Meet the Team

C. Chad Quarles, Ph.D.
Professor

Dr. C. Chad Quarles is a professor of Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson, where he also serves as director of the Neuroimaging Innovations to Transform Cancer Care (NeuroCare) Program and is a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Scholar in Cancer Research. Before joining MD Anderson in 2022, Dr. Quarles was a professor and the chair of Neuroimaging Research at Barrow Neurological Institute, where he also directed the Barrow Neuroimaging Innovation Center. His previous tenure at Vanderbilt University included roles as assistant and associate professor of Radiology, Biomedical Engineering and Cancer Biology.

Dr. Quarles's research has been continuously supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD) and CPRIT, with a strong focus on developing physiologic and metabolic neuroimaging acquisition and analysis methods for brain tumors and neurological disorders. His work spans computational imaging science, MRI pulse sequence development, clinical translation, quantitative neuroimage analysis and data science. His research has contributed to both single- and multi-institute clinical trials, evaluating the potential of multi-functional MRI and PET-based biomarkers in establishing prognostic markers for therapy response, enhancing image-guided surgery and radiation therapy, and predicting cellular, molecular and genetic tumor profiles.

Outside of his academic efforts, Dr. Quarles enjoys traveling with his family, fishing and relaxing on the beach while sporting one of his many Hawaiian shirts.

Ellen Ackerstaff, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Dr. Ellen Ackerstaff is an assistant professor of Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center. She obtained her physics diploma (M.S.) at the Westfälishce Wilhelms Universität Münster in Münster, Germany, majoring in medical physics and biophysics. Her Ph.D. (Dr. rer. nat.) in experimental physics at the University of Bremen in Bremen, Germany, applied in vivo and in vitro multi-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to investigate metabolism and water diffusion in algae. After her Ph.D., Dr. Ackerstaff completed a postdoctoral fellowship, followed by an appointment as Research Associate in the department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD.

Since her Ph.D. studies, Dr. Ackerstaff’s research changed to oncological research, primarily focused on exploring the tumor microenvironment and its impact on tumor progression and treatment response. In 2006, she joined Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ) in New York, NY, as an instructor, and in 2012, she became an Assistant Attending Physicist / Assistant Laboratory Member. After joining MD Anderson in July 2023, Dr. Ackerstaff’s current efforts focus on establishing preclinical imaging biomarkers of the brain and brain cancer.

Outside the lab, she enjoys reading and spending time in nature and with friends and family, as well as sports, specifically Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Sahil Bajaj, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Prior to joining MD Anderson, Dr. Sahil Bajaj was the Director of the Multimodal Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory (2019–2022) at Boys Town National Research Hospital, where his primary research focus was identifying multimodal brain biomarkers underlying poor mental health in adolescents with early life stressors. With a focus on advancing the field of neuroimaging, Dr. Bajaj's expertise lies in exploring novel neuro-biomarkers in health and disease. He specializes in utilizing various imaging modalities, such as MRI (functional, structural and diffusion-weighted) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy.

His research interests extend to the intricate realms of directed functional/ effective and structural brain connectivity, employing techniques such as Granger causality, dynamic causal modeling and diffusion tensor imaging. His contributions span diverse neurological and psychiatric conditions, including stroke, mild traumatic brain injury, sleep disorders, suicidal ideation, the impact of childhood maltreatment on brain development and neurotoxicities associated with cancer and cancer treatments.

In his free time, he enjoys watching movies, taking long drives and playing cricket with his kids. He frequently visits movie theaters and loves scenic drives through mountainous regions, where he can take in the views while listening to soft Bollywood music.

Natenael Semmineh, Ph.D.
Principal Research Scientist

Dr. Natenael Semmineh is a Principal Research Scientist in Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He earned his B.S. in physics from Addis Ababa University, followed by an M.S. in atomic physics from North Carolina A&T State University and a Ph.D. in MRI physics from Vanderbilt University.

His research focuses on advancing computational and imaging techniques to develop novel MRI biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis and treatment guidance. Dr. Semmineh specializes in integrating advanced MRI sequences with computational models to analyze vascular, functional and cellular dynamics in brain cancer. His contributions include optimizing dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI (DSC-MRI) methods, developing machine learning-driven biomarker discovery techniques and creating computational pipelines for high-dimensional MRI data analysis.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling and playing and watching soccer with his kids.

