Our team
A group of researchers united by curiosity about blood stem cell biology and a shared commitment to translating discoveries into better treatments.
Amar Desai
Amar is an Assistant Professor at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center at Case Western Reserve University. He received his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Kenyon College and his PhD in Pharmacology from Case Western Reserve University. His research focuses on understanding how hematopoietic stem cells regenerate across aging, injury, and disease, with the goal of developing better treatments for blood disorders and improving bone marrow transplantation outcomes.
Amar is a devout Cleveland sports fan and believes a lifetime of sports despair has prepared him well for a career in science.
The team
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Bailey Klein
Department of Pathology, CWRU
Bailey is a PhD candidate in the Immunology Training Program. He earned his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Penn State University in 2020, after which he worked at Sanofi on gene therapy research before beginning his PhD in 2022. Outside of the lab Bailey spends his free time outdoors biking and kayaking, or playing some tasty licks on his guitars.
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Sofia Wilhelm
Sofia is a third-year neuroscience student drawn to how immune responses influence neurological health and disease. Outside the lab, she enjoys swimming, baking, and has recently become a horror movie connoisseur.
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Sid Kaparthi
Sid is an undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University pursuing a pre-med track with interests in neuroscience and healthcare innovation. Outside of academics, he enjoys staying active and exploring the outdoors, bringing the same energy and curiosity to his work in the lab.
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Navya Naik
Navya is an undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University majoring in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism. In her free time, Navya loves exploring new places and finding any excuse to get food with her friends.
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Riley Friedman
Riley is an undergraduate student at CWRU studying chemical biology and studio art, and a student athlete on the track and field team. In her free time she likes to explore restaurants around Cleveland and spend time with her loved ones.
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Ritisha Rashmil
Ritisha is an undergraduate student at CWRU studying Systems Biology. She is also a black belt in taekwondo and, therefore, well-equipped to deal with the mice when they get a little feisty.
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Sriya Potturu
Sriya Potturu is an undergraduate student at Case Western Reserve University studying Biochemistry and Spanish. Outside of the lab, Sriya spends her free time hiking, reading, and trying out different coffee shops around Cleveland.