Principal Investigator
John Blenis, Ph.D.
Email: job2024@med.cornell.edu
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Professor in Cancer Research
Associate Director of Basic Science, The Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center
Professor of Pharmacology
Post-Doctoral Associate
Charlotte Bellamy, Ph.D.
Email: chb4042@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘24 - Ecole Doctorale Cancerologie, Paris-Saclay University (France)
MSc ‘19 - International Master in Cell and Stem Cell Biology, Sorbonne Université (France)
BSc ‘17 - Genetics, Queen Mary University of London (United Kingdom)
Charlotte Bellamy is interested in cell signaling and how its regulatory machinery becomes dysregulated in cancer. In the Blenis Laboratory, she studies mechanism of resistance to mTOR inhibition in breast cancer, aiming to define the molecular programs that sustain residual disease and identify therapeutically actionable vulnerabilities.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Guillermo Burgos Barragan, Ph.D.
Email: gbb4001@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘17 - Cambridge University (United Kingdom)
BSc ‘12 - University of Seville (Spain)
Dr. Barragan’s research focuses on understanding and exploiting the connection between metabolism and DNA stability in cancer. He is developing a novel therapeutic strategy that uses high doses of vitamins to selectively eliminate cancer cells by generating metabolic genotoxins. Additionally, Guillermo is investigating how vitamin deficiencies contribute to cancer development. In 2024, he was awarded the Idea Development Award from the Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program and an R03 grant from the National Cancer Institute to support his work.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Jacob Cecil, Ph.D.
Email: jhc4005@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘23 - Cell/Molecular Biology, University of Arizona
BSc ‘16 - Cell/Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee
Dr. Cecil's research focuses on the fundamental processes regulating cell growth through mitogenic signaling, specifically via the mTORC1 pathway. In particular, his project seeks to explore new roles for kinase signaling in the process of ribosome biogenesis.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Margot Chirikjian, Ph.D.
Email: mkc7003@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘26 - Metabolic Biology, Columbia University
BSc ‘20 - Global and Public Health Sciences, Cornell University
Dr. Chirikjian obtained her PhD in metabolic biology from Columbia University in the lab of Dr. Utpal Pajvani. Her doctoral work focused on PTM regulation of pancreatic beta cell nutrient sensing and insulin secretion in the context of type II diabetes and obesity. She is interested in exploring how obesity and adipose tissue fuels cancer metastasis.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Jennifer Endress, Ph.D.
Email: jee4001@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘25 - Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences
BSc ‘15 - Northeastern University
Post-Doctoral Associate
Ki-Hong Jang, Ph.D.
Email: kij4004@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘19 - Chungnam National University (South Korea)
MSc ‘15 - Chungnam National University (South Korea)
BSc ‘13 - Chungnam National University (South Korea)
Instructor
Nikos Koundouros, Ph.D.
Email: nik4009@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘19 - University of London (United Kingdom)
BSc ‘14 - Bristol University (United Kingdom)
As a Charles H. Revson Fellow in the Blenis Lab, Dr. Koundouros work focuses on delineating the mechanisms through which breast cancer cells sense and utilize dietary essential fatty acids to fuel their growth and proliferation. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop personalized therapeutic strategies that combine nutritional and pharmacological interventions to exploit these genetic and metabolic interactions.
Instructor
Zhongchi (Justin) Li, Ph.D.
Email: zhl4003@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘19 - Tsinghua University (China)
BSc ‘14 - Beijing University (China)
With comprehensive training in aging biology and physiology, Dr. Li is focused on understanding how age-related metabolic dysfunction contributes to cancer progression. In particular, his research explores how propionate metabolism influences both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, driving therapy resistance and metastasis. Dr. Li has been recognized for his work with the Glenn Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and a K99/R00 Career Development Award from the NIA.
Assistant Professor
Michal Nagiec, Ph.D.
Email: min2015@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘11 - University of North Carolina
BSc ‘02 - University of Kentucky
Dr. Nagiec is a cell biologist with training in pharmacology that is interested in the fundamental questions of how cells process information and produce appropriate responses. He is particularly interested in how metastatic cancer cells balance proliferation with the ability to migrate and how these cells adapt to stresses associated with tumor spread. The goal of his research is to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in processes unique to metastatic cells for therapeutic benefit.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Zengpeng Zheng, Ph.D.