Harshan Ravi, Ph.D.
Principal Research Scientist

Dr. Harshan Ravi is a Principal Research Scientist in Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center, specializing in translational neuroimaging. He earned his B.Tech. in biomedical engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University and completed both his M.S. and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at The University of Texas at Arlington.

As an applied MRI scientist, Dr. Ravi is passionate about developing and refining imaging techniques to better understand the complexities of cancer. His work bridges MRI and PET imaging to uncover critical insights into tumor physiology, helping improve diagnosis and treatment strategies. Over the years, he has designed innovative and cost-effective imaging protocols, built computational tools to enhance data analysis and mentored the next generation of scientists. Driven by a commitment to advancing imaging science, he strives to bring cutting-edge technology closer to real world clinical applications, ultimately improving patient care.

Cricket has always been a passion of his, teaching him discipline, teamwork and perseverance. He also enjoys Indian cooking, has recently developed an interest in chess and loves traveling with friends for new experiences and adventure.

Deborah Healey, B.A.S.
Laboratory Manager

Deborah Healey earned a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) in cell and molecular biology research from Arizona State University. She was a Helios Scholar and intern at the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) in the Macromolecular Analysis and Processing Center before joining the Quarles Lab at Barrow Neurological Institute in 2017. She later transferred with Dr. Quarles to MD Anderson, where she currently serves as the lab manager for preclinical projects.

In her role, Deborah oversees the design and execution of experiments, laboratory supply and equipment procurement, rodent surgical and experimental procedures, laboratory logistics and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committe (IACUC) and Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) submissions and approvals, in addition to general lab maintenance. She also actively contributes to multiple research projects and mentors research assistants in their roles.

Outside of work, Deborah enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies and hiking.

Sepideh Mohammadhosseinpour, Ph.D.
Research Scientist  

Dr. Sepideh Mohammadhosseinpour joined the Quarles Lab and Cancer Systems Imaging as a research scientist with the NeuroCare program. As the NeuroCare program manager, Dr. Mohammadhosseinpour leads program operations, oversees project management and fosters collaborations between the imaging program and clinical and research teams at MD Anderson and beyond. She earned her bachelor’s degree and her first master's degree in plant genetics from the University of Tehran, Iran. She later pursued a Master of Science in biotechnology in Texas, her Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology at Arkansas State University and her postdoctoral training at MD Anderson.

Outside of the lab, she enjoys swimming, hiking, camping and traveling to explore new cultures. She is also an avid reader with a particular interest in psychology, and she loves watching mystery movies and documentaries.

Michelle Zalles, Ph.D.
Senior Coordinator, Clinical Studies

Dr. Michelle Zalles is a senior clinical studies coordinator specializing in oncology, neuro-oncology and MRI imaging research. She completed her TL1 Clinical and Translational postdoctoral fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center. In her current role, she manages and designs clinical trials, ensuring protocol adherence, data integrity and trial efficiency. Her work includes collaborating with investigators and clinicians and advancing imaging biomarkers and medical devices to improve patient outcomes. She holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling, cooking and spending time with family.

Rania Mohamed, M.D., M.S.
Research Scientist

Dr. Rania Mohamed is a radiologist-scientist in Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Her work focuses on developing and implementing advanced imaging technologies to improve cancer diagnosis, treatment planning and response assessment. Dr. Mohamed earned her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from Cairo University and her Master of Science (M.S.) in diagnostic radiology from Al-Azhar University, Cairo.

With a strong background in multimodal imaging, including MRI, PET and tumor imaging, she specializes in neuro-oncologic and breast cancer research. Dr. Mohamed focuses on tumor segmentation, imaging biomarker development and quantitative image analysis. Her research is dedicated to developing clinical imaging technologies that advance neuro-oncologic research, cancer neuroscience and neuro-health applications.

Outside of work, Dr. Mohamed enjoys spending time with her family, whether through shared meals, outings or simple moments at home. She also has a passion for exploring new places, embracing different cultures through travel and unwinding with a good movie.

