Lab Members
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Bruce Conklin, MD
Senior InvestigatorBruce R. Conklin began research training with Julius Axelrod, Ph D, (Nobel Laureate, NIH), did his residency at Johns Hopkins and a postdoctoral fellowship with Henry Bourne (UCSF). In 1995 Conklin joined the Gladstone Institutes and UCSF as faculty. Conklin is the founder of several public stem cell and genomics projects including BayGenomics, GenMAPP and WikiPathways. He pioneered the use of designer G protein coupled receptors (RASSLs) for tissue engineering. . He serves on multiple scientific advisory boards including the Allen Institute for Cell Science, Tenaya Therapeutics and the Exploratorium. He is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and is a Fellow in the California Academy of Sciences.
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Quinn Cowan, PhD
Postdoctoral ScholarQuinn grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii. He received a BS in Biochemistry (minor in Biotechnology) from the University of Southern California, where he studied mechanisms of DNA repair as an undergraduate researcher with Irene Chiolo and a research associate with W. Matt Michael. Quinn then pursued a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics in Alexis Komor's lab at UC San Diego and developed new genome editing tools called multiplexed orthogonal base editors. Currently, his research interests include elucidating repair mechanisms and improving haplotype-specific gene editing for dominant disease.
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Philip Dierks
Research Associate IPhilip Dierks is a Bay Area native from Berkeley and a recent college graduate from Boston College. In his past research experiences at the Max Delbrück Center and Stanford, he has focused primarily on cardiovascular diseases, such as HCM and atherosclerosis. In his free time, he likes to watch and play soccer, surf, and make miniature architecture models.
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Luke Judge, MD, PhD
Affiliate InvestigatorDr. Judge is a physician-scientist with extensive experience with mouse and human models of genetic disease. His current research utilizes induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and gene editing to model disease and develop therapies. His primary interests focus on therapeutic gene editing for dominant neurologic disorders. He is funded by the NIH and Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association to evaluate therapeutic gene editing strategies in human and murine models of genetic neuropathy and published the first study of a gene editing approach for axonal neuropathy (Feliciano et al, 2021). Dr. Judge is an Affiliate Investigator in the Gladstone Institute of Data Science and Biotechnology as well as a practicing neonatologist at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. He is an active mentor in both the clinical and laboratory realms and directs the fellowship program in Neonatal-Perinatal medicine.
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Manasi Kumar, MTM
Research Associate IManasi grew up in the Bay Area- she graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Bioengineering, and received her Masters in Translational Medicine at UC Berkeley/UCSF. During her studies, she interned at a retrotransposon-based gene insertion startup, and was a student research assistant at the Chen lab at UCSF, developing nonviral gene delivery tools for optogenetic applications. Manasi is passionate about STEM outreach in her community and loves sharing cool science with younger students. In her spare thyme, Manasi is an aspiring gardener, enjoys exploring the city, and loves a good puzzle.
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Bria Macklin, PhD
ScientistBria grew up in Baltimore and received her undergraduate degree in Bioengineering from North Carolina A&T State University. She received her PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, in the lab of Sharon Gerecht at Johns Hopkins University studying vascular regeneration and tissue engineering. Bria’s current research focuses on improving gene editing strategies for inherited neurodegenerative diseases. She is an NIH/NIA F32 Postdoctoral Fellow and a recipient of the 2023 L’Oréal USA For Women in Science Award.
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Neha Jag
Research Associate IINeha graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelors in Molecular and Cell Biology, emphasizing in Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development. While at Berkeley, she worked in the Innovative Genomics Institute to optimize CRISPR/Cas9 delivery methods for Hemoglobinopathies. In the Conklin Lab she will be working on therapeutic gene editing for dominant disorders such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. During her free time she likes to read, cook, and explore the city!
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Donovan Chapman
PUMAS InternDonovan was born in San Francisco and grew up in Daly City until moving to Vacaville to attend Solano College. There, he is pursuing a Biomanufacturing B.S. to learn bioreactor operation, regulatory affairs, and bioprocess engineering. As a CIRM COMPASS Scholar, he has taken coursework about stem cells, mammalian cell culture, and synthetic biology and spent his Summer in 2025 cell banking NISTCHO. He is also the treasurer and former representative of Solano’s Algae Club, which seeks to genetically engineer cyanobacteria to tolerate growth on simulated Martian regolith and to ultimately develop "photosynthetic extremophiles".
At the Conklin Lab he hopes to apply his academic experience to gain hands-on skills doing iPSC cell culture and learn gene-editing workflows, with the goal of transitioning to research rather than manufacturing. In his spare time, Donovan likes going on bike rides whilst listening to music, playing guitar and trumpet, and trying new restaurants. -
Elane Girmay
Administrative AssistantElane is a San Francisco native who recently finished a Digital Marketing Fellowship with COOP. She has a B.S. in Marketing from SFSU. She’ll be assisting Conklin Lab and Pollard Lab with administrative work. During her free time she enjoys painting, scrapbooking, reading, attending art shows, small live music events, taking walks with friends, and cuddling her cat.
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Juno Nedumaran
Research Associate IJuno Nedumaran grew up in the Bay Area and recently graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s in Neuroscience. As an undergrad, she was a research assistant at the Meisler lab, where she worked on developing ASO therapies for SCN8A epilepsy. In her free time, she likes to read and go on long walks.