Division Staff Contacts

Division of Biophysics, Biomedical Technology, and Computational Biosciences

To request more information or provide comments about NIGMS biophysics, biomedical technology, and computational biosciences programs, please contact the program staff below.

Paul Brazhnik, Ph.D.
Paul Brazhnik, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Brazhnik oversees grants in the areas of computational modeling, mathematical and systems biology, and biostatistics .

Susan Gregurick, Ph.D.
Susan Gregurick, Ph.D.
Division Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gregurick oversees the division's research programs in biomedical technology, bioinformatics and computational biology.

Dmitriy Krepkiy, Ph.D.
Dmitriy Krepkiy, Ph.D.
Biomedical Technology Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Krepkiy manages biomedical technology research resources and other technology development grants in spectroscopy and structural biology.

Peter Lyster, Ph.D.
Peter Lyster, Ph.D.
Biophysics Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Lyster is currently on detail with the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program.

Michele McGuirl, Ph.D.
Michele McGuirl, Ph.D.
Biophysics Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

​Dr. McGuirl oversees grants in the biophysical studies of protein structure and function.​


Peter Preusch, Ph.D.
Peter Preusch, Ph.D.
Biophysics Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Preusch oversees grants in the areas of the biophysical properties of nucleic acids, nucleic-acid protein complexes and theoretical studies of protein-ligand interactions.

Veerasamy (Ravi) Ravichandran, Ph.D.
Veerasamy (Ravi) Ravichandran, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Ravichandran manages biomedical technology research resources and research and training grants in bioinformatics.
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Haluk Resat, Ph.D.
Haluk Resat, Ph.D.
Bioinformatics and Computational Biosciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Resat oversees grants in computational biology, bioinformatics, systems biology, modeling of cellular (signaling, gene regulatory, metabolic) networks, multiscale models and mathematical biology.

Michael Sakalian, Ph.D.
Michael Sakalian, Ph.D.
Biophysics Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sakalian oversees grants in the areas of cell and structural biology of the viral lifecycle as well as in structure-based drug design related to AIDS.​

Paul Sammak, Ph.D.
Paul Sammak, Ph.D.
Biomedical Technology Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sammak manages biomedical technology research resources, technology development grants, and grants that develop cellular imaging technologies.​

Ward Smith, Ph.D.
Ward Smith, Ph.D.
Biomedical Technology Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Smith oversees grants in the area of the biophysical properties of proteins and advises on grants and activities related to structural biology.

Mary Ann Wu, Ph.D.
Mary Ann Wu, Ph.D.
Biomedical Technology Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Wu manages biomedical technology research resources and technology development grants related to structural biology.
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Division of Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

To request more information or provide comments about NIGMS genetics and developmental biology programs, please contact the program staff below.

Alexandra Ainsztein, Ph.D.
Alexandra Ainsztein, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Ainsztein oversees grants in the areas of chromosome and nuclear structures, and organismal response to the environment and microbe-host interactions.

Michael Bender, Ph.D.
Michael Bender, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Bender oversees grants in the areas of RNA processing, mRNA metabolism and translational control, and regulatory RNAs. He also oversees predoctoral T32 training grants in Genetics.

Anissa J. Brown, Ph.D.
Anissa J. Brown, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Brown oversees the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative, Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research and the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program and manages research grants in the area of protein synthesis.

Anthony Carter, Ph.D.
Anthony Carter, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Carter is a program director in the NIGMS Division of Genetics and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology with specialization in the areas of chromatin biology and epigenetics.

Paula Flicker, Ph.D.
Paula Flicker, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Flicker oversees grants in the areas of protein processing and export, and endoplasmic reticulum as well as in the area of membrane biology and organelle biogenesis. She also administers grants in the Division of Biophysics, Biomedical Technology and Computational Biology dealing with cryo-electron microscopy and other approaches.

Kenneth Gibbs, Ph.D.
Kenneth Gibbs, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gibbs oversees research grants in the areas of stem cell biology and regeneration.

Joseph Gindhart, Ph.D.
Joseph Gindhart, Ph.D.
Developmental and Cellular Processes Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gindhart oversees grants in the areas of motor proteins, cytoskeletal filaments, intracellular transport and protein quality control.

Tanya Hoodbhoy, Ph.D.
Tanya Hoodbhoy, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Hoodbhoy oversees research grants in the area of developmental genetics and developmental signaling.

Daniel Janes, Ph.D.
Daniel Janes, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Janes oversees grants in the areas of genetic variation, evolutionary genetics and modeling for infectious diseases.

