Speaker Biosketches

Presentation Title: "Harnessing the Immune System for Cancer Cures"

James Gulley, MD, PhD, FACP, is an internationally recognized expert in immunotherapy for cancer. He graduated from Loma Linda University in California with a PhD in microbiology in 1994 and an MD in 1995. As part of this eight-year MD/PhD Medical Scientist Training Program, he completed a dissertation on tumor immunology. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Emory University in 1998, followed by a Medical Oncology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Dr. Gulley serves within the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) of the National Cancer Institute as Co-Director of the Center for Immuno-Oncology, the Clinical Director, NCI and the Acting Co-Director of the CCR. He has been instrumental in the clinical development of multiple immunotherapeutic agents and has led multiple first-in-human immunotherapy studies through phase 3 clinical trials. He was the coordinating PI of an international trial of avelumab that led to regulatory approval. He was the PI of the first-in-human international study of a first in class agent, bintrafusp alfa, which targets PDL1 and TGF-beta. He also leads a number of rationally designed, cutting edge combination immunotherapy studies.

Dr. Gulley is the Interim Editor-in-Chief of JITC and the Vice President of SITC. He serves on many national and NIH boards and committees. He has been an investigator on over 200 clinical trials and has authored over 350 scientific papers or chapters which have been cited over 25,000 times. He has made hundreds of scientific presentations at universities or national / international meetings. He has had multiple awards including the 2010 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the highest award bestowed by the US President on investigators early in their careers. He also was awarded the 2018 Hubert H. Humphrey Award for Service to America for contributing to the health, safety, and well-being of the nation by helping to get FDA approval for avelumab for Merkel cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma and has received numerous NCI or NIH Director’s Awards.

Hisham Abdel-Azim, MD, is a Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine and Basic Sciences; Division Chief, Transplant and Cell Therapy/Hematological Malignancies, Director, Combined Adult and Pediatric Transplant and Cell Therapy Program; Director, Leukemia Research Program, Director of TCT/GMP lab, Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr Abdel-Azim is physician and researcher who conduct laboratory research with aim of translating it into clinical applications; he is a principal and a co-principal investigator on several investigator-initiated and multi-center studies. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. His lab research is mainly focused on acute leukemia. Dr. Abdel-Azim is an expert in blood and marrow transplantation, cellular and immunotherapy for a wide variety of cancers, bone marrow disorders, and genetic and non-malignant diseases. He also has special expertise in laboratory assessment for minimal residual disease in blood cancers and immune recovery after blood and marrow transplantation. His research interests include infections in immune compromised host, reduction of transplant-associated complications, treatment of graft vs host disease, and use of cell therapy for treatment of malignant and non-malignant diseases. 

Presentation Title:  “External Funding for Trainees”

Stella Goulopoulou, PhD,  is an Associate Professor of Physiology in the Lawrence Longo Center for Perinatal Biology at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. Dr. Goulopoulou’s research program focuses on women’s cardiovascular health with emphasis on maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy and postpartum in health and disease. Dr. Goulopoulou’s research program and trainees have been funded by the American Heart Association, the Preeclampsia Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. A considerable part of Dr. Goulopoulou's professional service and leadership is dedicated to advocacy for gender equity in science and for policy changes that support women’s health. Her personal background and experiences as a first-generation college graduate, non-traditional student, immigrant, and female scientist motivate her to mentor her trainees through the lens of diversity and inclusivity creating a supportive and safe environment for those who have been historically underrepresented and marginalized. One of Dr. Goulopoulou’s favorite quotes and self-motivation is from Dr. Maya Angelou “…What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it …” 

Marcin Kortylewski, PhD, has been an Investigator of the Beckman Research Institute at City of Hope since 2005. He is Professor at the Department of Immuno-Oncology and member of the Cancer Immunotherapy and Human Gene Therapy Programs in the NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center at City of Hope. He received his PhD in molecular biology from the University School of Medical Sciences in Poznan (Poland). He then completed two postdoctoral fellowships: in Cancer Biology at the Institute of Biochemistry (Aachen, Germany) and in Tumor Immunology at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center (Tampa, FL). Dr. Kortylewski’s group focuses on cancer immunotherapy using novel oligonucleotide-based reagents based on siRNA, miRNA, decoy or antisense molecules to overcome tumor immune tolerance. Research from his laboratory has earned notable funding from major federal and private sources, including the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, the Department of Defense and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Salvador Soriano, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Human Anatomy at Loma Linda University. He earned his PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Glasgow, after which he completed postdoctoral training in Neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego. Following his postdoctoral training, he joined King's College London as an Associate Professor, before joining the Faculty at Loma Linda University. Dr. Soriano's research focuses on the role of dyslipidemia and inflammation in a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and lysosomal storage disorders. 

