Principal Investigator
Despina Siolas, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
M.D. Stony Brook School of Medicine
Ph.D. Stony Brook University, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
B.S. St. John's University
Email: des2025@med.cornell.edu
Conor Buckley, M.D., M.S., M.R.C.P.I.
Physician Scientist
Dr. Buckley received his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science from the Dublin Institute of Technology (Ireland), his medical degree from University College Dublin (Ireland), and a Master of Science degree from the University of Edinburgh (United Kingdom). He completed internal medicine training with the Royal College of Physicians in Ireland and Mount Sinai in New York. He served as a Chief Resident at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and is currently a Palliative Care Medicine Fellow. Dr. Buckley has a keen interest in pancreatic cancer and translational research. He plans to apply for a hematology/oncology fellowship.
Katherine Bacchi
Research Technician
Katherine Bacchi received her bachelor’s degree with a major in Chemistry-Biochemistry and was an active member of Fairfield University’s chemistry research department. By working as a research technician at Weill Cornell Medicine, she aims to deepen her understanding of mutational variation during tumor development and its impact on drug therapy.
Mayar Abdelalim
Undergraduate Volunteer
Mayar Abdelalim is an undergraduate at Hunter College, majoring in biological sciences with a minor in business studies. Her goals are to pursue a graduate degree and a career in clinical research. She is working as a research volunteer for the Siolas Laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Chistina Bogdani
Medical School Volunteer
Christina Bogdani received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Stony Brook University with magna cum laude honors. She is currently attending medical school at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, and recently finished her second year. She has spent her time volunteering as a research technician for the Siolas Laboratory in Weill Cornell Medicine, while writing a paper on future pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor treatments. Christina is interested in pursuing pediatrics, oncology, and/or dermatology in the future.
Huanhuan Sun, Ph.D.
Post Doctoral Researcher
Dr. Sun earned her PhD in Biology from Hunter College and holds a master's degree from Northwest A&F University in China. Her research journey has spanned across a variety of biological systems, including plants, fission yeast, and mammalian cells. Huanhuan continues to explore new frontiers in her field.
Anita Karimi
Clinical Research Fellow 
After completing medical school in Iran in 2022, Anita moved to the USA and completed two years of postdoctoral training as a research fellow. Anita has participated in clinical research on improving gastrointestinal cancer treatment. During that time, her interest in evidence-based medicine and its role in enhancing patient care has deepened. Anita looks forward to pursuing an internal medicine residency while continuing her research. Her ultimate goal is to become a physician-scientist, combining clinical practice with research to advance medicine.
Andrew Wenger
Research Technician
Andrew Wenger is a senior undergraduate at Hunter College with a double major in Biochemistry and German Literature. He works as a lab technician for the Siolas Laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine. He is interested in pursuing a graduate degree and career in clinical research, focusing on the colorectal cancer and genomics.
Nora Rahimian
Undergraduate Volunteer
Nora Rahimian is an undergraduate at Hunter College, pursuing a degree in Bioinformatics with a minor in Political Science and Chemistry. During her time at Hunter, she has earned the prestigious titles of Yalow Scholar, Thomas Hunter Scholar, and McNulty Scholar. Currently, she is volunteering at the Siolas Laboratory at Weill Cornell Medicine. Nora is passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and is dedicated to continuing her work in clinical research.