Current Lab Members

Assistant Project Scientist

"I graduated my MD in 2014 at Paris Descartes University, Paris, France. After finishing my fellowship in Cochin Hospital, Paris, France, I came to the Stein Eye Institute in 2018 to perform a research fellowship in cornea and anterior segment diseases. My areas of interests are corneal transplants and anterior segment imaging such as optical coherence tomography (AS OCT), and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM). I joined Prof. Deng's team in December 2019. I work on the phase one clinical trial studying the safety and feasibility of cultivated autologous limbal stem cells as an innovative therapy for limbal stem cell deficiency. My work is focused on enrolling new patients, collecting the clinical data by performing AS OCT, IVCM and impression cytology, and analyzing them. In the laboratory, my doctoral work is focus on investigating the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the regulation of the limbal stem/progenitors cells."

SRA II

“I graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Honors with Distinction. While conducting undergraduate research for over 3 years I focused on the inhibitory effects of Chlamydia psittaci on apoptosis in infected HeLa cells. In June of 2023, I joined Dr. Deng’s lab as a Staff Research Associate II to work on a phase I clinical trial of cultivating autologous limbal stem cells through GDP and GMP guidelines.”

Associate Project Scientist

"I received my bachelor's degree in Cell Biology and Genetics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain) in 2006. I was then granted with a fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education to study the molecular regulation of the degradation of substrates by the proteasome at the IBMB-CSIC (Spain). In 2007, I was accepted in the Cell Biology PhD program at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain). I spent the first two years investigating the differential potential of mouse embryonic stem cell lines (ESC) established from isolated blastomeres at different embryonic stages. After receiving my Masters' degree in 2008, I continued to investigate deeper into the molecular mechanism of the regulation of stemness in vitro, by studying the effects of E-cadherin signaling in the derivation of mouse ESC lines. Having developed a background in stem cell biology, in 2011, I joined Dr. Sophie Deng's Laboratory. As a Postdoctoral Scholar, I have been investigating the role of Notch signaling in the regulation of human corneal epithelial stem cells (LSCs). In 2016, I transitioned into the role of Project Scientist at the Stein Eye Institute, where I bridge my basic research project with the management of the clinical project about the corneal surface regeneration by using in vitro expanded LSCs."

International Research Fellow

"I earned my MD degree in 2015 and completed my ophthalmology residency in 2019 at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS) in Shiraz, Iran. For the past four years, I have worked as an ophthalmologist and cornea researcher at Salouti Eye Clinic, focusing on Limbal Stem Cell Deficiency (LSCD). My research is dedicated to developing innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for corneal disorders. In 2024, I joined Dr. Deng’s Lab as an international research fellow, where I continue to explore new frontiers in ocular surface research through collaboration and innovation. I am particularly interested in developing new stem cell-based treatments for ophthalmic diseases."

Postdoctoral Researcher

"I received my M.D. in 2016 and Ph.D. in 2024 at Keio University, Japan. As I was inspired to conduct research to reduce the number of patients undergoing corneal transplantation during the residency of ophthalmology, I started working on drug screening of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), which is the leading cause of corneal transplantation. We investigated cell death pathway of FECD and identified a potential therapeutic approach. As I attempted to develop medical treatment for corneal endothelial dysfunction, I would also like to be engaged in the development of the medical therapy for the corneal epithelial and stromal dysfunction to reduce the patients overall. Therefore, I joined Dr. Deng’s laboratory as a postdoctoral researcher in 2024. My current research focuses on investigating how corneal stromal dysfunction develops and how it can be cured using corneal stromal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles. Outside the laboratory, I enjoy playing volleyball and piano."

Staff Research Associate I

"I received my bachelor’s in Biology with a minor in Biotechnology from Santa Clara University in December 2024. As an undergraduate, I conducted research using CRISPR in Caenorhabditis elegans to study the role and effects of specific transcription factors in vulval morphogenesis. In March 2025, I joined Dr. Deng’s lab as a staff research associate to work on our clinical projects about corneal surface regeneration by using in vitro expanded LSCs. In my leisure time, I enjoy traveling, biking, baking, and listening to music."

Postdoctoral Researcher

"I completed my PhD in Health Biology at the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and Biotherapy in Montpellier, France, where I focused on mesenchymal stem cells and their therapeutic potential for osteoarthritis. After that, I moved to the US for a first postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Deng at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, working on cultured limbal stem cells (cLSCs) and developing a potency assay to support their clinical translation. After a few gap years, I continued with a second fellowship, shifting my focus to extracellular vesicles and their application in ocular surface regeneration.  My current project aims to bring an EV-based therapy closer to the clinic by developing tools to understand their regenerative potential. I'm particularly interested in translational medicine and bridging the gap between bench research and clinical application."

Visiting Graduate Researcher

"I earned my B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2021 and am currently pursuing my M.D. at Drexel University College of Medicine, expected in 2027. In July 2025, I joined Dr. Deng’s lab as a visiting graduate researcher, where I am investigating the role of laser scanning techniques in characterizing corneal and limbal changes in patients with limbal stem cell deficiency. Outside the lab, I enjoy traveling, trying new restaurants, tennis, and running."

Postdoctoral Researcher

"I obtained my Bachelor's degree in Dental Medicine from Hubei University of Science and Technology and later pursued a Master's degree in Dental Medicine at Jilin University. During my Master's studies, I was supervised by Prof. Hong Liu, with a research focus on the preparation and characterization of nanoparticles. Subsequently, I joined the University of Bern in Switzerland, where I had the opportunity to work with the esteemed scientist Dr. Maria B. Asparuhova and one of the world’s leading periodontists, Prof. Anton Sculean. My research there centered on the molecular profiling and functional characterization of connective tissue grafts harvested from the human palate, as well as investigations into cell-to-cell communication. As of August 1, 2025, I have joined one of the leading laboratories in cornea biology Dr. Deng’s Lab at the UCLA Stein Eye Institute as a postdoctoral researcher, where my research will focus on developing extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapies for the treatment of corneal stromal scarring."