Top News
IU scientists first to reveal lung cells’ role in boosting blood stem cell health
A study co-published in Molecular Therapy by scientists from the Wells Center's Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Biology Program is the first to suggest that human lung cells can also help strengthen blood stem cell performance. Their research opens the door to new therapies that could improve stem cell health and transform treatment for bone marrow failure and serious blood diseases like sickle cell disease.
More on this research
IU scientists reprogram cancer-protecting regulatory T cells to fight tumors
IU and Wells Center scientists have developed a new method that shifts the behavior of immunosuppressive cells known as regulatory T cells, so they turn from cancer protectors into tumor fighters. Their findings could lead to better treatment options for aggressive cancers like triple-negative breast cancer, colorectal cancer and melanoma.
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Dual protein targets identified to weaken pancreatic cancer defenses
In a study published in Redox Biology, scientists from the Wells Center's Molecular Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics Program have identified a new way to weaken pancreatic cancer’s defenses by targeting two key proteins that help the deadly disease resist treatment.
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Cancer-fighting gene plays unexpected role in pancreatic cancer tumor growth
In a recently published Science Advances study, Wells Center and IU researchers have discovered that a well-known cancer-fighting gene called STK11 also plays a surprising role in regulating how certain immune cells can support pancreatic cancer tumor growth.
Read the findings
More Team Wells Updates
Infectious disease physician-scientist elected to National Academy of Medicine
Chandy John, MD, has been elected to the National Academy of Medicine, one of the highest honors in health and medicine. His research in pediatric infectious diseases and global health has advanced child health worldwide, particularly through his collaborative partnerships in Africa.
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Young patient, family travel from North Carolina to help advance Type 1 diabetes treatment
Heath Davis is advancing diabetes research by traveling from North Carolina to Indiana to participate in the TADPOL trial, led by the Wells Center’s diabetes clinical research team. The study is exploring whether an oral pill can help preserve insulin production and improve long-term outcomes for people with Type 1 diabetes.
Read Heath's story
PhD student aims to support liver health via weight-loss research
With liver disease and obesity on the rise, Caleb Beimfohr, a second-year PhD student working in the DeBosch lab, has set his sights on fighting fatty liver disease. With the use of a compound called 6-Azide-Trehalose, Beimfohr has discovered a way to ignite fasting responses.
More on Caleb Beimfohr
Triple-major IU undergraduate dedicated to breakthroughs in Type 1 diabetes research
Undergraduate student Yashaswini Battina began her journey in the Linnemann lab as a dedicated intern and has since become a valued part-time employee. Her work in the lab focuses on understanding the complex role of beta cells in Type 1 diabetes.
Meet Yashaswini Battina
2025 Wells Center Retreat
The Wells Center's annual retreat was held on Sept. 4 at the IU School of Medicine campus in Indianapolis. Faculty, staff, students and trainees participated in the full-day event to learn about ongoing research within the Wells Center and connect with colleagues. The retreat also featured a robust poster session with awards given to several outstanding presenters.
2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk
The 2025 Breakthrough T1D Walk in Indiana took place on Oct. 26 and featured Team BETA Watch Out, a group of supporters from the IU School of Medicine, Wells Center, IU Health, Riley Children’s Health and the Indiana Biomedical Research Institute. The team raised more than $5,000 to advance groundbreaking Type 1 diabetes research.
Administration team volunteers support Teachers' Treasures
Members of the Wells Center administration team volunteered at Teachers’ Treasures, a nonprofit that helps teachers in Marion County and surrounding areas equip their classrooms with free school supplies. The team organized books and restocked shelves to help support student learning and success.
Business team swaps spreadsheets for straw at show-pig farm
The Wells Center business team swapped spreadsheets for straw during a visit to Adam Beck & Family Showpigs Farm in Mooresville, Indiana. The group enjoyed a behind-the-scenes tour of the operation, gaining fun and messy insights into the training and dedication that go into raising champion hogs.