Email: zez4006@med.cornell.edu
PhD ‘25 - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai (China)
BSc ‘19 - Southern Medical University (China)
Principal Investigator
John Blenis, Ph.D.
Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Professor in Cancer Research
Associate Director of Basic Science, The Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center
Professor of Pharmacology
Instructors &
Post-Doctoral Associates
Instructor
With comprehensive training in aging biology and physiology, Dr. Li is focused on understanding how age-related metabolic dysfunction contributes to cancer progression. In particular, his research explores how propionate metabolism influences both tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment, driving therapy resistance and metastasis. Dr. Li has been recognized for his work with the Glenn Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship and a K99/R00 Career Development Award from the NIA.
Zhongchi (Justin) Li, Ph.D.
Michal Nagiec, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nagiec is a cell biologist with training in pharmacology that is interested in the fundamental questions of how cells process information and produce appropriate responses. He is particularly interested in how metastatic cancer cells balance proliferation with the ability to migrate and how these cells adapt to stresses associated with tumor spread. The goal of his research is to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in processes unique to metastatic cells for therapeutic benefit.
Charlotte Bellamy, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Charlotte Bellamy is interested in cell signaling and how its regulatory machinery becomes dysregulated in cancer. In the Blenis Laboratory, she studies mechanism of resistance to mTOR inhibition in breast cancer, aiming to define the molecular programs that sustain residual disease and identify therapeutically actionable vulnerabilities.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Dr. Barragan’s research focuses on understanding and exploiting the connection between metabolism and DNA stability in cancer. He is developing a novel therapeutic strategy that uses high doses of vitamins to selectively eliminate cancer cells by generating metabolic genotoxins. Additionally, Guillermo is investigating how vitamin deficiencies contribute to cancer development. In 2024, he was awarded the Idea Development Award from the Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program and an R03 grant from the National Cancer Institute to support his work.
Guillermo Burgos Barragan, Ph.D.
Jacob Cecil, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Dr. Cecil's research focuses on the fundamental processes regulating cell growth through mitogenic signaling, specifically via the mTORC1 pathway. In particular, his project seeks to explore new roles for kinase signaling in the process of ribosome biogenesis.
Jennifer Endress, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Associate
Post-Doctoral Associate
As a Charles H. Revson Fellow in the Blenis Lab, Dr. Koundouros work focuses on delineating the mechanisms through which breast cancer cells sense and utilize dietary essential fatty acids to fuel their growth and proliferation. The ultimate goal of this work is to develop personalized therapeutic strategies that combine nutritional and pharmacological interventions to exploit these genetic and metabolic interactions.
Nikos Koundouros, Ph.D.
Margot Chirikjian, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Associate
mkc7003@med.cornell.edu
Dr. Chirikjian obtained her PhD in metabolic biology from Columbia University in the lab of Dr. Utpal Pajvani. Her doctoral work focused on PTM regulation of pancreatic beta cell nutrient sensing and insulin secretion in the context of type II diabetes and obesity. She is interested in exploring how obesity and adipose tissue fuels cancer metastasis.
Graduate Students
Trevor Wong
Ph.D. Student in Pharmacology
M. Ed., PMP
Ph.D. Student in Pharmacology
Moniquetta works to understand how cancer cells alter metabolic pathways to enable metastatic progression. Specifically, she is working on understanding how abnormal accumulation of propionate metabolism intermediates may support cancer cell ability to activate cell migration and chemoresistance.
Moniquetta Shafer
Research Technicians & Staff
Nayah Bullen
Research Technician II
Lai Wa Chu
Research Technician I
Theodora Brophy
Research Technician II
Theodora obtained her MSc from Imperial College London in Molecular Biology & Pathology of Viruses, where she used single molecule imaging techniques to study UL9, HSV-1’s origin binding protein, to investigate viral replication dynamics. Prior to her MSc, Theodora conducted clinical and translational infectious disease research, including studies of HIV and the vaginal microbiome. Her research interests focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying human disease and how these mechanisms can reveal opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Outside the lab, she enjoys staying active and her longstanding interest in classical Latin and ancient history.