Donna Krasnewich, M.D., Ph.D.
Donna Krasnewich, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Krasnewich oversees grants in the area of the genetic basis of human biology.

Stefan Maas, Ph.D.
Stefan Maas, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Maas oversees grants in the areas of cell death, autophagy and homeostasis, as well as endocytosis, lysosomes, and related organelles.

Amanda Melillo, Ph.D.
Amanda Melillo, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Melillo oversees grants in the areas of cell cycle, and cell growth and differentiation, postdoctoral fellowships in the areas of genetics and developmental biology and predoctoral training grants in cellular, biochemical and molecular sciences. She also serves as program director for the NIGMS Human Genetic Cell Repository.

Michael Reddy, Ph.D.
Michael Reddy, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Reddy oversees grants in the areas of DNA replication, organismal response to the environment and microbe-host interactions.

Desirée Salazar, Ph.D.
Desirée Salazar, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Salazar oversees research grants in the area of stem cell biology and regeneration.

Michael Sesma, Ph.D.
Michael Sesma, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sesma oversees research grants in the areas of neurogenetics and the genetics of behavior, primarily in nonhuman model systems, and K99 career development grants in the areas of genetics and molecular, cellular and developmental biology.

Darren Sledjeski, Ph.D.
Darren Sledjeski, Ph.D.
Genetic Mechanisms Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sledjeski oversees grants in the area of transcription mechanisms and Protein Synthesis.

Kristine Willis, Ph.D.
Kristine Willis, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Willis oversees grants in the area of mutagenesis and DNA repair and F32 postdoctoral fellowships.

Jianhua Xu, Ph.D.
Jianhua Xu, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

​Dr. Xu administers research grants on cell organization, mechanics, migration, and adhesion.

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Dorit Zuk, Ph.D.
Dorit Zuk, Ph.D.
Division Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Zuk oversees grants for Training Modules to Enhance Data Reproducibility.


Division of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry

To request more information or provide comments about NIGMS pharmacology, physiology and biological chemistry programs, please contact the program staff below.

Vernon Anderson, Ph.D.
Vernon Anderson, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Biorelated Chemistry Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Anderson oversees grants in the areas of metallobiology, trace metal homeostasis, bioenergetics, and redox reactions. He also handles the established investigator MIRA program for the entire institute.

Oleg Barski, Ph.D.
Oleg Barski, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Biorelated Chemistry Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Barski oversees grants in the areas of enzyme catalysis and regulation, and intermediary metabolism. He also oversees postdoctoral fellowships.

Michelle Bond, Ph.D.
Michelle Bond, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Bond oversees research grants covering natural products and synthetic organic chemistry.  She also manages postdoctoral fellowship awards.​


Alison Cole, Ph.D.
Alison Cole, Ph.D.
Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Cole oversees grants in the area of anesthesiology and peri-operative pain. She also oversees postdoctoral training grants and career awards in Anesthesiology. She additionally handles the small business grants for the branch.

Sarah Dunsmore, Ph.D.
Sarah Dunsmore, Ph.D.
Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Dunsmore oversees research grants in the areas of intracellular mediators of signal transduction, and sepsis and septic shock. She also oversees career awards in sepsis.

Miles Fabian, Ph.D.
Miles Fabian, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Biorelated Chemistry Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Fabian oversees grants in the areas of chemical biology and molecular synthesis and design of chemical probes, and biotechnology and natural products. He also oversees predoctoral training grants at the Chemistry-Biology Interface.

Martha Garcia, Ph.D.
Martha Garcia, Ph.D.
Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Garcia oversees grants in the areas of drug biotransformation (including absorption, transport, distribution, metabolism, and excretion), as well as drug delivery strategies and determinants of drug kinetics. She also manages career awards in clinical pharmacology​

Zuzana Justinova, M.D., Ph.D.
Zuzana Justinova, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Justinova manages Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence and IDeA Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research grants. Additionally, she handles research grants and mentored career development awards in the areas of anesthesiology and peri-operative pain.​


Sailaja Koduri, Ph.D.
Sailaja Koduri, Ph.D.
Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Koduri oversees research grants in the areas of cell surface receptors and their interactions. She also oversees the predoctoral training grants in Pharmacological Sciences. She additionally handles undergraduate and student development programs in the Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity Division.

Robert Lees, Ph.D.
Robert Lees, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Biorelated Chemistry Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Lees oversees grants in the area of synthetic organic chemistry. He also oversees postdoctoral fellowships.