Indranil Guha, Ph.D.
Data Scientist

Dr. Indranil Guha is a data scientist and completed his master’s and Ph.D. degrees in electrical and computer engineering from the University of Iowa in 2023. His current research focuses on developing computational models and image analysis tools for analyzing vascular, functional and cellular changes in the brain using clinical and preclinical magnetic resonance images to improve brain cancer patient care.

He is a football (it's not soccer!) fan and a staunch supporter of Liverpool. He also enjoys cooking, traveling and long drives.

Alia Khaled, Ph.D.
Data Scientist

Dr. Alia Khaled is a data scientist specializing in software development, algorithm development and computational science, with extensive expertise in medical imaging and AI applications. She holds a Ph.D. in electrical and computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University, where she conducted novel research on image reconstruction, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, bone and biomechanics. She received her M.S. and B.S. in systems and biomedical engineering from Cairo University, Egypt.

In the Quarles Lab, Dr. Khaled contributes to cancer research through innovative AI-driven solutions that bridge the gap between computational science and clinical applications, especially for tumor microenvironment analysis and brain tumor research.

Outside of work, she enjoys reading, creative writing and spending time with family.

Chinmay Mokashi, M.S.
Data Scientist

Chinmay Mokashi is a data scientist who holds a B.Tech. in biomedical engineering from the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, and an M.S. in biomedical informatics from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

With a strong background in software development, data engineering and biomedical research, he specializes in building computational tools for neuroimaging data processing and analysis. His expertise includes developing standardized data pipelines, implementing machine learning models and applying AI driven techniques to enhance imaging-based diagnostics. He has worked on projects involving federated learning for medical imaging, automated MRI based segmentation and full stack development for interactive data visualization.

When not at work, Chinmay enjoys backpacking on solo adventures, ardently following FC Barcelona's exploits in Europe and experimenting in the kitchen.

Justin Bennett, M.S.
Associate Data Scientist

Justin Bennett obtained a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Arizona State University and a Master of Science in applied mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. His background is primarily in parallel and scientific computing, including methods in data-driven dynamical systems, precision medicine and fusing models with real data for improved predictive modeling using modern techniques in data assimilation.

Outside of work, Justin enjoys playing and watching baseball and soccer with his two sons.

Aleesia Wilks, B.S.
Senior Research Assistant

Aleesia Wilks is a senior research assistant in Cancer Systems Imaging at MD Anderson. She graduated from Texas Southern University with a B.S. in biology and is currently studying for her M.B.A. in healthcare administration at Lamar University. She’s a part of the Quarles Lab pre-clinical team, assisting with patient-derived xenograft (PDX)-brain tumor studies, tissue clearing techniques, immunohistochemistry, cell labeling and cancer neuroscience studies.

In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, going to the gym, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Neha Nagaraj Damodar, M.S.
Research Assistant II

Neha Nagaraj Damodar holds a bachelor’s degree in genetics and a master’s degree in medical biotechnology. Her research experience includes working on projects aimed at identifying biomarkers and treatment options for brain and breast cancer, as well as neurological disorders such as focal cortical dysplasia and stroke. Neha is skilled in conducting experiments to investigate cellular processes, molecular pathways and gene expression, and is proficient in utilizing various imaging modalities, including fluorescence microscopy and confocal imaging.

Outside the lab, she enjoys traveling, cooking and listening to music.

Anagha Chandrasekharan, B.S.
Research Assistant I

Anagha Chandrasekharan is a cancer researcher at MD Anderson. She received her B.S. from UCLA in molecular, cell and developmental biology with a specialization in computing and a minor in neuroscience. Her previous research involved using optogenetic techniques to characterize nociceptive behavior. Anagha is part of the Quarles Lab pre-clinical team, assisting with ALS studies, brain tumor studies, tissue clearing and light sheet microscopy techniques, immunohistochemistry and cancer neuroscience studies.

Outside of the lab, Anagha enjoys running, climbing and trying new restaurants.

