Team BDB

Platform Technologies

Team BDB

Advanced Biomarker Detection for Pharmacological Monitoring in the Brain

The objective of the research group is to develop an in vivo continuous monitoring biosensor for the direct detection of small molecule biomarkers in brain tissue of rodent models for elucidating the pharmacodynamic (PD) effect and pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters of drugs against neuropsychiatric diseases. The team will explore the multifaceted task of continuous monitoring biosensor development, including molecular design and assay development, biocompatible sensor architecture, and sensor integration for in vivo monitoring.

Mentors
  • Prof. Dr. Bastian Hengerer
    Director CNS Diseases Research at Boehringer Ingelheim, Biberach, Germany (Industry mentor)
  • Prof. Dr. Heather A. Clark
    Director, School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA (Academic mentor)
The research of this team is kindly supported by Boehringer Ingelheim.

Our Team Members

Dr. Khulan Sergelen

Group Leader

 Short Bio
  • 2019 – 2022: Assistant Professor (tenure-track), Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
  • 2018 – 2019: Postdoctoral researcher at Molecular Biosensing for Medical Diagnostics (MBx) group, Eindhoven University of Technology, Netherlands
    • Continuous monitoring biosensors based on particle mobility for inflammatory biomarkers monitoring application
  • 2012 – 2017: PhD joint degree in Bionanotechnology (IGS-BioNanoTech) at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), Vienna and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
    • Reversible biosensors using aptamer-based surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence spectroscopy and hydrogel architectures towards therapeutic drug monitoring application
  • 2009 – 2012: MSc Molecular Medicine, University of Vienna, Austria
    • Protein microarray screening of tumor autoantibodies for early colon cancer detection- Austrian Institute of Technology, Vienna
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Dr. Cátia Monteiro da Santa

Postdoctoral Researcher

 Short Bio
  • 2013 – 2020: PhD in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine – Neuroscience and Disease from the University of Coimbra, Portugal
  • 2009 – 2011: Master of Science in Biochemistry – Biomolecular Methods from the University of Aveiro, Portugal
  • 2006 – 2009: Bachelor in Biochemistry from the University of Aveiro, Portugal
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Dr. Pragnya Satapathy

Postdoctoral Researcher

 Short Bio
  • 2016 – 2022: PhD in Physics, Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences, India. Broad Area: Soft Condensed Matter Physics. Thesis title: “Photo-driven effects in nano-soft composites with liquid crystal/polymer hosts”
  • 2014 – 2016: Master of Science in Physics, Pondicherry University, India. Result: First Rank holder (Gold Medallist). Dissertation: “Study of Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) Effect and Reusability of Ag/ZnO/Ag Hybrid Structure Based SERS substrate”
  • 2011 – 2014: Bachelor of Science in Physics (Hons.), Berhampur University, Odisha, India. Result: First class division with distinction
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Dr. Soohyun Park

Postdoctoral Researcher

 Short Bio
  • 2021 – 2023: Postdoctoral research fellow in studying lipid membrane biotechnology, antiviral peptide engineering, and lipid nanoparticles at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • 2016 – 2021: PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
  • 2011 – 2016: Bachelor of Science in Biomaterials Engineering at Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
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Dr. Anil Kumar Pal

Senior Scientist

 Short Bio

Feb 2022 – Jan 2024:

  • Humboldt Fellow in Hybrid Nanophotonics group, Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) of Munich, Germany.

Nov 2018 – Dec 2021:

  • Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, UK.

Nov 2017 – Mar 2018:

  • Intern in the department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.

Sep 2012 – May 2018:

  • PhD in Physics, Pondicherry University, India.

Aug 2010 – May 2012:

  • Master of Science in Physics, Pondicherry University, India.
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Alice Gerber

Master's Student

 Short Bio
  • 2022 – present: MSc in Biomedical Science and Technology at the University of Applied Science, Mannheim
  • April 2022 – August 2022: Internship in Cell Culture Optimization at the University of Applied Sciences, Biberach an der Riß
  • 2018 – 2022: BSc in Biotechnology at the University of Applied Science, Mannheim
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Jean-Marie Bayhurst

Intern

 Short Bio
  • April 2023 – July 2023: Erasmus+ Internship Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Sweden
  • 2021 – today: Master of Science in Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology University of Tübingen
  • 2017 – 2021: Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Tübingen
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Team BDB Alumni

At BioMed X we care for the people who work with us. Staying in touch with those who left but mainly contributed to BioMed X’s success is key. That’s why they have their designated place on our website. So let’s keep connected!

Dr. Simone Hageneder

Hannah Kempf

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Meret Kaliske

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No contact information available.

Narjes Armoon

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Nektarios Winter

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Hsin-Jui (Jessica) Lu

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Ecem Aslan

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Artur Gejt

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