Team TMI

Immunology

Team TMI

Translocation of Complex Macromolecules Across the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier

The main objective of the research group TMI is to discover novel transport mechanisms in the human intestinal tract which could be utilized for oral-systemic delivery of diverse therapeutic modalities (e.g., peptides, oligonucleotides, and antibodies). Studies involve screening of ligands, generating intestinal organoids from murine and human subjects, isolating intestinal cells, and creating a co-culture system. The project’s objectives are to develop a ligand specific for a target cell and establish quantitative assessment methods to monitor macromolecular drug delivery across the intestinal epithelial barrier. Our final goal is to create a novel delivery platform, which can be utilized for the development of a new generation of oral immunotherapies for the benefit of patients.

 Mentors
  • Dr. Kasper Hoebe
    Associate Director Janssen R&D (Industry mentor)
  • Dr. Diana Dudziak Professor for Dendritic Cell Biology, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, Germany (Academic mentor)

Our Team Members

Dr. Kyungbo Kim

Group Leader

 Short Bio
  • 2018 – 2021: Postdoc in insect development and molecular biology with Prof. Subba Reddy Palli, University of Kentucky Department of Entomology, KY, USA
  • 2013 – 2018: PhD in pharmaceutical sciences in the Laboratory of Prof. Chang-Guo Zhan, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, KY, USA
  • 2012 – 2013: Research assistant in cancer biology in the laboratory of Prof. Wooin Lee, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, KY, USA
  • 2009 – 2011: Master’s degree in biotechnology in the laboratory of Prof. ‪Dong-Eun Kim, Konkuk University, Korea
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Dr. Enrique Gamero

Postdoctoral Researcher

 Short Bio
  • 2015 – 2021: PhD in epithelial biology and development in the laboratory of Dr. Aimee Ryan, Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
  • 2013 – 2015: Undergraduate research assistant studying aging in mice in the laboratory of Dr. Guillermo Lopez Lluch, CABD, University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
  • 2010 – 2014: Bachelor’s degree in biotechnology, University Pablo de Olavide, Sevilla, Spain
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Dr. Praveen Nattramilarasu

Postdoctoral Researcher

 Short Bio
  • 2022 – 2023: Postdoctoral researcher, Institute of Molecular Infection Biology, Julius-Maximilian-Universität WĂĽrzburg, Germany
  • 2017 – 2021: PhD in biochemistry, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin/Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
  • 2014 – 2017: Master of Science in Microbiology and Biochemistry, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Germany
  • 2009 – 2013: Bachelor of Technology in Biotechnology, Kumaraguru College of Technology/Anna University, Coimbatore, India
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Olivia MĂĽllertz

PhD Student

 Short Bio
  • 2020 – 2021: Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
  • 2020: Research Placement, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
  • 2018 – 2019: Undergraduate research assistant, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
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Elizaveta Savochkina

Research Assistant

 Short Bio
  • 2016 – 2022: Research assistant in the Physiology of Nutrition Laboratory, Pavlov Institute of Physiology RAS, Saint Petersburg, Russia & research assistant in the Almazov National Medical Research Centre of Cardiovascular Diseases (in several laboratories), Saint Petersburg, Russia
  • 2014 – 2016: Master of Biological Sciences with a major in cell biology, histology, and immunology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Russia
  • 2010 – 2014: Bachelor of Biological Sciences with a major in cell and molecular biology and biotechnology, Saint-Petersburg State University, Russia
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Jasmine El Andalousi

Research Assistant

 Short Bio
  • 2010 – 2022: Research assistant in the lab of Dr. Indra R. Gupta, the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada
  • 2007 – 2010: Master’s degree in physiology in the laboratory of Dr. Madhu Anand-Srivastava, UniversitĂ© de MontrĂ©al, Montreal, Canada
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Sama AlMehallawi

Master's Student

 Short Bio
  • 2023 – present: M.Sc. in Molecular Biosciences – Major Cancer Biology, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg & German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2022 – 2023: R&D Scientist at Proteinea, Cairo, Egypt
  • 2021 – 2022: Research Intern in the Tumor Biology Research Lab (Dr. Shahenda El-Naggar), Children’s Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357, Cairo, Egypt
  • 2016 – 2021: B.Sc. in Pharmacy, The German University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt
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Mehsoon Gilani

Master's Student

 Short Bio
  • 2022 – ongoing: Erasmus+ International Master in Innovative Medicine (IMIM); first year at Heidelberg University, Germany, and second year at Uppsala University, Sweden
  • 2023 – 2024: Internship at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  • 2023: Internship at DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
  • 2017 – 2021: Bachelor of Science in Applied Biosciences, National University of Science and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
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Team TMI 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. Stephanie MĂĽnchau

Viktoriya Chaskovska

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Giulia Grancini Mitaini

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Gentiane Krasniqi

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Arnas Zubas

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Arda Ergönen

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Emma Smulders Teles

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