Presentation Title:  “Time Management"

Johnny D. Figueroa, PhD, earned his PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Sciences Campus in 2006.Currently serving as a Tenured Associate Professor of Physiology and Neuroscience in the Department of Basic Sciences and the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Dr. Figueroa began his professorship in 2014. He has established a robust and productive research program, developed a record of engaged and practical teaching, and contributed significantly to minority health. The research focus of Dr. Figueroa revolves around identifying neurobiological mechanisms connecting early-life adversities with obesity and eating disorders. He pioneered an innovative rat model that investigates the interplay between diet, psychosocial stress, and anxiety disorders. Dr. Figueroa has authored numerous publications and secured multiple NIH and private grants in studies investigating the interplay between obesity, stress, and mental health. In addition to mentoring students within his laboratory, Dr. Figueroa's teaching responsibilities encompass courses in Integrated Biomedical Graduate Studies, Anatomy, and Neuroscience System Biology and Bioengineering programs. His courses delve into brain development, the neurobiology of stress, neuroanatomy, and cognitive neuroscience while addressing the societal implications of scientific advancements and health disparities. Dr. Figueroa has designed graduate courses in neurobiology to address gaps in the curriculum, emphasizing fundamental concepts of stress research. Dr. Figueroa emphasizes active learning environments through diverse instructional activities, garnering consistently high effectiveness ratings and a commitment to continuous improvement. Dr. Figueroa has contributed significantly to various committees, task forces, and workgroups, particularly in developing NIH-funded research and academic programs to address health disparities and enhance diversity in biomedical fields. His involvement in educational and mentoring activities extends to serving on the Obesity Society Educational Committee, the NIH Academy on Health Disparities, and the NIDDK’s Network of Minority Health Research Investigators. Dr. Figueroa is also a reviewer and Associate Editor for several grant panels and neuroscience journals. He engages with the Hispanic community as an educator and influencer, promoting healthy lifestyles, disseminating laboratory findings, and as part of local advocacy groups. Through this concerted effort, Dr. Figueroa endeavors to create a meaningful and enduring body of work that positively impacts academia, healthcare, and society

Presentation Title:  “External Funding for Trainees”

Stella Goulopoulou, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Physiology in the Lawrence Longo Center for Perinatal Biology at Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California. Dr. Goulopoulou’s research program focuses on women’s cardiovascular health with emphasis on maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy and postpartum in health and disease. Dr. Goulopoulou’s research program and trainees have been funded by the American Heart Association, the Preeclampsia Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health. A considerable part of Dr. Goulopoulou's professional service and leadership is dedicated to advocacy for gender equity in science and for policy changes that support women’s health. Her personal background and experiences as a first-generation college graduate, non-traditional student, immigrant, and female scientist motivate her to mentor her trainees through the lens of diversity and inclusivity creating a supportive and safe environment for those who have been historically underrepresented and marginalized. One of Dr. Goulopoulou’s favorite quotes and self-motivation is from Dr. Maya Angelou “…What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can't change it, change the way you think about it …” 

Presentation Title: "Writing Skills"

William Pearce, PhD, earned his PhD in Physiology at the University of Michigan in 1978, after which he completed his postdoctoral training in Pharmacology with John A Bevan at UCLA.  He joined the Physiology faculty of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1983, where he has held the rank of Professor since 1997.  Beginning with his doctoral dissertation, Dr. Pearce’s research interests have focused on the vascular biology of cerebral arteries, with an emphasis on how both physiological and pathophysiological perturbations modulate structure-function relations in the fetal cerebral circulation. This work has been continuously funded by the US National Institutes of Health for more than 30 years and has resulted in more than 175 peer-reviewed publications.

Presentation Title:  “Time Management”

Julio Sierra is a graduate student in the Department of Basic Sciences at Loma Linda University. He received a BS and MS in Biomedical Engineering and a BA in Modern Languages and Literature from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Julio is currently pursuing his PhD in Neuroscience, Systems Biology, and Bioengineering, while conducting research under the mentorship of Dr. Johnny D. Figueroa. Their research focuses on the impact of obesogenic environmental factors, such as high-fat diet consumption, on the maturational trajectories of neural correlates that play a role in the development of maladaptive eating behaviors. 

Presentation Title:  “Mentor/Mentee Relationship”

Juli Unternaehrer, PhD, is an associate professor in Basic Sciences, Division of Biochemistry, and Gynecology/Obstetrics at LLU. She completed PhD studies in Cell Biology with Ira Mellman at Yale University School of Medicine on cell biological aspects of the immune system, and a postdoctoral fellowship in stem cell biology with George Daley at Harvard Medical school on the mechanism of somatic cell reprogramming to pluripotency. Since beginning her laboratory at LLU in 2013, she has focused on developing a translational research program in ovarian cancer, with the goal of discovering therapeutics to specifically target cancer stem cells.