We are a passionate group of scientists and clinicians dedicated to curing human disease. Where mechanisms of disease are not known we try and understand disease processes in the hope of finding a cure. We try to find solutions for unmet medical needs through a multidisciplinary approach of scientists with a variety of backgrounds. We love trying new ideas and translating discoveries towards the clinic.
Peter Santa Maria, MD PhD
Principal Investigator
Dr. Santa Maria is a clinician scientist focusing on translational medicine for tympanic membrane wound healing and chronic suppurative otitis media. His lab’s novel research into tympanic membrane regeneration was licensed to Astellas Pharmaceuticals and is entering clinical trials.
Anping Xia, MD PhD
Sr. Research Scientist
Dr. Anping Xia is a Sr. Research Scientist specializing in inner ear research. She has been developing and investigating Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media mouse model. She has also been working in topical drug delivery and ototoxicity testing in the lab.
Laurent Adonis Bekale, PhD
Research Scientist
Dr. Laurent Adonis Bekale is Biophysical Chemist specialized in Nanomedicine. He joined Dr. Santa Maria’s Lab in 2019. His research focuses on the synthesis of metal nanoclusters to treat biofilms in chronic suppurative otitis media.
Jing Chen, MPH DABT
Sr. Research Associate
Jing Chen is a research scientist specialized in Toxicology. After 12 years of research associate work at the UofL in KY USA, she joined Dr. Santa Maria’s Lab in 2017. Her research focuses on development of new therapy for oral mucositis.
Ritwija Bhattacharya, PhD, MS
Research Associate
Dr. Bhattacharya recently obtained her Ph.D. degree in the Department of Environmental Science, University of Calcutta on cancer epigenetics. Prior to joining the Santa Maria Lab in 2022, Dr. Bhattacharya worked as a research assistant in a US-based biotech company on mammalian cell culture and cell-based assay.
Viktoria Schiel, MD PhD
Postdoctoral Scholar
Dr. Viktoria Schiel is a postdoctoral scholar and a German-trained medical doctor. She completed her residency in Otolaryngology in Munich. She joined Dr. Santa Maria’s lab in 2021. Her research focuses on the development of sensorineural hearing loss in chronic suppurative otitis media and the testing of new medication in the treatment of vestibular disorders.
Mario Gaspar
Administrative Coordindator
Mario Gaspar is the Administrative Coordinator for Dr. Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Lab. Mario joined the Santa Maria Lab in January 2020 and provides comprehensive academic, research, and clinical support to Dr. Santa Maria.
Isam Naber, MD
Visiting Scholar
Dr. Isam Naber received his MD degree from the University of Jordan. Dr. Naber joined the Santa Maria Lab in October 2022 as a Visiting Scholar. His research investigates the virulence factors that contribute to the chronicity of chronic suppurative otits media.
Our Lab
We like to balance life in the lab as much as possible and have lots of fun together. BBqs in the summer, bowling, escape room activities are just a few of our group activities. We also catch up for a lunch once a month where we’re not allowed to talk about work!
Our Alumni
Kourosh Eftekharian, MD, MPH
Mansab Saleemi, PhD, M.Phil
Ankur Gupta, BS
Nazanin Mahinparvar, MD
Devesh Sharma, MD
Adam Kaufman, MD, PhD
Anthony Thai, BS
Brian Bacacao, BS
Solange Massa, MD, PhD
Ayman Elsheikh, MD
Zhixin Cao, MD, PhD
Xiaohua Chen, MD, MS
Kelly Khomtchouk, MD
Hui Ting Goh
Layla Joseph
Anh Tran
Chinyere Nwachukwu
Estephanie Huerta
Ali Kouhi, MD
Eva Dieuzy
Rishika Gundi
Cristiana Filomena
Holly Fyffe
Christine Yang