Jorge De La Cerda, B.S.
Imaging Research Tech

Jorge (Jay) De La Cerda is an imaging research tech and obtained his B.S. in environmental science with a minor in geology at Sam Houston State University. His previous work included projects in chemistry education to create experiments to demonstrate redox reactions via restoring metal artifacts, testing the properties of a novel slow-release phosphate polymer and measuring nitrogen concentrations in freshwater streams. Now, Jay is honing his skills in lab animal handling and MRI imaging.

Outside of the lab, Jay enjoys playing board games and trivia with friends.

Mahsa Servati, Ph.D.
Medical Physics Fellow

Dr. Mahsa Servati earned her B.S. in physics from Sharif University of Technology in Iran, followed by an M.S. in physics from Texas Tech University, where she specialized in confocal microscopy imaging of Drosophila embryos. She furthered her expertise with an M.S. in medical physics from Purdue University, focusing on MR spectroscopy, and recently completed her Ph.D. at Purdue with a dissertation on "Using Minimally-Invasive In Vivo Imaging to Map the Genomic Heterogeneity of Human Brain Tumors." Currently, Dr. Servati is a Medical Physics Fellow in Imaging Physics, where she is completing her residency in clinical diagnostic imaging while conducting research in the Quarles Lab.

Outside of work, she keeps exploring — whether it’s new nature trails, hidden pastry shops, new and old cars or road trip destinations.

María José Peláez Soní, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. María José Peláez Soní is a postdoctoral fellow in the Quarles Lab. Originally from México, she earned her Bachelor of Science in engineering physics from Tec de Monterrey before pursuing her Ph.D. in applied physics at Rice University in Houston. Her doctoral research was driven by a deep interest in the intersection of mathematics, physics and medicine, focusing on developing mechanistic models to better understand complex diseases and explore innovative treatment strategies. Dr. Peláez Soní is now developing and applying new PET/MRI techniques for molecular and metabolic imaging of brain cancer and leveraging computational modeling for brain cancer image-based biomarker discovery.

Outside the lab, she loves to travel and discover new cultures and traditions, volunteer and spend time with her family and friends. She is committed to improving patient care and believes that research is crucial in advancing treatment and outcomes.

Puneet Kumar, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Puneet Kumar is a researcher specializing in machine learning, artificial intelligence and medical imaging, with a focus on improving cancer diagnosis and advancing computational techniques for biomedical applications. He earned his Ph.D. in computer science  and technology from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India, where he developed novel clustering-based methods for human brain MRI image segmentation.

In August 2023, Dr. Kumar joined the Quarles Lab as a postdoctoral fellow, where he applies advanced AI-driven techniques to enhance cancer diagnostics and medical imaging analysis. In September 2024, he was also selected as a fellow of the Institute for Data Science in Oncology (IDSO) at MD Anderson, where he engages in an intensive curriculum focused on quantitative analysis and insight extraction from imaging and pathology data. Prior to his current roles, he worked as a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, where he designed an AI-powered tool for brain tumor tissue segmentation in MRI images.

Outside of research, Dr. Kumar enjoys playing volleyball, exploring new places and capturing moments through photography. He values staying active, engaging in outdoor activities and experiencing different cultures through travel and food.

Aliya Anil, M.S.
Graduate Student

Aliya Anil is a graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin, co-advised by Dr. Chad Quarles at MD Anderson and Dr. Tom Yankeelov at UT Austin. She holds a B.Tech. in electronics and biomedical engineering from Govt. Model Engineering College, Kerala, and a M.S. in bioengineering from The University of Texas at Arlington. Her research focuses on developing and validating a computational-experimental framework that integrates in vivo MRI and PET data with ex vivo light sheet fluorescence microscopy. The goal is to improve tumor characterization, track tumor progression and predict treatment response.

Outside of work, Aliya enjoys cooking, exploring new restaurants, watching movies and listening to music.

Angela Lavergne
Senior Administrative Assistant

Angela Lavergne is a dedicated Senior Administrative Assistant with over five years of experience in providing exceptional customer support. Although she is new to Cancer Systems Imaging, she has been a part of MD Anderson for 15 years. Angela began her journey as a patient escort and has continually aimed for professional growth. She specializes in resolving employee inquiries, managing departmental projects and enhancing support processes and communication.

Outside of work, Angela enjoys spending time with her grandsons, gardening and shopping.