Team
Michael Deininger, MD, PhD
Mike and Cathy White Endowed Chair, EVP and Chief Scientific Officer
Mike and Cathy White Endowed Chair
Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer
Versiti
Director and Senior Investigator
Versiti Blood Research Institute
Professor
Department of Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
Associate Dean of Research
Medical College of Wisconsin
Helong (Gary) Zhao, PhD
Research Scientist, Scientific Director of Deininger Lab
Email: hzhao@versiti.org
Gary graduated from Ohio State University in 2015. Gary is working on improving the diagnosis, single-cell-targeted analysis, and therapeutics of myeloid malignancies.
Hobbies: Works in Theater Operation Team at Sundance Film Festival every year since 2018.
Nataly Cruz, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: ncruz@Versiti.org
Nataly graduated from Pontifical Javeriana University in 2017. Nataly is working on identifying the biology of SIRT5 in normal hematopoietic stem cells and the mechanisms underlying SIRT5 dependence in leukemic stem cells.
Hobbies: reading, travelling, dancing, food lover.
Sameer Ahmad Guru, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: sguru@versiti.org
Sameer Ahmad graduated from University of Delhi in 2019. He is working on mechanisms underlying Leukemic Stem Cell (LSC) quiescence, and disease persistence in Leukemia.
Hobbies: Poetry, playing cricket and volleyball, listening to old Hindi/Urdu songs and Sufi music.
Esra'a Keewan, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Email: ekeewan@Versiti.org
Esra’a graduated from University of Central Florida in 2020. Esra’a is working on unraveling the mechanisms underlying leukemic cell dormancy, seeking to gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to the quiescent state of these cells.
Hobbies: Reading and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen. She is a lover of nature and exploration, often engaging in hiking adventures and visiting new places.
Greg Fischer, BS
Research Lab Coordinator
Email: gfischer@versiti.org
Greg graduated from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2007. Greg has a decade of experience in basic science research. As Senior Research Lab Coordinator, he provides administrative and logistic support to projects throughout the Deininger Lab.
Hobbies: Reading, playing guitar and piano, gaming.
Briana Bates, MS
Research Technologist I
Email: bbates@versiti.org
Briana graduated from Miami University in 2022. Briana is studying the mechanism of how SIRT5 balances the metabolism in AML cells.
Hobbies: Read and enjoy doing a variety of crafts.
Mario Pinzas, BA
Research Technologist I
Email: mpinzas@versiti.org
Mario graduated from Rutgers University in 2016. Mario is working on targeting MS4A3 in CMML.
Hobbies: cooking, gaming, and reading.
Benjamin Bateman
Undergraduate Student
Email: bbateman@versiti.org
Ben is undergraduate student at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Ben is currently developing the SIRT5 inhibitors as a novel therapeutic strategy for AML.
Hobbies: Skiing and playing tennis, racquetball, and ice hockey.