Welcome to the Wells Center
Help us extend a warm welcome and congratulations to the members of Team Wells who have joined or accepted new positions since August 2025:
- Luke Arnce — Ware lab
- Adrienne Cantali — Business and Administration team
- Sudip Das — Kelley lab
- Venus Hniang — Business and Administration team
- Amina Khan —Angus lab
- Elham Pashaei — Pollok lab
- Sukanya Raghu — Hota lab
- Chaitra Sree Sammeta — Kapur lab
- Katelyn Stewart — Communications team
- Na Xu — Cardiovascular Genetics program
Discovery in Action
Congratulations to Grant and Award Recipients
Members of the Wells Center have received numerous grants and awards in recent months. Here are several highlights:
- Daniel Cater, MD | “Investigation of Extracellular Vesicle S-nitrosothiol Signatures in Pediatric Sepsis and their Role in Vascular Regulation in Sepsis” (Riley Children's Foundation)
- Brian DeBosch, MD, PhD | “Leveraging arginase biology against metabolic disease” (NIH R01 - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD | “Indiana Diabetes Research Center” (NIH P30 - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Jamie L. Felton, MD | “Soluble Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 (s-LAG-3): A Potential Surrogate Marker for Type-1 Diabetes Progression and Immunotherapy Success” (Breakthrough T1D)
- Melissa L. Fishel, PhD | “Reprogramming PDAC Stroma by Targeting Coagulation in the Tumor Microenvironment” (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
- Roland W. Herzog, PhD | “Enhancing immune regulation in gene therapy for hemophilia” (NIH R01 - National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute)
- Chandy John, MD | “Research training in infection and neurodevelopment in Uganda” (Fogarty International Center) / Hillman Olness Global Partner Award (American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Madeline McLaughlin, PhD | "The Role of G Protein-Coupled Estrogen Receptor Signaling in the Maintenance of Beta Cell Identity" (Purdue University)
- Dana Mitchell, MD | “HealX Pipeline Experimental Therapeutic Evaluation in Plexiform Neurofibroma using a Pre-clinical Mouse Model of Neurofibromatosis Type 1” (Healx)
- R. Mark Payne, MD | “Jumpin' for Jazz - Friedreich Ataxia Research grant” (Riley Children's Foundation)
- Dan Peltier, MD, PhD | "Coding and Noncoding Molecular Mechanisms of a Bifunctional Gene in Multiple Cellular Contexts” (NIH R35 - National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
- Karen Pollok, PhD | “Deletion Syndrome Research” (Riley Children's Foundation) / “Precision Genomics” (Riley Children's Foundation)
- Abby Russi, MD, PhD | “Microbiota driven-inflammation of the gut-liver axis” (American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases)
- Andrew L. Schwaderer, MD | “Establishing and implementing pneumonia diagnosis in ED older adults: A mixed methods approach” (Ohio State University)
- Jignesh Tailor, MD | “Cecilia Crockett Post-Doctoral Fellow” (Riley Children's Foundation) / “Development of a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Spinal Ependymoma Precursors in NF2-Related Schwannomatosis” (U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity)
- Tuan Tran, MD, PhD | “HIV, Depression, and Insulin Resistance” (NIH R01 - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) / “PopPK, PBPK, PK/PD analysis of CIS43LS and L9LS Ph2 data” (Gates Foundation)
- Nathan VanDusen, PhD | “Improving accessibility and efficacy of in vivo forward genetic screening” (NIH R35 - National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
- Emily White | “Evaluating the role of T cells in NF1-peripheral nerve sheath tumor (PNST) progression” (NIH F30 - National Cancer Institute)
Kudos and Recognition
- Stephanie Adaikalam, MD, recently earned first place in basic science at the 21st Annual Respiratory Disease Young Investigators’ Forum in Denver, Colorado. The award recognized the excellence of Adaikalam’s research presentation, "Increased S-nitrosothiol Flux and GSNOR Expression in Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia with Tracheobronchomalacia."
- Joseph Castlen, MD, a current pediatric pulmonology fellow working with the Gaston lab, received the award for Best Clinical Poster Presentation at the Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) On the Move International Scientific Conference in Minneapolis in August.
- Brian DeBosch, MD, PhD, is a new associate director of the IU School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program.
- Brian DeBosch, MD, PhD, is one of the three latest IU School of Medicine researchers to be awarded pilot grants along with their Purdue collaborators through the Engineering in Medicine program, a joint effort between the IU School of Medicine and the Purdue College of Engineering.
- Chandy John, MD, and his longtime collaborator Robert O. Opoka, MD, PhD, received the 2025 American Academy of Pediatrics Hillman Olness Global Partner Award for their lifetime achievement in global child health.
- Mark Kelley, PhD, and Melissa L. Fishel, PhD, were recognized by IU Innovations for securing a patent on their combination therapies aimed at treating cancer and other diseases.
- Mark Kelley, PhD, presented "Targeting the DNA BER APE1/Ref-1 for cancer and other disease treatments" at the 8th EU-US Conference on Endogenous DNA Damage and Repair held in Norway. He also presented “Clinical stage oral drug for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Pipeline 2nd Generation compounds for IBD and other indications” at the Academic Drug Discovery Consortium 2025 Colloquium held in St. Louis.
- Emily Sims, MD, is the new co-director of the IU School of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program.
