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Principal Investigators
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Ali Tavakkoli, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Ali Tavakkoli is the Chief of the Division of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an Associate Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. A skilled and experienced minimally invasive GI surgeon, he is the co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness as well as the director of Minimally Invasive Surgery fellowship. He received his medical degree from The London Hospital Medical College in England and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS) before moving to Boston and finishing his surgical residency at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital and subsequently completing the Harvard Advanced Minimally Invasive fellowship. In addition to his clinical and administrative activities, he is an R01-funded surgeon-scientist and leads an active basic research group focused on GI surgical metabolism.
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Eric G. Sheu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Dr. Eric G. Sheu is a surgeon at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and an Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Sheu received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and his doctorate in immunology from Oxford University. He completed a general surgery residency at BWH and a minimally invasive fellowship in advanced gastrointestinal and bariatric surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. Dr. Sheu is board certified in general surgery and has clinical interests in bariatric surgery, laparoscopic and robotic gastrointestinal surgery, hiatal and paraesophageal hernia repair, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. His research focuses on understanding the role of immunometabolism and the microbiome in type 2 diabetes resolution after bariatric surgery.
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James Yoo, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
Dr. James Yoo is a colorectal surgeon and scientist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He is a graduate of Brown University and received his medical degree from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. He completed a residency in General Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center followed by a fellowship in Colon & Rectal Surgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Yoo leads an active research effort studying the molecular mechanisms in colorectal cancer signal transduction. Dr. Yoo is board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery. He serves as associate editor of the Journal of Surgical Research.
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Current Lab Members
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Yingjia Chen, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Yingjia received her PhD degree from College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, and has a long-lasting interest in how environmental factors (e.g., nutrients, toxins and gut microbiota) affect human health and diseases (e.g., diabetes, obesity and cancers). Her work focuses on the mechanistic and translational aspects of cholic acid-7-sulfate (CA7S, a bile acid found to be increased after sleeve gastrectomy), and selecting gut bacterial candidates for obesity, type 2 diabetes and fatty liver remission. Outside the lab, Yingjia likes playing boardgames, gardening and boxing.
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Vasundhara Mathur, MD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Vasundhara received her degree in medicine from VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi (India). As a WHO CC Global Surgery Fellow, she has been engaged in research on surgical care delivery in LMICs, and has pursued a Research Fellowship in Orthopedic Surgery at FARIL, Massachusetts General Hospital, where her focus was on emerging technologies in the treatment of foot and ankle disorders. In her current role at the Laboratory for Surgical and Metabolic Research, she is working to help develop systems for gastrointestinal and surgical tissue repository. Outside of her interests in surgery, Vasundhara is fond of reading and photography.
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Weronika Stupalkowska, MRCS, MBBS, BSc
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Weronika is a surgical resident within the East of England Deanery, UK, and a member of Royal College of Surgeons of England (MRCS). She received her medical degree (MBBS) and an intercalated bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Medical Sciences with Immunology, Infection and Cell Pathology from University College London, UK. She has recently taken the position of postdoctoral research fellow at the Laboratory for Surgical and Metabolic Research as part of a longstanding exchange program. Her work centers around understanding the mechanisms underlying the metabolic changes after bariatric surgery as well as its effects on oncogenesis and tumor growth. Outside her clinical and research interests, Weronika enjoys sailing and batik painting.
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Thomas Shin, MD, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Tom is the clinical Advanced MIS/Bariatric Surgery fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He completed his MD/PhD at Boston University, during which time he pursued his graduate work examining the role of inflammation on cancer development and bone homeostasis. He completed his surgical residency training at Cleveland Clinic, during which time he has developed an interest in translational research examining the intersection between immunology, cancer biology, and metabolic and bariatric surgery. Outside of the lab, Tom enjoys spending time with his family and running along the Charles.