Lab Members
Research Faculty:
Brian Skaug, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Minghua Wu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Mark Hwang, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Research Staff:
Ali Ayla, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Ali Ayla completed his medical degree at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Turkey, graduating in 2023. Later that year, he joined the Division of Rheumatology at UTHealth Houston as a postdoctoral research fellow. His work focuses on clinical and translational research, including identifying biomarkers for lung and gastrointestinal involvement in systemic sclerosis, by linking the molecular and clinical data to longitudinal clinical outcomes.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Ali Ayla completed his medical degree at Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Turkey, graduating in 2023. Later that year, he joined the Division of Rheumatology at UTHealth Houston as a postdoctoral research fellow. His work focuses on clinical and translational research, including identifying biomarkers for lung and gastrointestinal involvement in systemic sclerosis, by linking the molecular and clinical data to longitudinal clinical outcomes.
Julio Charles, MS
Senior Research Associate
Julio Charles is a senior research associate who joined the division of Rheumatology in November of 2000. With over twenty years of experience, he has contributed to almost all translational research projects in the Scleroderma Program. He has overseen the operations of Scleroderma Program laboratories over the last couple of decades by generating data for publications, instituting novel platforms that will enable the attainment of current and future laboratory goals, and ensuring that the laboratories are well equipped to handle any incoming assignments. He also designed and implemented two large-scale sample inventory databases to manage our scleroderma biorepositories.
Senior Research Associate
Julio Charles is a senior research associate who joined the division of Rheumatology in November of 2000. With over twenty years of experience, he has contributed to almost all translational research projects in the Scleroderma Program. He has overseen the operations of Scleroderma Program laboratories over the last couple of decades by generating data for publications, instituting novel platforms that will enable the attainment of current and future laboratory goals, and ensuring that the laboratories are well equipped to handle any incoming assignments. He also designed and implemented two large-scale sample inventory databases to manage our scleroderma biorepositories.
Bich Na Choi, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Choi joined UTHealth Houston as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in 2022. Her area of research primarily focuses on omics data analysis and developing statistical and computational algorithms/methodologies for biomedical data and clinical research. She is currently analyzing multi-level molecular data in systemic sclerosis.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dr. Choi joined UTHealth Houston as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2024. She earned her Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University in 2022. Her area of research primarily focuses on omics data analysis and developing statistical and computational algorithms/methodologies for biomedical data and clinical research. She is currently analyzing multi-level molecular data in systemic sclerosis.
Elena Dyukova, MD
Research Associate
Dr. Elena Dyukova joined UTHealth Houston as a research associate in the Division of Rheumatology in 2024. With 30 years of experience in biomedical research, she has an extensive background spanning biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and animal physiology. She currently works with animal models of skin and lung fibrosis, as well as in-vitro fibroblast assays. Her research focuses on understanding the pathogenic effects of the gene polymorphism in systemic sclerosis and the role of interferon pathway in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis.
Research Associate
Dr. Elena Dyukova joined UTHealth Houston as a research associate in the Division of Rheumatology in 2024. With 30 years of experience in biomedical research, she has an extensive background spanning biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, and animal physiology. She currently works with animal models of skin and lung fibrosis, as well as in-vitro fibroblast assays. Her research focuses on understanding the pathogenic effects of the gene polymorphism in systemic sclerosis and the role of interferon pathway in systemic sclerosis pathogenesis.
Tanner Griffin
Research Assistant I
Tanner Griffin is a Research Assistant I who joined the Assassi Lab in the Fall of 2024 after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a BSA in biochemistry. In this role, he primarily supports various research projects, including CONQUER and GENISOS, by processing samples and logging relevant data into associated project databases. He also completes systemic sclerosis related autoantibody determination using reference standard methods.
Research Assistant I
Tanner Griffin is a Research Assistant I who joined the Assassi Lab in the Fall of 2024 after graduating from the University of Texas at Austin with a BSA in biochemistry. In this role, he primarily supports various research projects, including CONQUER and GENISOS, by processing samples and logging relevant data into associated project databases. He also completes systemic sclerosis related autoantibody determination using reference standard methods.
Xinjian (Jane) Guo, MD
Research Assistant III
Xinjian Guo has extensive experience in conducting translational studies and manages the Scleroderma Program Fibroblast Biorepository. She has worked with fibroblasts, stem cell, T-Cells culture and DNA, RNA, PCR, Real Time PCR /sequencing assays. She has also participated in several research projects related gene/stem cell therapy for systemic sclerosis. She also conducts with Genotyping , immunostaining, western blot, dot blot and ELISA experiments.
Research Assistant III
Xinjian Guo has extensive experience in conducting translational studies and manages the Scleroderma Program Fibroblast Biorepository. She has worked with fibroblasts, stem cell, T-Cells culture and DNA, RNA, PCR, Real Time PCR /sequencing assays. She has also participated in several research projects related gene/stem cell therapy for systemic sclerosis. She also conducts with Genotyping , immunostaining, western blot, dot blot and ELISA experiments.
