Research Faculty
- Michael T. Lu, MD, MPH - Co-Director
- Tomas G. Neilan, MD, MPH, MRCPI - Co-Director
- Ahmed Tawakol, MD - Co-Director
- Borek Foldyna, MD - Associate Director of Operations
- Brian Ghoshhajra, MD, MBA
- Sandeep Hedgire, MBBS
- Julia Karady, MD
- Nina Meyersohn, MD
- Michael T. Osborne, MD
- Vineet K. Raghu, PhD
- Vinit Baliyan, MBBS
- Shady Abohashem, MD
- Azar Radfar, MD, PhD
- Thomas Mayrhofer, PhD
Affiliated Faculty
Clinical Fellows
Simran S. Grewal, DO
Email: ssgrewal@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Macungie, PA
Graduate Education: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Current Projects & Research: By leveraging the Mass General Brigham Biobank, Sim is interested in the complex relationship between chronic stress and the development of hypertension. To elucidate, he is interested in the relationship between stress genetics, measured through a validated polygenic risk score, as well as neurohormonal features of chronic stress, measured through advanced imaging modalities and surrogate markers of sympathetic overactivity, on incident hypertension. Additionally, he would like to understand the impact of lifestyle choices on the relationship between a high genetic predisposition to chronic stress and hypertension.
Iqra Qamar, MD
Email: iqamar@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Pakistan
Graduate Education: Punjab Medical University
Current Projects & Research: Iqra is currently working on MGB Biobank to analyze the association of Depression/ Anxiety and neuro-bilogical markers leading to MACE. She is also interested in cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle risk factors related to cardiovascular events.
Research Fellows
Charbel Gharios, MD
Email: CGHARIOS@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Beirut, Lebanon
Graduate Education: American University of Beirut, MD
Current Projects & Research: Charbel uses lifestyle, genetic, and molecular imaging data from the Mass General Brigham Biobank to study the associations between sociodemographic and environmental stressors, and cardiovascular outcomes (particularly heart failure).
Charbel also leverages multimodality imaging in the STRIVE (Stress and Trauma: Impact on Cardiovascular Disease) cohort to characterize novel structures and mechanisms involved in the brain-heart connection.
Thiago Quinaglia, MD, PhD
Email: TQUINAGLIA@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Campinas, SP Brazil
Graduate Education: University of Ribeirão Preto, MD and University of Campinas, PhD in Pharmacology
Current Projects & Research: Thiago is a post-doctoral research fellow. He is certified in Cardiology and Echocardiography and is experienced in Cardiovascular Imaging. His research interests include resistant hypertension, cardio-oncology, endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, arterial stiffness, left ventricular remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction. Thiago is currently working on the STOP-CA and REPRIEVE-MR studies.
Julius Heemelaar, MD
Email: jheemelaar@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Education: Vrije Universiteit / VU Medical Center, MD, and Ph.D. Candidate in Cardiovascular Medicine at Leiden University Medical Center
Current Projects & Research: Julius is a research fellow at CIRC / Mass General Hospital and a Ph.D. Candidate at Leiden University Medical Center. He uses modern natural language processing techniques to answer clinically relevant cardio-oncology research questions from unstructured electronic healthcare data. Furthermore, Julius works on the REPRIEVE-MR study. His research interest includes cardio-oncology, heart failure, artificial intelligence, and digital innovation in clinical research and clinical practice.
Wesam Aldosoky, MD
Email: waldosoky@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Mansoura, Egypt
Graduate Education: University of Mansoura, MD
Current Projects & Research: Wesam leverages advanced multimodal cardiovascular imaging techniques (e.g., PET, CT, CMR) to investigate the interplay between inflammatory biomarkers, lifestyle factors, and stress-related activity on cardiovascular and thromboembolism risk, disparate cohorts. In addition, she is studying the relationship between inflammatory imaging phenotypes and calcification using an inflammatory cell-specific tracer (Ga 68 DOTA-TATE). She is also involved in the ARTISAN study that investigates the cardiac effects of Treprostinil on patients with pulmonary hypertension using Cardiac Magnetic Resonance.
Marcel Langenbach, MD
Email: mlangenbach@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Education: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Frankfurt, University of Frankfurt, Germany, MD, and Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Germany, MD.
Current Projects & Research: Marcel is a research fellow at CIRC / Mass General Hospital and a board-certified radiologist at the University Hospital Cologne. He graduated and earned his doctorate from the University of Frankfurt, Germany, and completed his residency at the University Hospitals in Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany. His research interest includes cardiac computed tomography with a focus on coronary artery disease and clinical implementation. Marcel currently works on the PROMISE trial investigating the role of air pollution and socio-economic factors on coronary artery disease. Further, he received a grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to investigate the relationship between peri-coronary adipose tissue and coronary artery disease.
