Meet Our Exceptional Team!
George S. Karagiannis, DVM, PhD (Laboratory Head)
George S. Karagiannis is an assistant professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology (M&I) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA. He is also affiliated with the Albert Einstein Cancer Center (AECC). He holds a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from University of Toronto, Canada, and a degree in Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.) from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece. His scientific contributions (>45 peer-reviewed, primary research articles and review articles) have appeared in highly-esteemed journals and specialized society journals in the fields of cancer biology, molecular oncology, cancer proteomics, and translational medicine. His most prominent publications have appeared in Science Translational Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Proteomics, The Journal of Biological Chemistry, Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, Molecular Cancer Research, and Molecular Oncology. The most prestigious research-related award he has received to-date is the NCI Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00). Dr. Karagiannis and his creative team currently investigate the effects of chemotherapy on the primary tumor microenvironment, as well as chemotherapy-driven immunotoxicity on primary and secondary lymphoid organs.
Current Members of the Laboratory
Dimitris Argyris, DVM
Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Argyris brings his expertise in veterinary medicine and animal modeling to the forefront of our research interests. He is dedicated to exploring mechanisms of immune suppression within the tumor microenvironment, focusing on the critical roles of chemokine signaling and adaptive immune cell trafficking.
Stepan Vodopyanov, PhD
Research Technician
Dr. Vodopyanov is a skilled researcher with a wealth of experience in various microscopy techniques, including electron microscopy. He has led projects focused on ultrastructural investigations of the thymic environment, exploring its role in both health and disease. He is also involved in developing MRI-based modalities to describe the complexities of immune and tumor microenvironments.
Lillian Johnson
Summer Student
Lillian Johnson is a dedicated high school student who has spent consecutive summers volunteering in our research lab. With a passion for the scientific method, she thrives in the lab, performing immunofluorescence staining and preparing engaging presentations. Lillian is currently focused on a project that investigates the progression of immune suppressive tumor microenvironments in mouse models of mammary carcinoma.
Luis A. Vasquez
Summer Student
Luis A. Vasquez, an ambitious rising senior at Pelham Lab High School, is currently engaged in an exploraton of the ultra-fine structures of eosinophils within lymphoid organs, such as the thymus, employing advanced imaging tehniques, i.e., Transmission Electron Microscopy. His scholarly pursuit is enriched by his participation in the BEYOND ALBERT Summer High School Research Program.
Suraiya Hossain
Summer Student
Suraiya Hossain is an enthusiastic high school student with an incredible passion for science. Suraiya is diving deep into the world of immunluorescence and is gaining hands-on experience in image and proteomic analysis. Currently, she's tackling an exciting project that explores the whimsical role of the growth factor Midkine in the tumor microenvironment, using animal models of breast cancer.
Past Members of the Laboratory:
- Dimitra Anastasiadou, Postdoctoral Fellow (2021-2025)
- Anastasia-Aristoteleia Chondronikola, Research Trainee (2023)
Summer Students:
- Natalie Eng (2023-2024)
- Conner Entenberg (2023-2024)
- Jessica Wang (2023-2024)
- Ashley Del Cid Romero (2023-2024)
- Sophia DesMarais (2023-2025)