Stadtman Investigators

Meet 17 New Stadtman Investigators

By The NIH Catalyst Staff

Slowing blindness progression, understanding the molecular, cellular, and genetic drivers of cancer development, applying decision science in clinical settings, and preventing hearing loss and balance disorders, are just a few examples of the exciting research being conducted by the latest cohort of scientists selected for the Earl Stadtman Tenure-Track Investigators Program.

The Stadtman program, which began in 2009, is named for renowned biochemist, senior investigator, and mentor Earl Stadtman (1919–2008), who devoted his 57-year NIH career to identifying the mechanisms of cellular energy expenditure and metabolism.

The program crosses all areas of biomedical and behavioral research, designed to attract a diverse group of talented early-career scientists who might not typically apply to NIH via general searches conducted by individual institutes and centers (ICs).

Here, the NIH Catalyst introduces the 17 Stadtman Investigators who joined various NIH ICs in 2022 and in 2023.

Mustapha Abubakar, M.D., Ph.D., NCI–DCEG

Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/mustapha-abubakar

Research: Applies computational pathoepidemiology to explore how tissue ecosystem disruption drives the etiology, natural history, tumor heterogeneity, and clinical outcomes of screening-detectable cancers.

Learn more: PMID: 40210131; PMID: 33952648

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Stanley Adoro, Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Experimental Immunology Branch

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/stanley-adoro

Research: Researches the mechanisms of immune cell dysfunction and blood cancers with a focus on the role of proteome stress sensing and resolution in blood cell development, immunity, and leukemogenesis.

Learn more: PMID: 39789376; PMID: 38352301

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Angela Ballesteros Morcillo, Ph.D., NIDCD

Section on Sensory Physiology and Biophysics

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/angela-ballesteros

Research: Explores how mechanoelectrical transduction channel complex and sensory inner ear hair cell physiology effect hearing loss and balance disorders.

Learn more: PMID: 35921424; PMID: 30063209

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Eric Dang, Ph.D., NIAID

Molecular Mycology and Immunity Unit

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/eric-van-dang-phd

Research: Researches the microbiology and immunology of host colonization by fungi, in particular, exposure to the skin, gut, and lung tissue barriers.

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Jinani Jayasekera Devadoss, Ph.D., NIMHD

Health Disparities and Decision Sciences Laboratory

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/jinani-jayasekera

Research: Applies mathematical modeling and decision sciences to develop individualized interventions that could help reduce disparities and improve breast cancer care.

Learn more: PMID: 36455167; PMID: 34251881

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Diptavo Dutta, Ph.D., NCI–DCEG

Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/diptavo-dutta

Research: An ’omics researcher who explores the genetic etiology of cancers, primarily focusing on genome-wide association studies and the downstream analysis to identify molecular and ’omic targets.

Learn more: PMID: 35501419; PMID: 38671320

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Amiran Dzutsev, M.D., Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/amiran-dzutsev

Research: Explores the role of the gut microbiome in cancer susceptibility and outcomes, especially as it relates to immune function.

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Tiarnán Keenan, BM BCh, Ph.D., NEI

Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/tiarnan-keenan

Research: An expert in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who has noted AMD consists of multiple partially distinct diseases and is working toward better diagnoses and treatments to slow progression to blindness.

Learn more: PMID: 39025435; PMID: 38657840

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2023.

Mardo Kõivomägi, Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/mardo-koivomagi

Research: Takes a multidisciplinary approach to build quantitative models of the cell cycle and develop cancer-specific therapeutic strategies that target key interactions during cell division.

Learn more: PMID: 40174666; PMID: 30982746

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Augustin Luna, Ph.D., NLM

Computational Biology Branch

https://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/researchstaff/LunaAugustin.html

Research: Conducts pan-cancer, specific cancers, and rare cancer analyses via mechanistic and statistical computational models that involve gene regulation, genomic alterations, proteomics, and metabolism to varying degrees to better understand the network properties of human disease.

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Lichun Ma, Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Cancer Data Science Laboratory

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/lichun-ma

Research: Seeks to understand the intrinsic biology of liver cancer by integrating cutting-edge single-cell spatial ’omics assays with machine learning approaches to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities for effective cancer interventions.

Learn more: PMID: 31588021; PMID: 37725716

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Francis O’Reilly, Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Center for Structural Biology

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/francis-oreilly

Research: Visualizes and describes how proteins are organized by using cross-linking mass spectrometry and other proteomics-based technologies combined with cryoelectron microscopy to functionally characterize protein interactions to understand their molecular relevance to human health and cancer.

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Margaret Rodgers, Ph.D., NIDDK

Ribonucleoprotein Assembly Section

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/about-niddk/staff-directory/biography/rodgers…

Research: Uses single-molecule methods to understand the molecular mechanisms guiding assembly of essential RNA-protein complexes, or ribonucleoproteins, and how disruptions contribute to disease.

Learn more: PMID 37116495; PMID: 31761536

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Vassiliki Saloura, M.D., Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/vassiliki-saloura

Research: Explores the mechanisms through which protein methylation mediated by protein methyltransferases and demethylases drives oncogenesis, therapy resistance, and immune evasion in squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract, with a special focus on human papilloma virus-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Learn more: PMID: 37463106; PMID: 39310755

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Blake Warner, D.D.S., Ph.D., NIDCR

Salivary Disorders Unit

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/blake-warner

Research: Combines genomics, spatial biology, and clinical research to understand pathogenic immune-epithelial interactions, uncover novel mechanisms, and develop targeted therapies for diseases associated with salivary gland dysfunction, including Sjögren’s disease and immune checkpoint inhibitor–associated sicca.

Learn more: PMID: 38527764; PMID: 38016469

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Urbain Weyemi, Ph.D., NCI-CCR

Developmental Therapeutics Branch

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/urbain-weyemi

Research: Explores cancer biology by mapping redox and metabolic changes associated with genomic instability in tumor cells.

Learn more: PMID: 40208791; PMID: 36724254

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.

Haoyu Zhang, Ph.D., NCI–DCEG

Biostatistics Branch

https://irp.nih.gov/pi/haoyu-zhang

Research: Explores the genetic architecture of breast cancer subtypes by creating or applying Mendelian randomization and polygenic risk score methods.

Learn more: PMID: 32424353; PMID: 37749244

Became Stadtman Investigator in 2022.