Trithi Jaya Sunder
GSBS Graduate Research Assistant
Trithi Jaya Sunder is a master’s student at the UT MD Anderson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology Engineering from India. Her research in the lab focuses on understanding the role of type I interferon signaling pathways in scleroderma and fibrotic conditions, as well as precision cut skin models.
GSBS Graduate Research Assistant
Trithi Jaya Sunder is a master’s student at the UT MD Anderson Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology Engineering from India. Her research in the lab focuses on understanding the role of type I interferon signaling pathways in scleroderma and fibrotic conditions, as well as precision cut skin models.
Samuel Theodore, MD
Research Coordinator II
Sam Theodore has been a member of the UTHealth Houston Scleroderma research team since 2008. He is the research coordinator for two Scleroderma, observational longitudinal studies. GENISOS, which enrolled its first patient in 1998, is an ongoing, local cohort study. The second is Collaborative, National Quality and Efficacy Registry (CONQUER), a multicenter cohort study conducted in 18 Medical Centers that are seeking to identify, the commonalities in the trigger, evolution and treatment of Scleroderma.
Research Coordinator II
Sam Theodore has been a member of the UTHealth Houston Scleroderma research team since 2008. He is the research coordinator for two Scleroderma, observational longitudinal studies. GENISOS, which enrolled its first patient in 1998, is an ongoing, local cohort study. The second is Collaborative, National Quality and Efficacy Registry (CONQUER), a multicenter cohort study conducted in 18 Medical Centers that are seeking to identify, the commonalities in the trigger, evolution and treatment of Scleroderma.
Maya Washington
Research Coordinator I
Maya Washington joined the Scleroderma research team in 2023. As a research coordinator, Maya assists with observational longitudinal studies which includes GENISOS and CONQUER . Additionally, she contributes to coordinating care for scleroderma clinical trials with Dr. Mayes. Her background consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration.
Research Coordinator I
Maya Washington joined the Scleroderma research team in 2023. As a research coordinator, Maya assists with observational longitudinal studies which includes GENISOS and CONQUER . Additionally, she contributes to coordinating care for scleroderma clinical trials with Dr. Mayes. Her background consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Chemistry and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration.
Meng Zhang
Clinical Research Data Manager
Meng Zhang has experience in both pharmaceutical industry and academic settings. She has a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and obtained a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics in 2022. She joined UTHealth Houston as Clinical Database Manager after graduating from School of Biomedical Informatic and has been managing multiple clinical and translational databases, as well as performing data analysis for these studies. Meng is experienced in data management, molecular, and clinical data analysis.
Clinical Research Data Manager
Meng Zhang has experience in both pharmaceutical industry and academic settings. She has a Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences and obtained a Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics in 2022. She joined UTHealth Houston as Clinical Database Manager after graduating from School of Biomedical Informatic and has been managing multiple clinical and translational databases, as well as performing data analysis for these studies. Meng is experienced in data management, molecular, and clinical data analysis.
Past Members:
Ruhani Desai, MD
Dr. Desai jointed UTHealth Houston as a Rheumatology fellow in 2020 following her Internal Medicine training at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. She completed the clinical portion of her rheumatology fellowship in June 2022. Subsequently, she completed a research year. Her area of research primarily focused on objective assessment methods of skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis. Upon graduation, she joined the Eastern Virginia Medical School as Assistant professor in Division of Rheumatology.
Dr. Desai jointed UTHealth Houston as a Rheumatology fellow in 2020 following her Internal Medicine training at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. She completed the clinical portion of her rheumatology fellowship in June 2022. Subsequently, she completed a research year. Her area of research primarily focused on objective assessment methods of skin fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis. Upon graduation, she joined the Eastern Virginia Medical School as Assistant professor in Division of Rheumatology.
Nancy Wareing
Nancy Wareing graduated from MD/PhD graduate student in the UTHealth Houston Medical Scientist Training Program. Her dissertation research focuses on the previously undescribed role of a developmental gene (SIX-1) in skin fat tissue loss observed in patients with scleroderma. Nancy also contributed to translational research in the program, in particular describing how the blood innate immune cell composition may help clinicians to predict the progression of scleroderma. Upon graduation, she joined University post-graduate training program in internal medicine.
Nancy Wareing graduated from MD/PhD graduate student in the UTHealth Houston Medical Scientist Training Program. Her dissertation research focuses on the previously undescribed role of a developmental gene (SIX-1) in skin fat tissue loss observed in patients with scleroderma. Nancy also contributed to translational research in the program, in particular describing how the blood innate immune cell composition may help clinicians to predict the progression of scleroderma. Upon graduation, she joined University post-graduate training program in internal medicine.