SYNTHETIC REGENERATION & SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORY

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK

Welcome to the SRSP Laboratory!

The Synthetic Regeneration and Systems Physiology Laboratory (SRSPL) was established in 2022 under the directorship of Yvon Woappi, Ph.D. 

We investigate how varied mammalian skin cells synchronize their activities to restore damaged tissue. Therefore, we study tissue at systems scale. Toward this goal, we develop 3D skin culture models, gene-editing tools, and systems biology frameworks to understand the molecular and biophysical forces driving distinct cells towards organ repair (physiology) or disease (neoplasia). Our group seeks to leverage this insight to uncover novel treatments for large-scale tissue injuries. 

 

We have three major research interests:
1. Defining the biophysical mediators of wound healing by developing microphysiological systems (MPS) and computational models of mammalian wounds 

2. Developing synthetic gene therapies to enhance the regeneration potential of mammalian tissue

3. Characterizing systems-level immunological responses to wounds

Our Research

We are solving one of humanity's oldest queries — how do tissues heal? Our laboratory studies tissue systems regeneration, a systems biology approach that investigates the cellular heterogeneity of tissue to learn how to enhance its regenerative state.

Wound Physiology

Our research established the human skinoid culture system, which enables spatiotemporal modeling of human tissue reconstruction ex vivo We are furthering this work by creating microphysiological systems mimicking human wound healing and using these platforms to identify new therapies for tissue injuries.

Synthetic Regeneration

Our team is motivated to define the molecular events enabling heterogenous cells to orchestrate restoration of damaged tissue.  We are developing novel data science frameworks coupled with synthetic biotechnologies to functionally dissect the role of the tissue “cellulome” in organ maintenance, neoplasia, and wound healing.

Wound Immunogenomics

Our research seeks to understand how localized immune cells enable proximal and distal orchestration of tissue stem cells towards healing.  Our group employs quantitative systems biology approaches to uncover novel immune contributions to tissue healing. We leverage this insight to develop synthetic immunosurveillance systems with prophylactic and therapeutic potentials for wound patients.

Computational Wound Physiology

Our work aims to define the genetic programs required to achieve mammalian tissue regeneration.  We employ machine learning-powered gene target identification with high-throughput interventional functional genomics to pinpoint the causal genetic and molecular combinatorial changes necessary to promote wound regeneration. 

"We choose to [go to the moon], not because it is easy, but because it is hard, because this goal serves to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone". - JFK, 1961

Our Team

Yvon L. Woappi | Curriculum Vitae

Director, Synthetic Regeneration and Systems Physiology Laboratory

Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Fun fact:
I was nearly born a triplet, but missed it by 1 year, 5 months, and 18 days.

Favorite quote:
“When you rise to the summit of a mango tree, those on the ground should taste ripe fruit”. – African Proverb

Favorite book: L’Affaire Caïus by Henry Winterfeld

Jonathan Chin Cheong

BS, Cornell University | Biology

PhD student, Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies at Columbia University

Favorite quote: “Make a difference about something other than yourselves” -Toni Morrison 

Team: Wound genomics

Dreyton Amador 

BS, Columbia University | Biomedical Engineering

Research Assistant

 

Fun fact: I am named after Drayton Valley, a small town in Alberta, Canada. A place that I have never been nor wish to go.

Favorite quote: We won’t be distracted by comparison if we are captivated with purpose” -Bob Goff

Team: Wound genomics 

Emely Tejeda, MS 

BS, Stony Brook University | MS, Columbia University

MD student, Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Research Assistant

Favorite quote: You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose” -Dr. Seuss

 
 

Team: Synthetic biology

Simon Van Deursen 

BS, Wesleyan University | Molecular Biology & Biochemistry

 

PHD student, Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies at Columbia University

Fun fact: I can play the ukelele!

Favorite book: Dune by Frank Herbert

 

Team: Immunodynamics

Shannon Hiner

BS, Rutgers University | Biotechnology

 

PHD student, Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies at Columbia University

Fun fact: I am the middle child in my family.

Favorite book: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Team: Immunodynamics

Jose Pomarino Nima

BS, Columbia University | Biomedical Engineering

 

MS student, Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University

Fun fact: I speak 5 languages.

Favorite book: “Never be so polite, you forget your power. Never wield such power, you forget to be polite” – Taylor Swift

 

Team: Computational physiology

Eva Chen

BS, Arizona State University | Biochemistry

 

PHD student, Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies at Columbia University

Fun fact: I can wiggle both of my ears.

Favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”.

 

Favorite book: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren.

 

Team: Synthetic biology

Sierra Ball

BS, Pepperdine University | Biology

 

PHD student, Program in Genetics and Development at Columbia University

Fun fact: I share the same birthday as my mom.

Favorite quote: “Never leave till tomorrow that which you can do today”.

 

Team: Synthetic biology

Past members

David Agbato

BS/MD, CUNY | Biomedical Sciences  

Research Assistant 

Fun fact: 

Favorite book: Things Fall Apart –  Gorgeous by Chinua Achebe

 

Team: Synthetic biology

Britney Forsyth

BS, Pennsylvania State University | Biomedical Engineering and Mathematics 

MS student, Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University

Fun fact: “Too much joy, I swear, is lost in our desperation to keep it.” – Ocean Vuong

Favorite book: On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

 

Team: Computational physiology

Aiyana Monae

BS, SUNY | Biochemistry and Anthropology

PHD rotation student, Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University

Fun fact: A podcast I like is Ologies with Alie Ward, perfect for learning about obscure sciences

Last book: Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez

 

Team: Synthetic biology

Wannesha McKennedy

MS, Morehouse School of Medicine | Biotechnology

Research Assistant 

Favorite quote: “Comparison is the thief of joy” – Theodore Roosevelt

 

Team: Immunodynamics

Zohreh Ranjbar

MS, QIAU | Information Technology Engineering 

Research Assistant 

Favorite book: The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. It is about Maulana Jalal-Ud-Din, known as Rumi, and his companion Shams
Tabrizi. This book explains how Shams transformed a scholar into a Sufi
(mystic) through love.

Favorite quote: “The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight”

 

Team: Computational physiology

Akonam “Olivia” Anakwe

Columbia University | Post Baccalaureate  

Research Asssistant

Fun fact: 

Favorite quote: “Just take a chance”

 

Team: Wound genomics

Official lab snack | Curriculum Vitae

The chocolate chip cookie

Fun fact: 

I was invented in the U.S by Ruth Wakefield in Whitman, MA 

Favorite quote: 

“Yummy”