{"id":14905,"date":"2020-02-14T09:59:58","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T14:59:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/?page_id=14905"},"modified":"2025-12-07T19:22:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T00:22:21","slug":"varelas-lab-people","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/varelaslab\/varelas-lab-people\/","title":{"rendered":"Varelas Lab People"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Principal Investigator<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"profile-listing\">\n\t\t<ul class=\"advanced\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<li class=\"has-title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/profiles\/bob-xaralabos-varelas\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img width=\"128\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2016\/07\/Varelas_Bob-c-255x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-name\">Xaralabos (Bob) Varelas<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"profile-title\">Professor<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-interest\">Hippo-YAP\/TAZ Signaling, Lung Epithelial Biology, Cancer Biology, Tissue Regeneration and Fibrosis, Immune Cell Functions<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!--\/.profile-listing-->\n\n<h4>Team<\/h4>\n\n\t<div class=\"profile-listing\">\n\t\t<ul class=\"advanced\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<li class=\"has-title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/profiles\/konstantinos-kontodimas\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2022\/05\/Kostas.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-name\">Konstantinos Kontodimas<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"profile-title\">PhD Student &#8211; Varelas Lab<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-interest\">Lung injury repair<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<li class=\"has-title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/profiles\/anthony-spinella\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img width=\"142\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2020\/09\/Screen-Shot-2020-09-08-at-1.42.14-PM.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-name\">Anthony Spinella<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"profile-title\">MD\/PhD Student &#8211; Varelas Lab<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-interest\">Head and neck cancer biology<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!--\/.profile-listing-->\n\n\n\t<div class=\"profile-listing\">\n\t\t<ul class=\"advanced\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<li class=\"has-title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/profiles\/sarah-valente\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img width=\"150\" height=\"145\" src=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2024\/06\/Sarah-1-311x300.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-name\">Sarah Valente<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"profile-title\">PhD Student &#8211; Varelas Lab<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-interest\">Cancer Biology<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<li class=\"has-title\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/profiles\/crystal-zhu\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<figure><img width=\"112\" height=\"150\" src=\"\/biochemcellbio\/files\/2024\/08\/Zhu_Crystal_Headshot.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-name\">Crystal Zhu<\/p>\n\t\t<p class=\"profile-title\">MD\/PhD Student &#8211; Varelas Lab<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"profile-interest\">Early Lung Cancer Development<br \/>\r\nCancer Immune Evasion<br \/>\r\nChemoprevention Strategies<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/div><!--\/.profile-listing-->\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Current Undergraduate Trainees:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/benjamin-spira\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Benjamin Spira<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ivaknez\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Iva Knezevic<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"bu_collapsible_container \" aria-live=\"polite\" data-customize-animation=\"false\"><h3 class=\"bu_collapsible\" aria-expanded=\"false\"tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\">Alumni<\/h3><div class=\"bu_collapsible_section\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>Postgraduate Alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/adeline-matschulat-2b344682\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Adeline Matschulat<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nan-cheng\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nan (Carina) Cheng<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/andrew-tilston-lunel-8706352b\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andrew Tilston-Lunel<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, Postdoctoral Fellow<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/joseph-kern-06933793\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joseph Kern<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/nathan-kingston-02b0981b3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nathan Kingston<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/julia-hicks-berthet-3869aa26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Julia Hicks-Berthet<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/elena-stampouloglou-263363161\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Elena Stampouloglou<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/aleksanderszymaniak\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Aleksander Szymaniak<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/shiemer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Samantha Hiemer<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, PhD graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/lisa-brenan-87381854\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lisa Brenan<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, MS graduate<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chih-sheng-yang-35b8b749\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chih-sheng Yang<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, Postdoctoral Fellow<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/erin-smith-7b244410\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Erin Smith<\/a><span><span class=\"citation-part\"><span class=\"docsum-pmid\">, Postdoctoral Fellow<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul><\/ul>\n<p><strong>Undergraduate Alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/daniel-kortepeter-0aa25b262\">Daniel Kortepeter<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/casey-gervais-3525201ab\">Casey Gervais<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/james-lu-3a3b171b0\/\">James Lu<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ca.linkedin.com\/in\/alexandra-grudzinski-087100246\">Alexandra Grudzinski<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/no%C3%A9mie-chable-99425b165\/\">No\u00e9mie Chable<\/a>, Polytech Marseille, France<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/kelsey-flannery?trk=people-guest_people_search-card\">Kelsey Flannery<\/a>,\u00a0Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/renee-noordzij-7a3558202\/\">Renee Noordzij<\/a>,\u00a0Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/madison-hardee-mph-80888392\">Madison Hardey<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/chelsea-fortin\/\">Chelsea Fortin<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/pvs1992\">Pooja Shah<\/a>,\u00a0Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/melinda-lituchy-327907344\">Melinda Lituchy<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rafa-dovarganes\">Rafael Dovarganes<\/a>, Boston University<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Research Technician Alumni<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/justice-simonetti\">Justice Simonetti<\/a>, Research Technician<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/grace-peppler-211987115\">Grace Peppler<\/a>, Research Technician<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/christina-noe-52a739112\/\">Christina Noe<\/a>, Research Technician<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rosanna-hok-070b4063\">Rosanna Hok<\/a>, Research Technician<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/shannon-mccarthy-574988156\">Shannon McCarthy<\/a>, Research Technician<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/victoria-lattanzi-3b73097\/\">Victoria Lattanzi<\/a>, Research Technician<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/varelaslab\/\">Varelas Lab Home<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Principal Investigator Team &nbsp; Current Undergraduate Trainees: Benjamin Spira, Boston University Iva Knezevic, Boston University &nbsp; Varelas Lab Home<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1191,"featured_media":0,"parent":14902,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/no-sidebars.php","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14905"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1191"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14905"}],"version-history":[{"count":50,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14905\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19401,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14905\/revisions\/19401"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/14902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/biochemcellbio\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14905"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}