Stanford Pathology is pleased to announce the winners of this year's research retreat held on October 24, 2025!
Stanford Pathology in the News, October 28, 2025
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Stanford Pathology Research Retreat!
Please read the complete list of winners below:
Students
7 prizes awarded
Peter Du, AB [Abstract #12]
"In Vivo Intercellular CRISPR Screens using Viral Proximity Barcoding"
Steven Hui [Abstract #23]
"HDR-GPT: A Large Language Model Agent for Optimizing Homology-Directed Repair in HiFi-Cas9 CRISPR Editing"
Drew Galls [Abstract #57]
"RNA-Templated RNA Extension by "DNA-Dependent" RNA Polymerase: a Potential Conserved Role for PNPase in Suppressing Noncanonical RNA Extension in Diverse Bacteria"
Haim Krupkin [Abstract #105]
"Genomics-Informed Approach to Identifying Which Cell Types Regulate the Metabolome Identifies Novel Cell Type-Metabolite Relationships"
Jessica Diarra [Abstract #17]
"Integrative Single-cell Multi-omic and Functional Profiling of Human Bone Marrow
Regulatory T Cells to Enhance GVHD-preventive Cell Therapies"
Colette Benko, PhD [Abstract #48]
"Exploring sRNA Pathways In-self Versus Non-self"
Leila Namvar [Abstract #92]
"Optical Genome Mapping Identifies Structural Variants after iPSC reprogramming from the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Stem Cell Repository"
Postdocs
7 prizes awarded
Shuke Xiao, PhD [Abstract #5]
"A Postprandial Python Metabolite Mediates a Gut-Liver-Brain Feeding Axis"
Jolene Ranek, PhD [Abstract #28]
"QUICHE Reveals Structural Definitions of Anti-Tumor Responses in Triple Negative Breast Cancer"
Yilin Xie, PhD [Abstract #43]
"Integration of Transcriptome-Wide Association Study of Alzheimer’s Disease with Large-Scale Perturbation Data for Drug Repositioning and New Therapeutic Approaches"
Barathi Subramanian, PhD [Abstract #96]
"Generating Morphologically Diverse, Class-Balanced Training Datasets for Enhanced Histopathologic Tissue-Type Classification"
Oliver Wirz, PhD [Abstract #24]
"Mapping Human B Cell Memory to Large Panels of Antigens Across Tissues and Blood"
Zhiwei Zhou, PhD [Abstract #30]
"Plasma Metabolomics Uncovers Characteristic Metabolic Aberrancies and Predictive Biomarkers in Early-Onset Crohn's Disease"
Kristyna Blazkova, PhD [Abstract #75]
"Microbial Proteases in iInflammatory Bowel Disease"
Research Associates
10 prizes awarded
Keshav Bhatnagar [Abstract #15]
"Mitochondria Transfer from Immune Cells Enables Lymph Node Metastasis"
Jameel Lone, PhD [Abstract #37]
"A BRINP3-Derived Peptide Drives Non-Aversive Appetite Suppression via PVH Circuits"
Xiuzhe Wu, PhD [Abstract #47]
"Visual-Enhanced Test-Time Scaling: Teaching Medical Vision-Language AI Models to Look Again and Think More Deeply"
Saba Majidi [Abstract #67]
"High-Throughput Assessment of TCR Signal Strength of Exhausted CD8+ T Cells"
Artem Mikelov, PhD [Abstract #72]
"Convergent Features and Cross-reactivity Patterns in Human Memory B-cell Repertoires Against Seasonal and Avian Influenza Strains"
Jan Spaas, PhD [Abstract #19]
"Vitamin B5 Transport by Diabetes-Associated Monocarboxylate Transporter SLC16A13"
Alexander Eapen [Abstract #41]
"Universal T Cell Therapy Screening Library in Preclinical Models of CAR T Cell Therapy"
Allyssa Bradley [Abstract #49]
"A Chemically-Inducible and Reversible Retinal Organoid Model of Inherited Photoreceptor Dystrophies"
Courtney Kernick [Abstract #69]
"Chimeric RNA-Binding Proteins Enhance CAR T Cell Function"
Sahar Nasr [Abstract #87]
"Single Cell and Spatial Mapping of the Fallopian Tube with Insight Into Origin of High Grade Serous Carcinoma"
AP Residents
1 prize awarded
Rachel Frauches, MD [Abstract #107]
"Orbital Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma With Diffuse Anaplasia in a Child With 1p36 Deletion Syndrome and 15q Duplication"
CP Residents
1 prize awarded
Aaron Wilk, MD, PhD [Abstract #16]
"Detection of NKG2C Enhances Diagnostic Specificity of NK Cell Receptor Restriction"
AP/CP Residents
1 prize awarded
Yang Hu, MD, PhD [Abstract #103]
"Diagnostic Efficacy of Deep Sections in the Histologic Confirmation of Endometriosis: A Large Retrospective Study with Cost-Effectiveness Analysis"
Clinical Fellows
2 prizes awarded
Kyle Dyson, MD, PhD [Abstract #85]
"Identification of Direct CAR T-cell Nerve Infiltration Causing Mononeuritis Multiplex Using Camelid VHH Immunohistochemistry"
David Twa, PhD [Abstract #110]
"Clinical Utility of Variant Reporting using RNA-based Sequencing for Solid Tumors"
Health Disparity Research Awards
2 prizes awarded
Leila Namvar [Abstract #92]
"Optical Genome Mapping Identifies Structural Variants after iPSC reprogramming from the Stanford Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) Stem Cell Repository"
Josselyn Sofia Vergara Cobos [Abstract #102]
"Low-Cost Transcriptional Profiling of Breast Cancers In Guatemala"
1st Place
Yang Zang, PhD
Postdoc
"Neural Nexus"
"The fluorescent micrograph captures the intricate organization of the enteric nervous system in vitro. Red fibers outline neuronal connections, green mark neuronal nuclei, and white DAPI stains highlight all cell nuclei. Together, they reveal the elegant, constellation-like patterns of communication within our gut’s neural network"
—Yang
2nd Place
Davide G. Franchina, PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar, Pathology
Bendall Lab
"Starry Night in the Lab"
Starry Night captures the enchanting beauty of a tonsil tissue after MALDI imaging, revealing intricate details of B cell follicles. Using the viridis color palette that transitions from tranquil blues to vibrant yellows, the image showcases targets highly expressed in the follicles, depicted in a luminous yellow hue.
— Davide
3rd Place
David Twa, MD, PhD
Fellow
"Pentachrome Intestinal Villi"
Brightfield, 40x, Olympus with Movat pentachrome stain.
— David
The purpose of our retreat is to allow Stanford Pathology members to become more familiar with the research conducted in the Department, including basic, translational and clinical projects. We hope this will facilitate new opportunities for collaborative studies, research training and enhance prospects for additional funding of such activities.
We welcome all Pathology Faculty, Clinical Educators & Instructors, Fellows & Residents, Trainees, Undergraduate/Graduate Students, Postdocs and Research staff: Life Science Research Professional, Clinical Research Coordinator, Lab Assistant, Life Scientist Technician, Basic Life Research Scientist, Sr. Basic Life Research Scientist, Research Engineers, Research Data Analyst, and more.
For all information about the retreat please visit the official website: Stanford Pathology Research Retreat.