Isabel Langenbach, MD
Email: ibreidert@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Education: Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Germany, MD.
Current Projects & Research: Isabel is a research fellow at CIRC / Mass General Hospital and is in her 2nd year of radiology residency at the University Hospital Cologne. She graduated and earned her doctoral degree from the University of Cologne, Germany. Her research interest includes cardiac computed tomography with a focus on women and inflammation, coronary artery disease, clinical implementation, and heart valve imaging. Isabel currently works on the INFORM trial investigating the role of inflammation in women with HIV for coronary artery disease. Further, she is involved in the PROMISE trial.
Giovanni Civieri, MD
Email: gcivieri@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Vicenza, Italy
Education: University of Padua, MD
Current Projects & Research: Giovanni is a research fellow at Mass General Hospital and a general cardiology fellow at the University of Padua. Clinically, he is interested in heart failure, cardiac involvement of systemic diseases, and coronary microcirculation. His research interests include microvascular dysfunction after acute coronary syndromes and cardiac allograft vasculopathy. Giovanni uses data from the Mass General Brigham Biobank to investigate the relationship between psychiatric diseases and cardiovascular risk.
Saman Doroodgar Jorshery, MD-MPH
Email: sdoroodgar-jorshery@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Education: Shahid Beheshti (National) University of Medical Sciences, MD-MPH
Current Projects & Research: Saman is a postdoctoral fellow in the Machine Learning group of the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard University. Prior to joining the team at MGH CIRC, Saman was a vascular surgery resident at Yale, after which he pursued Machine Learning training at the University of Toronto/Vector Institute under supervision of Canada Research Chair, Dr. Ghassemi. Saman’s collaborative research in the Machine Learning for Health (ML4H) group between UofT/Vector Institute, MIT’s Institute for Medical Engineering and Sciences, and the Broad Institute of MIT & Harvard has resulted in multiple conference presentations and publications. His current research at the MGH CIRC is funded by an Impetus Grant for Aging Research entitled "Understanding ImAging: Discovering imaging biomarkers and genetic modifiers of organ-specific accelerated aging through deep learning of whole-body MRI data”. The aim of the project is to improve early detection, to increase scientific knowledge, and identify potential treatments for age-related chronic disease by identifying individuals with accelerated aging from imaging data who are at high-risk for development of future disease.
Research Staff
Yuji Liao, M.EC – Administrative Manager
Email: YLIAO4@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Zigong, China
Graduate Education: University of Munich, Diplom VwL (Bachelor +Master of Economics)
Current Projects & Research: Yuji works on grants and contracts administration.
Kayla Paradis, MBA, BS - Sr. Clinical Research Program/Project Manager
Email: KPARADIS@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Central Massachusetts
Undergraduate Education: Worcester State University, BS in Biology and Chemistry
Graduate Education: Fitchburg State University, MBA Healthcare Management
Current Projects & Research: Kayla is the Data Coordinating Center (DCC) project manager for the REPRIEVE trial and the project manager for the PROMISE trial. She also provides oversight of general IT/Data Management and QA processes for CT studies under Dr. Michael Lu and Dr. Borek Foldyna.
Hannah Gilman, BS - Clinical Program/Project Manager
Email: HKGILMAN@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Stonington, CT
Undergraduate Education: College of Charleston, BS in Biology
Current Projects & Research: Hannah manages the STOP-CA trial with Dr. Tomas Neilan.
Trinity Nguyen, BS - Grant Administrator
Email: tnguyen143@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Saigon, Vietnam
Undergraduate Education: MCPHS University, BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences
Current Projects & Research: Trinity oversees expenditures of ATRIUM trial, and grant submissions for multiple NIH trials under Yuji Liao. She also handles program administrative and HR issues.
Audra Sturniolo, MS - Data Analyst II
Email: asturniolo@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Natick, MA
Undergraduate Education: Rollins College, BA in Psychology
Graduate Education: Sacred Heart University, MS in Healthcare Informatics
Current Projects & Research: Audra assists as a clinical research coordinator with the REPRIEVE, PROMISE, and GOLDILOX trials. She also works in data management and IT at CIRC.
Xiaomin Becky Chen, BS - Clinical Research Coordinator I
Email: XCHEN51@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Undergraduate Education: UNC Chapel Hill, BS in Biology and Asian Studies with a Concentration in Chinese
Current Projects & Research: Becky works on the Interventional Radiology Clinical Trials.
