Neuromuscular junctions - Hannah Storrie
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1. Neuromuscular junctions - Hannah Storrie; 2. Fluorescent endothelial sprouting assay - Eduardo Silva; 3. SEM microscopy - Claudia Fischbach; 4. Endothelial sprouting assay - Will Yuen; 5. Histology - Eduardo Silva; 6. Histology - Eduardo Silva; 7. Cells adhering to a surface - James Cunningham; 8. SEM microscopy - Claudia Fischbach;

Omar Ali, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
alio@deas.harvard.edu

Education

B.S., 2002, Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota

M.S.E, 2004, Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan

Ph.D., 2008, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University

Research Focus

Broadly, My research focuses on developing cell-instructive materials to study immune processes and we have collaborated with clinicians, including Dr. Glenn Dranoff, at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to develop infection mimics and cancer vaccines. Our research has resulted in publications, patents and the foundation of a start-up company, InCytu, which aims to develop regenerative methods for vascular disease and vaccine delivery systems.

Specifically, we have developed materials systems that quantitatively regulate the migration and activation of antigen presenting cells, specifically dendritic cells, in situ. We hypothesize that by using pathogenic infection as a biomimetic guide we can develop materials systems that effectively recruit, program and disperse host immune cells to initiate and propagate immune responses to cancer. Importantly our systems are inherently safer, more cost efficient, and technically simpler than conventional methods involving cell manipulation and transplantation.

I hope that our work inspires and contributes to the development of effective cancer vaccines and therapies for autoimmunity. Broadly, I believe our methodology may act as a platform for the development of new cell therapies using systems that appropriately instruct host cells.

Publications

  • Ali OA, Dranoff G, Mooney DJ. ÒControlled local delivery of GM-CSF from polymer-based vaccines enhances anti-tumor immune responses by priming host dendritic cells.Ó Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research. 2007.
  • Ali, OA. Science. Encyclopedia of Islam in the United States. Greenwood Press Westport, CT. 2007.
  • Ali, O.A. and Mooney, D.J. “Converging Cell Therapy with Biomaterials.” Cell Transplantation from Laboratory to Clinic. Elsevier Inc. Burlington, MA. 2006.
  • PATENTS
  • Mooney DJ, Ali OA, Silva E, Boontheekol T, Hill E. ÒScaffolds for Cell Transplantation.Ó International Patent and U.S. Patent Pending. Filed December 13, 2006.
  • Mooney, DJ. Ali OA. ÒContinuous Cell Programming.Ó Provisional Application Filed. February 13, 2008.

Interests

Anything Outdoor. Sports. Films and making films. Traveling.