PSTP Trainees

Florina has a strong focus on the research of both pediatric and adult gliomas. Originating from Romania, she received her medical training at the Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Her research thesis delved into the molecular underpinnings of glioblastoma invasiveness, underscoring the necessity for closer integration between clinicians and research scientists for advancing therapeutics. In her academic investigations, Florina concentrated on the role of mutant H3 histones in pediatric gliomas. She discovered that these epigenetic modifications not only have profound implications for diffuse midline gliomas but also extend to a wider array of pathologies. After relocating to the United States, Florina engaged in a multidisciplinary collaboration between the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota. As part of an interdisciplinary team, including translational researchers, cell biologists, and clinicians, she contributed to the identification of a unique Chk1 phosphorylation site at S31 in histone H3. The loss of this phosphorylation during cell division was found to instigate chromosomal instability and facilitate gliomagenesis. Under the mentorship of Drs. Tomoyuki Koga, James Robinson, and Ted Hinchcliffe, Florina has pioneered in the development of advanced tumor models. She employed CRISPR/Cas9 technology for stem cell engineering and utilized single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze tumor-to-tumor microenvironment interactions. Now a part of the Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) at Cornell University, Florina maintains her dedication to both exemplary patient care and innovative research. Her ongoing work aims to refine tumor study models and develop platforms to assess the efficacy of various treatment modalities in the context of malignant brain tumors.

Calista grew up in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. She attended the University of Pennsylvania for college, where she majored in biomedical engineering and minored in engineering entrepreneurship and computer science. She pursued multiple projects at the intersection of technology and medicine while in college, including developing a patient education app, working as a software engineer at a pediatric EMR company, and doing research at a pediatric oncology data science lab. She attended the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for medical school. Here, she found her research interests in applying machine learning/AI and large data-based prediction models to clinical medicine. Her long-term clinical goal is to become a pediatric cardiologist, and her long-term research goal is to keep leveraging the advancing technology in the ML/AI space for clinical research applications. Her current projects include: 1) building a predictive model for development of congenital heart disease in an IVF population 2) using deep learning models to predict coronary artery measurements in patients with Kawasaki disease.

Nina grew up moving between the US, China, Germany, Japan, and Austria. She attended university in the UK, obtaining her medical degree from the University of East Anglia and a master’s in Global Health and Development from University College London (UCL). Her thesis on healthcare workers’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK contributed to UCL’s Rapid Research and Evaluation Lab in informing local and national policy responses to the pandemic. After her studies, Nina spent two years working clinically in London, completing a research track of the UK National Health Service’s Foundation Program. Her research project on the impact of extreme weather events on child and adolescent health in Nepal contributed to a WHO–UNICEF–Lancet Commission initiative prioritizing child health in global sustainable development efforts. Before moving to New York for pediatric residency, Nina joined the Planetary Child Health working group as a research assistant at the Heidelberg Institute for Global Health in Germany. Their research on child health prioritization within national climate adaptation policies was presented at the 2024 UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 29). As part of the PSTP, Nina hopes to continue working on environmental exposures and determinants of child health to inform equitable health policies.

Joab grew up in Redwood City, CA. He attended Stanford University where he studied Biology and conducted research with Dr. Matthew Porteus on developing a CRISPR-based gene therapy for sickle cell anemia. He then spent three years continuing this work, which led to a spin-out company, GraphiteBio. This gene therapy was ultimately implemented into a sickle cell patient who is now transfusion-independent. The ability to edit genomes and develop gene therapies for common genetic disorders was work he was able to continue as medical student at Stanford School of Medicine, under the same mentor. He went on to develop another gene therapy strategy for a second blood disorder, beta-thalassemia. This recent work was a stepping stone toward understanding different ways one could enhance cells to perform functions more efficiently. He hopes to continue investigating ways to improve  current gene therapy strategies and to further tinker with genome circuitry to enhance the way cells behave. He hopes to continue this passion in the realm of pediatric hematology/oncology.

Kelly grew up in Columbus, Ohio. She attended Tufts University where she studied neuroscience and did research with Dr. Barry Trimmer in caterpillar sensation and biomechanics. She then spent two years at Ohio State University in Dr. Ray Hershberger’s lab studying the genetic basis of dilated cardiomyopathy. Through this work she became fascinated by molecular biology and developmental modelling in zebrafish, as organogenesis can be readily observed in the transparent embryo. After joining the Tri-Institutional MD/PhD program, she completed her thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Todd Evans. Her work centered on the epigenetic regulation of primitive neutrophil development and function, particularly by Tet RNA/DNA Demethylases. Long term, she is interested in incorporating her research interest of epigenetic and metabolic control of molecular development and clinical interest in NICU. She hopes to investigate whether myeloid signaling plays a role in lung and gut development. Further, whether these processes differ in preterm compared to term infants with the ultimate goal of supporting more physiologic development in the extrauterine environment for premature neonates. 

Richard completed his MD/PhD training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2022. His thesis work utilized antibodies against specific sugar (glycosaminoglycan) modifications to distinguish and further classify and categorize cell types within the hematopoietic system. He derives joy from interacting with patients and their families and bridging the gap between basic science research and direct clinical care. His hobbies are spending time with his partner and their daughter, as well as playing guitar, trying new cuisines, and writing. His clinical and research interests revolve around childhood cancers, and how to more effectively and efficiently detect, diagnose, and treat them.