Rochelle M. Long, Ph.D.
Rochelle M. Long, Ph.D.
Division Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Long oversees all research grants and activities in the Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biological Chemistry Division. She also manages institutional postdoctoral awards in Clinical Pharmacology.​​

Pamela A. Marino, Ph.D.
Pamela A. Marino, Ph.D.
Biochemistry and Biorelated Chemistry Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Marino oversees grants in the areas of glycobiology and molecular immunology.  She also handles the small business grants for the branch.  She additionally represents the institute in the Common Fund Glycosciences program.

Zhongzhen Nie, Ph.D.
Zhongzhen Nie, Ph.D.
Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Nie oversees grants in the areas of calcium signaling, ion channels, and membrane components. He also oversees predoctoral training grants in Systems and Integrative Biology.

Scott Somers, Ph.D.
Scott Somers, Ph.D.
Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Somers administers oversees grants in the areas of systemic inflammation, hypermetabolism, shock, multiple organ failure, and wound healing. He also oversees postdoctoral training grants and career awards in Trauma and Burn Injury.

Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity

To request more information or provide comments about NIGMS training, workforce development and diversity programs, please contact the program staff below.

TWD Staff

Patrick Brown, Ph.D.
Patrick Brown, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Brown manages the Bridges to the Doctorate program, Bridges to the Baccalaureate program and Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research. He also manages predoctoral T32 grants in Biotechnology.​


Anissa J. Brown, Ph.D.
Anissa J. Brown, Ph.D.
Undergraduate and Predoctoral Training Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Brown oversees the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative, Predoctoral Fellowships to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research and the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program.​
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Luis Cubano, Ph.D.
Luis Cubano, Ph.D.
Undergraduate and Predoctoral Training Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Cubano manages the Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (RISE) program and also the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research (U-STAR) program.​

Edgardo Falcón-Morales, Ph.D.
Edgardo Falcón-Morales, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Training Branch

Biographical Sketch

​Dr. Falcón-Morales oversees grants in the Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT), Research to Understand and Inform Interventions that Promote the Research Careers of Students in Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences, NIH Diversity Consortium National Research Mentoring Network, and Pathway to Independence​ (K99/R00) programs.​


Alison E. Gammie, Ph.D.
Alison E. Gammie, Ph.D.
Division Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gammie oversees the Division's Research Training, Career Development and Diversity Programs.

Kenneth Gibbs, Ph.D.
Kenneth Gibbs, Ph.D.
Undergraduate and Predoctoral Training Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gibbs handles the Predoctoral MD/PhD or Other Dual-Doctoral Degree Fellowships for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (F30) and the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP). He also oversees the predoctoral T32 grants in Biostatistics.

Sailaja Koduri, Ph.D.
Sailaja Koduri, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Koduri oversees research grants in the areas of cell surface receptors and their interactions. She also oversees the predoctoral training grants in Pharmacological Sciences. She additionally handles undergraduate and student development programs in the Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity Division.

Mercedes Rubio, Ph.D.
Mercedes Rubio, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Training Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Rubio manages the National Research Mentoring Network (NRMN) of the NIH Common Fund Enhancing the Diversity of the NIH-funded Workforce Initiative, the Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA), the Bridges to the Baccalaureate, and the Research to Understand and Inform Interventions that Promote the Research Careers of Students in Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences portfolios. She also manages predoctoral T32 grants in the Behavioral-Biomedical Sciences Interface.​

Desirée Salazar, Ph.D.
Desirée Salazar, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Training Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Salazar administers the Diversity Supplement Program, and the Re-entry Supplement Program and oversees predoctoral T32 Cellular, Biochemical and Molecular Sciences grants. She is also a program officer for the Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training, Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) awards, and the Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity (BUILD) Initiative.

Michael Sesma, Ph.D.
Michael Sesma, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Training Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sesma oversees postdoctoral programs for Research Training, Postdoctoral Fellowship and Career Development Programs, as well as the Innovative Programs to Enhance Research Training (IPERT), workforce modeling programs and the Coordination and Evaluation Center of the NIH Common Fund Enhancing the Diversity of the NIH-Funded Workforce initiative.

Shiva Singh, Ph.D.
Shiva Singh, Ph.D.
Undergraduate and Predoctoral Training Branch
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Singh oversees predoctoral T32 Training Programs in basic biomedical sciences as well as the integrated medical and graduate research training through the Medical Scientist Training Program, predoctoral F30 and F31 Fellowships, and a broad array of undergraduate and graduate student development programs.​


Training Program Staff

The following staff manage programs in TWD but are assigned organizationally to other NIGMS divisions.

