People

Principal Investigator

Shoukhrat Mitalipov, PhD

Shoukhrat Mitalipov, PhD

Dr. Mitalipov earned his Ph.D. degree in 1994 in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology at the Research Center for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia. He came to Utah State University in 1995 to conduct postdoctoral research training and then moved to Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) at Oregon Health & Science University. In 2014. Dr, Mitalipov became the director of the newly founded Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy. He is also a Senior Scientist in the Division of Reproductive & Developmental Sciences of ONPRC and Professor in Departments of Biomedical Engineering, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Pediatrics, and Molecular & Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, OHSU. He is the recipient of the 2010 Discovery Award from the Medical Research Foundation of Oregon.

View Shoukhrat Mitalipov's profile on SciVal Experts 

Senior Staff Scientist

Sang-Goo Lee, PhD

Sang-Goo Lee photo

Dr. Lee joined the OHSU Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy in December 2022 as a Senior Staff Scientist. During his most recent position as an instructor at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (BWH/HMS), he explored the mechanisms underlying reprogramming across species through induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models and multi-omics approaches.

Dr. Lee studied animal science and molecular biology as an undergraduate at Seoul National University (South Korea) and completed his PhD in animal reproductive biology in 2008. His interdisciplinary training included a Postdoctoral fellowship at Sooam Biotech Research Foundation and Ewha Womens University utilizing SCNT techniques for transgenic animal production and the generation of human SCNT embryonic stem cells, as well as analyzing the genomes of exceptionally long-lived mammals.

Continuing his post-doctoral studies at BWH/HMS from 2013, Dr. Lee did research focused on iPSC generation from long-lived mammals, the identification of universal conditions that facilitate the reprogramming of mammalian cells, and the development of epigenetic aging clocks from pan-mammals.

Staff Scientist

Nuria Marti-Gutierrez, PhD

Nuria Marti-Gutierrez, PhD

I received my Master's degree in Clinical Biology and Reproduction from the University of Alicante and my PhD, under the direction of Dr. Mitalipov, from the University of Valencia. During my PhD studies I investigated somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) in porcine and mitochondrial replacement in mouse and human. I joined Dr. Mitalipov's lab in February 2012. I'm currently a Senior Research Associate and the Embryology Manager of the Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy. My research projects are focused on germ line gene correction.

Informatician

Aleksei Mikhalchenko, PhD

Aleksei Mikhalchenko photo

I received my Master’s degree in Bioengineering & Bioinformatics from Moscow State University and my PhD in Life Sciences from Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology. During my graduate training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, my research focused on cellular reprogramming, pluripotent stem cells and comparative biology of aging. My interests in reproductive genomics and gamete biology led me to join the OHSU Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2019, where my projects focus on in vitro gametogenesis and somatic genome haploidization.  In my current role as a genome informatics lead, I assumed responsibilities for the development and management of NGS and bioinformatics resources at the Center.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Zahra Safaei, PhD

Zahra Safaei, PhD

I received my master’s degree in Midwifery from Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health services, School of Nursing and Midwifery and my Ph.D. degree in Reproductive Biology from Iran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services. As a visiting Scientist in Austria, working on mitochondrial biogenesis and function by High-Resolution Respirometry O2K in Bioblast. My sabbatical course in the field of Reproductive medicine was done in Dr. Zech IVF Lab, Innsbruck, Austria. My research interests in stem cells, reproductive and developmental biology and desire to do research close to a clinical setting brought me to the OHSU Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy, which I joined as a postdoctoral research fellow in 2022. 

The indispensable crew

Ying Li

Ying Li

I received my BS from Shanghai Medical University in China and obtained my MS from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. I worked as a research assistant at the Vollum Institute at OHSU for two years before I joined the Mitalipov lab as a research assistant in 2008.

Crystal Van Dyken

Crystal Van Dyken

I received my B.S. in Biology from the University of Idaho in 2009. I previously worked as a research technician in the Pharmacology Department at Washington State University. I joined the Mitalipov lab as a Research Assistant in 2013. I assist with many projects and my primary focuses are on embryology and molecular biology as well as maintaining the lab's IACUC protocol.

Daniel Frana

Daniel Frana

I received my BS in Genetics & Biotechnology from the University of Iowa. I worked as a lab tech at Integrated DNA Technology and later as a research assistant at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics before moving to Portland to join the Center for Embryonic Cell and Gene Therapy.

Past Team Members

Amy Koski

Amy Koski

I earned my bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Carroll College in Helena, MT. At the University of Washington, I was part of a research team that focused on lung disease and injury, while at the University of Virginia my research focus was on the blood-brain barrier and the role of respiratory depressants. In 2014, I joined Dr. Mitalipov's center as Clinical Research Coordinator and assumed additional administrative responsibilities as the Center Manager in 2016. I am responsible for clinical, administrative and research activities related to the management of patients and volunteers on clinical research studies and clinical trials, including assisting in ongoing regulatory efforts at the local and federal levels. I oversee patient recruitment, maintenance and submission of patient data; assist with experimental protocol activities; maintenance and preparation of all audits, management all regulatory submissions and committee documents including DSMC, IRB, and grant applications. I also continue to assist in the lab with cell culture, library preparation and cell isolation protocols.

Rebecca Tippner-Hedges

Rebecca Tippner-Hedges

I started my career in academic research in 1998 while completing my Bachelor’s degree at Oregon State University in a plant pathology lab. I then went on to complete a professional Masters in Biotechnology from the Cell and Molecular Biology Department of OSU in 2007 and work for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the University of Oregon monoclonal antibody facility, and then entered a few biotech positions. I first started in the Mitalipov lab in 2011, left between 2016 and 2019, and have recently returned. I specialize in cell culture and specifically stem cell culture.