Bioinformatics and Immunobiology Research Team

The intersection of science and technology, the bridge from research to operations.

The Bioinformatics and Immunobiology Research team is composed of a diverse group of dedicated scientists and researchers spanning wet lab and computational backgrounds, united in the goal of saving patient lives.

 

Bioinformatics and Immunobiology Research Team

Yung-Tsi Bolon, PhD, Director, Bioinformatics Research
Yung-Tsi Bolon, PhD, directs a talented science and technology SWAT team and a research and translation program that improves cell therapy access and outcomes for all patients in need. With a versatile background across industries and applications, she sees and develops potential in people, projects, and products, and finds and follows through on paths for success. She wakes up each day looking for ways to improve and expand the impact on the patients we serve.

Deniz Akdemir, PhD, Senior Clinical Data Scientist
Deniz Akdemir earned his PhD in Statistics from Bowling Green State University in 2009. He is a Clinical Data Scientist at the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) in Minneapolis, USA, where he uses machine learning and statistical methods to optimize donor selection and improve outcomes after hematopoietic cell transplants (HCTs). His work, grounded in his research in statistical genomics, has been widely published and presented at international conferences, significantly advancing the field and supporting NMDP's mission to save lives.

Pradeep Bashyal, Bioinformatics Software Architect Pradeep
Bashyal loves creating tools and services to showcase the awesome work of the Bioinformatics team members. He started at NMDPSM in 2011 working on the NMDP HaplogicSM matching platform and is currently working on the next generation imputation and matching algorithm. His role in the team allows him to leverage his deep interest in software development to further the organization's mission and save lives.

Tushar Deshpande, MS, Bioinformatics Engineer
Tushar Deshpande holds a Master's degree in Computer Science, focusing his research on formal methods in software engineering. After completing his degree, he worked for over seven years as a software engineer in different industries, including biomedical research, pharmaceuticals, and education management. Tushar has been with NMDP since 2021, utilizing his extensive research and industry experience to help build robust and innovative software solutions. He is passionate about solving complex problems that can make a difference and save lives.

Stephanie Fingerson, MS, Senior Bioinformatics Scientist
Stephanie Fingerson, MS, is working to improve the event-free survival of our patients by helping to make the research of the Bioinformatics group and others more accessible during the matching process. She creates pilot and prototype applications that allow for quick access to up-and-coming measures or that can help start conversations for future development. She also serves as a resource for our NMDP BioTherapiesSM and other groups to provide modeling and data requests. Stephanie started working with NMDP in 2012.

Abeer Madbouly, PhD, Principal Bioinformatics Scientist
Abeer Madbouly, PhD, is a Principal Bioinformatics Scientist and Biotherapies Lead at NMDP, Minneapolis, USA. With nearly 20 years of experience in bioinformatics and over 65 co-authored publications, her role involves improving the donor/patient tissue matching process by developing better validation methods, more innovative matching, better collection of donor and recipient race/ethnicity/ancestry information, and diversified population genetics analyses. Her recent work focuses on multiple aspects of cell and gene therapy for hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

Christian Normand, Bioinformatics Data Engineer
Christian Normand is an engineer who specializes in helping mission-driven companies harness the power of data to drive action and change lives. Prior to joining NMDP in 2023, he worked as a data practitioner in various fields including healthcare, digital marketing, and wastewater treatment. He supports the Bioinformatics Research team by leading initiatives to enable effective use of data throughout the organization. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, cooking, and playing the drums.

Ray Sajulga, Jr., Bioinformatics Scientist
Ray Sajulga, Jr. comes from a background of developing tools for the sciences: analytical chemistry, proteomics, and now, transplantation. He takes research from bench to bedside to equip transplant centers with the tools to make data-driven decisions. Like his talented colleagues, he combines diverse skills and experiences in technology, science, and art to help save lives for patients of all backgrounds.

Michael Wright, PhD, Scientific Coordinator
Michael Wright, PhD, has been at NMDP since 2011, working in Bioinformatics. He received his PhD in Quasi-elastic and Inelastic Neutron Scattering from Amorphous Metal Hydrides from Sheffield University in 1990. He then moved to building science where he investigated emergency lighting systems for visually impaired people and under smoke. He went on to work on building safety, where he wrote the British Standard on stairs and the associated UK Building Regulation. He also advised the British Navy on how to provide safety lighting for the oldest serving warship—HMS Victory, launched in 1765.

Tao Zhang, PhD, Senior Bioinformatics Scientist
Tao Zhang, PhD, specializes in high-throughput genomic/proteomic analyses and clinical associations with computational pipeline and algorithm development. Currently, his work aims to improve event-free survival by investigating the molecular mechanism of post-transplantation outcomes in major hematological malignancies. He is conducting genetic and statistical analysis to identify molecular biomarkers and build predictive models for clinical outcome prognosis. Dr. Zhang earned his PhD in Genetics in 2006 and joined NMDP in 2019.

Valerie Stewart, MS, PhD, Manager, Immunobiology Research
Dr. Valerie Stewart, MS, PhD, is an expert in immunobiology and molecular genetics. With over a decade’s experience as a patient search strategist, her experience offers a unique perspective on the tangible impact of our research and how our efforts translate to resources and tools that benefit both our domestic and international partners. Managing the CIBMTR Immunobiology Research program, she collaborates in practice-changing studies that leverage our wealth of biorepository specimens, immunogenetic data, and expertise towards improving patient outcomes. 

Maria H. Brown, Senior Immunobiology Research Scientist
Maria started her career with the NMDP in 1996 and has been a member of the CIMBTR since 2010. Currently, her responsibilities in the Immunobiology Research group include delivery and stewardship of the HLA Save dataset. These data, used both internally and by the broader research community, have led to discoveries surrounding the impact of HLA match, alone or as a variable, on transplant outcomes and have been foundational in the development of guidelines for histocompatibility matching in transplant.

Cynthia Vierra-Green, MS, Principal Immunobiology Research Scientist
Cynthia is working in the field of Immunobiology and Genetics. She manages the retrospective Donor/Recipient Pair HLA typing project, an invaluable immunogenetic resource that has contributed to seminal publications in histocompatibility matching. She collaborates both internally and externally on research of HLA and KIR to optimize the survival of our patients. Cynthia joined NMDP in 2005 after receiving her Master of Science in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics from the University of Minnesota.