Welcome to the Brown Lab

Our Research

The Brown Lab focuses on exploring the nexus of pluripotent stem cell (PSC) biology and immunology. We are currently investigating the mechanisms underpinning the immune response to autologous and allogeneic PSC-derived cell therapies. Using transplantation immunology and genomics-based strategies, in conjunction with humanized mouse models, our goals are to improve traditional organ transplantation outcomes, gain new insights into PSC biology and immunology, and enable curative regenerative medicine therapies.

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Latest Publications

Diminished Immune Cell Adhesion in Hypoimmune ICAM‑1 Knockout Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

In this study, the team identified ICAM‑1, a key adhesion molecule involved in immune cell binding, as a critical target. They used CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out ICAM‑1 from hPSCs and found that this edit dramatically reduces binding of various immune cells, including monocytes, neutrophils, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells, to PSC-derived cardiovascular cells. This led to reduced T cell activation and longer retention of grafts in a humanized mouse model. Importantly, this ICAM‑1 knockout worked both on its own and when combined with existing hypoimmune edits, paving the way for more robust, "universal" cellular therapies.

News & Events

The Brown Lab Congratulates Arista Whitson on Medical School Acceptance

Arista Whitson, an undergraduate research assistant, got accepted into the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona for July 2026. Since joining the lab, she has contributed to a project studying hematopoietic engraftment in humanized mouse models using primary sources versus iPSC derived cells to benchmark values that can be used in future studies. We are proud of her accomplishments and excited to see her continue her path toward a career in medicine.

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Medical College of Wisconsin Student, Wesley Blashka, Awarded with the Presidential Student Mentor Grant

Wesley Blashka, Brown Lab Honorary Fellow and first-year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin, was awarded the reputable 2026 Presidential Student Mentor Grant from the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, a highly competitive and nationally recognized award supporting outstanding student-led research in transplantation. His funded summer project, “Modeling Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy (CAV) with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Endothelial Cells,” will be conducted in the lab and reflects both his strong scientific initiative and commitment to advancing translational research in transplant biology.

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Congratulations to Jacob Mielke on His Medical School Acceptance

Jacob Mielke has been accepted for admission to the Medical College of Wisconsin and will be joining the Class of 2030. As a member of the lab, Jacob has contributed to various projects through analysis of single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and helped expand the Brown Lab's computational capabilities.

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Sayandeep Saha Named Among the Poster Award Winners at the 2026 Wisconsin Stem Cell Symposium

Congratulations to Brown Lab graduate student Sayandeep Saha on being named one of the poster award winners at the 2026 Wisconsin Stem Cell Symposium. Sayandeep presented his research on how ICAM-1 deletion in human pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells can attenuate neutrophil-mediated inflammation, supporting the development of more immune-compatible regenerative therapies. The Wisconsin Stem Cell Symposium brings together researchers from across the region to showcase advances in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. Recognition as one of the poster award winners highlights both the scientific merit of the work and its effective presentation. Congratulations, Sayandeep!

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Congratulations to Abbey Henrichs on Her Medical School Acceptance

Abbey Henrichs plans to attend University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, starting August 2026. She is currently in her gap year, working as a Program & Operations Associate at Watsi, a non-profit that unites a global community to directly support patients in need of life-changing surgeries. She will continue to serve this patient population while completing her clerkship in rural Wisconsin communities through the WARM program at UWSMPH. Abbey is extremely grateful for her roles in the Brown Lab. She contributed to “Diminished immune cell adhesion in hypoimmune ICAM-1 knockout human pluripotent stem cells” (Saha et al., 2025) and pursued an independent project aimed at characterizing thymic fibroblasts. We are proud of Abbey and her decision to continue her path toward a career medicine.

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The Brown Lab Congratulates Parnia Serjooei on Her Selection to the Ganser Student Program

Parnia Serjooei has been selected for the Ganser Student Program, a highly competitive and prestigious 12-week summer internship jointly sponsored by UnityPoint Health-Meriter Hospital and its Medical Staff. This distinction recognizes Parnia’s exceptional academic performance, strong commitment to medicine, and growing impact in both clinical and research settings. The program provides an intensive, immersive experience designed to cultivate future physician leaders, and her selection highlights both her initiative and her ability to stand out among a highly accomplished pool of applicants. She will be pursing public health research projects to further community and patient health.

Celebrating Sayandeep Saha’s Success at the Wisconsin Stem Cell Symposium

Sayandeep Saha earned 2nd place in the poster competition at the 20th Annual Wisconsin Stem Cell Symposium for his presentation titled “Hypoimmune ICAM-1 knockout human pluripotent stem cell-derived endothelial cells evade innate and adaptive immune responses under physiological conditions.” This recognition highlights the scientific rigor and innovation of his work, as well as his ability to effectively communicate complex, translational research to a broad audience. His project contributes to advancing our understanding of immune evasion strategies in stem cell-derived endothelial cells, with important implications for improving the success and longevity of cell-based therapies.

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Sayandeep Saha Shares Brown Lab Research at ISSCR 2026

Brown Lab graduate student Sayandeep Saha presented his dissertation research at the International Society for Stem Cell Research 2026 Annual Meeting in Montréal, Canada, one of the leading international conferences in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. His poster, titled “Hypoimmune ICAM-1 Knockout Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Endothelial Cells Evade Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses Under Physiological Conditions,” highlighted the Brown Lab’s work on engineering hypoimmune stem cell-derived endothelial cells to reduce immune responses while preserving endothelial function. The poster generated strong interest from researchers across stem cell biology, immunology, vascular biology, and translational cell therapy, leading to valuable scientific discussions and networking opportunities.

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Contact Us

The Brown Lab is recruiting highly motivated postdocs, technicians, and undergraduate students. Dr. Brown is a trainer in the CBMS, MCP, CMP, and CMB graduate programs.

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