Michael Bender, Ph.D.
Michael Bender, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Bender manages the Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) and oversees predoctoral T32 grants in Genetics and postdoctoral T32 grants in Medical Genetics.​

Paula Flicker, Ph.D.
Paula Flicker, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Flicker oversees predoctoral T32 Molecular Biophysics grants, postdoctoral fellowships and K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Awards in Cell Biology and Biophysics.​

Joseph Gindhart, Ph.D.
Joseph Gindhart, Ph.D.
Branch Chief

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gindhart oversees predoctoral T32 Cellular,Biochemical and Molecular Sciences grants.

Daniel Janes, Ph.D.
Daniel Janes, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Janes oversees K99 awards.​​​

Stefan Maas, Ph.D.
Stefan Maas, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Maas directs the NIGMS predocT32 Medical Scientist Training Program and manages postdoctoral fellowships in Genetics and Developmental Biology.​

Amanda Melillo, Ph.D.
Amanda Melillo, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Melillo oversees postdoctoral fellowship grants in the areas of Genetics and Developmental Biology.

Veerasamy (Ravi) Ravichandran, Ph.D.
Veerasamy (Ravi) Ravichandran, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Ravichandran oversees predoctoral F31 and postdoctoral F32 fellowships in Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, and manages the Initiative for Maximizing Student Development (IMSD) program.

Michael Sakalian, Ph.D.
Michael Sakalian, Ph.D.
Biophysics Branch
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sakalian manages F32 awards in Cell Biology.

Darren Sledjeski, Ph.D.
Darren Sledjeski, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Sledjeski oversees F31 predoctoral fellowships in Genetics and Developmental Biology.

Ward Smith, Ph.D.
Ward Smith, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Smith oversees F31 predoctoral fellowships in Cell Biology and Biophysics.

Kristine Willis, Ph.D.
Kristine Willis, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Willis oversees grants on mutagenesis and the repair of DNA damage, postdoctoral fellowships in genetics and developmental biology, and R25 grants for Training Modules to Enhance Data Reproducibility.​

Dorit Zuk, Ph.D.
Dorit Zuk, Ph.D.
Division Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Zuk manages the R25 grants for Training Modules to Enhance Data Reproducibility.​

Division for Research Capacity Building

To request more information or provide comments about NIGMS capacity-building programs, please contact the program staff below.

Rashada Alexander, Ph.D.
Rashada Alexander, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Alexander manages the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) co-funding initiative as well the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) and Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) programs.​

Krishan Arora, Ph.D.
Krishan Arora, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Arora manages the IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) component of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) ​program.​

L. Tony Beck, Ph.D.
L. Tony Beck, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Beck manages the Science Education Partnership Award (SEPA) Link to external Web site program, the Serious STEM Interactive Digital Media SBIR and the NIH Curriculum Supplement Series Link to external Web site.

Federico Bernal, Ph.D.
Federico Bernal, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

​Dr. Bernal manages the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) and Regional Technology Transfer Accelerator Hubs for IDeA states initiatives.​


Sheila A. Caldwell, Ph.D.
Sheila A. Caldwell, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Caldwell manages the Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) program as well as components of the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program.​

Hongwei Gao, M.D., Ph.D.
Hongwei Gao, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gao manages Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence and IDeA Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research grants.​

J. Rafael Gorospé, M.D., Ph.D.
J. Rafael Gorospé, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical Officer

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Gorospé manages the Institutional Development Award Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research (IDeA-CTR) program and the Centers for Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) Phase III initiatives.​

Zuzana Justinova, M.D., Ph.D.
Zuzana Justinova, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Justinova manages Institutional Development Award (IDeA) Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence and IDeA Infrastructure for Clinical and Translational Research grants. Additionally, she handles research grants and mentored career development awards in the areas of anesthesiology and peri-operative pain.​


Irina Krasnova, Ph.D.
Irina Krasnova, Ph.D.
Program Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Krasnova manages the Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) and Support of Competitive Research grants.​

Ming Lei, Ph.D.
Ming Lei, Ph.D.
Director

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Lei oversees the Institute’s capacity-building programs, which include the Institutional Development Award (IDeA), Support of Competitive Research (SCORE) and Native American Research Centers for Health (NARCH) as well as Science Education Partnerships Awards (SEPA). ​


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