Lab Members

Amirhesam Babajani, MD, is a postdoctoral scientist in the Cedars-Sinai Department of Biomedical Sciences, working in the laboratory of Lali Medina-Kauwe. His work focuses on exosome-based biomarker delivery systems for the targeted therapy of HER3-positive tumors. Babajani earned his medical degree from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in September 2022. He actively pursues projects involving stem cell therapies, drug delivery systems and tumor biology to help improve patient outcomes.

Sun Woo Kim is a PhD student in the Medina-Kauwe Lab studying the delivery of novel STAT3 inhibitors with the HER3-honing protein (HPK) against triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). He is interested in disease modeling and understanding drug delivery in various cancer models.

Kristin Ishaya is a research associate in the Medina-Kauwe Lab at Cedars-Sinai. She develops targeted nanotherapeutics to enhance cancer treatments. Her research explores molecular mechanisms driving cancer progression, specifically tumor metabolism, immune signaling and the tumor microenvironment. By understanding treatment resistance, Kristin aims to advance innovative therapies that improve patient outcomes. A collaborative mentor, she enjoys the arts, hiking and honoring her Assyrian heritage while fostering a positive environment wherever she goes.