Nory Klop-Packel - Clinical Research Coordinator I
Email: nklop-packel@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Undergraduate Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, BS in Physics
Current Projects & Research: Nory works on the REPRIEVE trial as well as the GOLDILOX-MEDI6570-TIMI69 and ICI trials.
Emilia Norton - BS Clinical Research Coordinator I
Email: eanorton@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: North Branford, Connecticut
Undergraduate Education: University of Connecticut, B.S. in Exercise Science
Current Projects & Research: Currently working on GOLDILOX-MEDI 6570-TIMI 69 Trial and the UGANDA project.
Kanako Ando, BS - Project Manager
Email: kando3@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Nagoya, Japan
Undergraduate Education: Northeastern University, BS in Biology
Current Projects & Research: Kanako works on the GOLDILOX-MEDI6570-TIMI69 trial with AstraZeneca as well as the UGANDA project with Dr. Mark Siedner. She also handles IRBs for CIRC.
Radhika Barve, BA - Clinical Research Coordinator II
Email: RBARVE@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Undergraduate Education: Texas A&M University, BA in Biology
Current Projects & Research: Radhika works on REPRIEVE, EPIC-HIV, Sandeep’s project, and the GOLDILOX-MEDI6570-TIMI69 Trial with AstraZeneca.
Supraja Sama, BS - Clinical Research Coordinator I
Email: ssama@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate Education: Northwestern University, BS in Biological Sciences
Current Projects & Research: Supraja is coordinating Dr. Tomas Neilan’s STOP-CA project.
Erin Hanlon, BS - Clinical Research Coordinator I
Email: erhanlon@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Ridgefield, CT
Undergraduate Education: Villanova University, BS in Mechanical Engineering
Current Projects & Research: Erin works with Dr. Tawakol, Dr. Osborne, and their collaborators on numerous studies including PPG-STRIVE, Heart and Mind, CAD Heart and Mind, and DVT.
Omar Alani - BS Clinical Research Coordinator I
Email: oalani@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Malden, MA
Undergraduate Education: Brown University BS in Neuroscience
Current Projects & Research: Omar works with Dr. Tawakol, Dr. Osborne, and their collaborators on numerous studies, including PPG-STRIVE, Heart and Mind, CAD Heart and Mind, and DVT.
Jor Sam (Terry) Ho, MPH - Clinical Research Coordinator II
Email: teho@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Hong Kong
Graduate Education: Boston University School of Public Health, MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Current Projects & Research: Terry coordinates Dr. Tom Neilan's ICI ATHERO and ATRIUM project.
Peter Donegan - BS Staff Assistant
Email: pdonegan@partner.org
Hometown: Boston, MA
Undergraduate Education: UMass Boston, BS in Health Sciences, AS in Radiology Sciences
Current Projects & Research: Peter handles CIRC Research personnel for weekly and monthly staff. He acts as a liaison with the GPS International Office, MGH Credential Office, and Harvard Medical School. He also assists with program administration under Yuji Liao and Trinity Nguyen.
Students
Daniel Oo
Email: daoo@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Arcadia, CA
Undergraduate Education: Amherst College, Biophysics and Mathematics
Current Projects & Research: Daniel is working on a deep-learning model to estimate cardiovascular age from chest CT.
Krisha Patel
Email: krisha_patel@dfci.harvard.edu
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Undergraduate Education: Harvard College, Computer Science and Chemical/Physical Biology
Current Projects & Research: Krisha is working on a deep-learning model to identify small arteries/veins using retinal fundus images.
Alexander Cheng
Email: acheng0@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Undergraduate Education: Harvard College, Computer Science and Statistics
Current Projects & Research: Alex is working on a deep-learning model to diagnose cardiovascular outcomes from DEXA images.
Anika Walia
Email: awalia1@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Education: Boston University School of Medicine, MD Candidate
Current Projects & Research: Anika is working on validating a deep-learning model to predict lung cancer risk from chest X-rays.
Nathan Li
Email: nathan.li@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Undergraduate Education: Harvard College, Computer Science and Economics
Current Projects & Research: Nathan is working with EHR smoking data to compare data analysis methods for use in determining lung cancer screening eligibility and predicting lung cancer risk using ML models.
Abdulaziz Alhamam, MD
Email: aalhamam@mgh.harvard.edu
Hometown: Alahsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Graduate Education: MD, King Faisal University || MSc candidate, Harvard Medical School
Current Projects & Research: Abdulaziz's clinical research interests include cardiovascular physiology and the heart and brain connection. He uses advanced imaging data from the MGB Biobank to assess the stress activity and cardiovascular endpoint and which lifestyle modifications could play as protective measures. He enjoys reading literature and economics in his spare time and is always open to a backpacking trip.