dr. Atul Chopra’s Lab
What is your fellowship project?
I am studying the neural pathways that asprosin is involved in and how asprosin can be targeted to design new therapies.
What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
What excites me about science is also what excites me about entrepreneurship – creativity. Finding a completely new way to approach a question or answer an unmet need is really exciting to me.
Do you have an entrepreneurial role model? If so, who?
There are a lot of brilliant entrepreneurs out there, but I am always really inspired by women who take a creative new approach to shake up an existing marketplace, especially when they create a product that empowers others. One of my favorite stories is that of Whitney Wolfe Herd, who founded the dating app Bumble that let women make the first move. By changing the dynamics of how dating apps existed she became wildly successful and became the world’s youngest female self-made billionaire (at 32!) when her company went public.
What is your favorite location to visit in Cleveland?
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and love being outdoors and hiking so I’m a huge fan of the Metropark system as well as Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
I am usually spending my days off indulging in one of my creative hobbies (painting, scrapbooking, or pottery), thrifting rare books or if the weather is nice exploring a new Metropark trail!
Brennan Flannery
What is your student/job title?
PhD Candidate
What is your fellowship project?
Machine Learning to Predict Kidney Failure in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients using Radiology Imaging
What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
The freedom to direct one's own work and create tangible outcomes
Do you have an entrepreneurial role model? If so, who?
Dr. Anant Madabhushi. He has established an amazing track record of developing novel AI technologies that are then pattonted, some of which have been developed into startup companies. His drive to clinically integrate his work has inspired me to do the same.
What is your favorite location to visit in Cleveland?
Severance hall! I love to go see the Cleveland Orchestra play there throughout the year. It is a beautiful place and is right on the CWRU campus!
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
I love to go to concerts, play the saxophone, go for runs, and watch movies when I get some time off.
Jesse Zhan
What is your student/job title?
MD/PhD Candidate
What is your fellowship project?
Developing circadian enhancing molecules for the treatment of demyelinating diseases
What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
Having a scalable impact on the patient population
Do you have an entrepreneurial role model? If so, who?
My thesis advisor, Dr. Paul Tesar
What is your favorite location to visit in Cleveland?
Metroparks Golf Courses
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
Playing 18 holes of golf with my friends
Vidya Gopakumar
What is your student/job title?
Postdoctoral Scholar
What is your fellowship project?
I will use placental tissues to generate amniotic membrane grafts modified with retinoids. These pharmacologically engineered grafts will be a cost-effective, safe and biocompatible alternative to synthetic grafts or xenografts. This transparent membrane acts as a biological bandage, facilitating epithelialization and wound healing by providing growth factors and anti-inflammatory factors. The novel retinoid-modified amniotic membrane grafts will benefit patients with chemical or thermal burns, diabetic foot ulcers, and ocular surface wounds and reconstructive surgeries.
What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
My favorite aspect of entrepreneurship is taking pride in developing unique products and solutions to solve major health problems, ultimately enhancing patients’ well being and quality of life.
Do you have an entrepreneurial role model? If so, who?
My all-time favorite entrepreneur is Walt Disney. Thanks to his entrepreneurial spirit and unwavering determination, he successfully transformed a small animation studio into a global entertainment empire. I also admire the way his creations promote positive values like hope, optimism, and the belief in the power of dreams.
What is your favorite location to visit in Cleveland?
Any of the Cleveland Metroparks, especially the Ledges, is beautiful, and I love spending time there. I also enjoy visiting the zoo.
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
Road trips to new places, whether near or far, always help me rejuvenate and gain a fresh perspective.
Yaw Asante
What is your student/job title?
I am a PhD candidate in Systems Biology and Bioinformatics working in Dr. Berkley Gryder’s lab.
What is your fellowship project?
My project is to develop and explore the commercial opportunities for a suite of software tools for accelerating in-silico drug discovery using machine learning techniques, with a focus on cancer-driving proteins.
What is your favorite part of entrepreneurship?
My favorite part of entrepreneurship is thinking systematically about the different use cases of a new scientific idea. Many problems have similar roots and the same approaches from other fields applied to medicine can have an outsized impact due to the benefits provided to patients and their families. In many ways, the process of exploring a market for an idea compels us to think critically about what would be most immediately useful in the clinic.
Do you have an entrepreneurial role model? If so, who?
I greatly admire my aunt, whose dedication to her business I’ve gotten to see firsthand. Her ability to tackle challenges in a new field while also managing diverse groups of people inspires me and I hope to continue to learn from her example.
What is your favorite location to visit in Cleveland?
The Cleveland Museum of Art. A beautiful venue with many historic paintings and sculptures.
What is your favorite way to spend your day off?
Attending a performance at Severance Hall or, since I enjoy baking, trying out a new recipe for something sweet.