Lab Members

Aleksandra Mazitova received her master’s degree at Kazan Federal University, Russia, in 2017. In 2019, Aleksandra joined the Koltsova Lab. Her work is focused on the role of cytokines in the regulation of adipose tissue inflammation and its contribution to atherosclerosis development. Aleksandra is also interested in understanding the role of cytokines in the regulation of anti-cancer immunity in liver cancer.

Anastasiia Marchenko received a bachelor’s degree in biology in 2007, and a master’s degree in genetics in 2008 from Kharkov V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine. In 2019, Anastasiia joined the Koltsova Lab where she oversees the mouse colony and helps other lab members with a variety of experimental procedures. In addition, Anastasiia ensures day-to-day operations of the Koltsova Lab and contributes to many additional projects.

Ana Cristina Marquez Sanchez graduated from Autonomous University of Aguascalientes in Aguascalientes, Mexico, with a biology degree in 2010, and obtained a PhD degree in medical sciences in 2020 from the University of Guanajuato, in Guanajuato, Mexico. Her PhD research included the development of protein nanoparticles that reduces atherosclerosis by inhibiting DNA methylation. She joined the Koltsova Lab in June 2021 and her work is focused on the role of cytokine signaling and microbiota as regulators of atherosclerosis and abdominal aortic aneurysm, as well as the role of IL27R signaling in the control of cell metabolism.

Zhengzheng Shi graduated from medical school in China and served as a Chinese medicine physician in Beijing for several years. Driven by her scientific curiosity toward the biomedical functions of herbs, for her PhD at Chiba University, Japan, she studied how herbal medicine affects the gut microenvironment to alleviate colitis. Zhengzheng joined the Koltsova Laboratory in August 2022 and is interrogating how the IL-27 signaling pathway impacts immune responses in liver cancer development in mouse models. She also has expertise in microbiome analysis and is working on the gut-liver axis's functions in tumorigenesis. Zhengzheng is an energetic junior scientist who enjoys swimming and jogging in her spare time.

Jiani Zhu graduated from the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science) in Shanghai, China, with a PhD degree, specializing in biochemistry (2020). Her doctoral work focused on the cell polarity protein Par3 in the intrahepatic biliary system and liver cancer. She joined the Koltsova Lab in September 2022 to study the role of cytokine signaling in liver cancer.

Ramee Beool received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in 2021. As part of the Koltsova Lab, he is aiding other lab members with their projects in order to develop his skills in research. His research interests include cytokine signaling in adipose tissue.

Yashika Bopanna received her bachelor’s degree in engineering and biotechnology from Sir M Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology, India, in 2020. Since obtaining her BS degree she spent two years in the laboratory of Dr. Visweswariah, where she studied novel mechanisms regulating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), working to address the role of hyperactivating mutation of receptor guanylyl cyclase C. She joined the Koltsova Lab in October 2022 and her research interests include, but are not limited to, the impact of mucosal immunity, barrier tissue homeostasis, cytokines signaling, microbiota and related metabolites on cardiovascular disease development and progression.