Team

Principal Investigator

ORCID | Google Scholar | NCBI

Kenry, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Assistant Professor, BIO5 Institute

Full Member, Clinical and Translational Oncology Program, University of Arizona Cancer Center

Member, Skin Cancer Institute, University of Arizona Cancer Center

Member, Graduate Faculty

Faculty Member, Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program

Faculty Mentor, Undergraduate Biology Research Program

2020 - 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, United States

2019 - 2023 Research Fellow, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute / Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States

2019 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

2017 - 2019 Research Fellow, National University of Singapore, Singapore

2017 PhD, National University of Singapore, Singapore

2011 - 2012 Research Engineer, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (SMART Centre), Singapore

2011 BEng, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Kenry, who goes by one name, joined the University of Arizona in late June 2023. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology (R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy), Skin Cancer Institute (University of Arizona Cancer Center), and BIO5 Institute. He is also a faculty member of the Clinical and Translational Oncology Program and the Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program at the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

Kenry completed his postdoctoral training in Bioengineering at Harvard University and in Imaging and Radiology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. He received his PhD in Biomedical Engineering as an NGS Scholar from the National University of Singapore, and BEng (First Class Honors) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering as an ASEAN Undergraduate Scholar from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

To date, Kenry has authored/co-authored more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and been recognized for his accomplishments with more than 50 national and international awards and honors.

Teaching at the University of Arizona

1) PCOL 802 / PHPR 802 / PHSC 502, 2) PHSC 530 / PCOL 530 / CBIO 530, 3) PCOL 595A, 4) PHSC 696A / PCOL 696A

Research Advising at the University of Arizona

1) PHSC 900, 2) CMM 910, 3) PCOL 498H, 4) PCOL 492, 5) MCB 492, 6) MCB 392, 7) MIC 492

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Célia Sahli, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Associate I (January 2024 - Present)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

2024 - Present Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States

2020 - 2023 PhD, Paris Cité University (formerly University of Paris), Paris, France

2018 - 2020 Master's Degree, University of Paris, Paris, France

Célia is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Kenry Lab. She received her PhD in Nanomedicine from Paris Cité University in France, before joining the Kenry Lab at the University of Arizona. Célia is highly experienced in nanomedicine engineering and development, especially in the synthesis, characterization, and applications of metallic nanoparticles and carbon dots for photothermia and magnetic actuaction-based therapies. Additionally, she is well-versed in assessing in vitro nanotherapeutic efficacy against bacteria and biofilms.

Célia's current research focuses on developing hybrid nanoparticles for cancer immunotherapy. She is also exploring the applications of machine learning in breast and ovarian cancer detection and treatment.

Graduate Students

Ziqi Wang

Graduate Student Researcher, PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (October 2024 - Present)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

2024 - Present PhD, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States

2021 - 2023 MS, University of South Florida, Tampa, United States

2016 - 2021 BS, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

Ziqi is currently a PhD student at the University of Arizona. She received her MS in Pharma Nanotechnology from the University of South Florida in the United States and BS in Clinical Pharmacy from the Capital Medical University in China. Ziqi is highly experienced in pharmaceutical nanotechnology and drug formulation. Additionally, she has practical knowledge in formulation development, pharmacokinetics, and FDA regulatory requirements gained through her research at SGN Nanopharma, Inc.

Ziqi's current research focuses on the development and application of machine learning to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Leslie Dominguez

Graduate Student Researcher, MS in Cellular and Molecular Medicine (March 2024 - Present)

Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine

Leslie is a Master's Student at the University of Arizona. She completed her BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the same university before transferring to the Cellular and Molecular Medicine graduate program. Her professional journey has led her to the realms of microbial genetics, plant pathology, agricultural biotechnology, and cancer therapeutics.

Leslie's current research focuses on the applications of machine learning to address human health challenges, particularly for the diagnosis of cutaneous neoplasms like melanoma.

Rose Mary George, PharmD

Graduate Student Researcher, MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences (September 2024 - Present)

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Rose Mary is currently a Master's Student at the University of Arizona specializing in Pharmaceutical Sciences. She received her PharmD from Kerala University of Health Sciences in India in 2023, and trained as a clinical pharmacist at St. James Hospital in Kerala for a year. Rose Mary has expertise in pharmacology and toxicology, pharmaceutical sciences, pharmacotherapeutics, pharmacovigilance, medicinal chemistry, and clinical research.

Rose Mary's current research interests include the applications of machine learning to improve the diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma.

Undergraduate Students

Tiffany Pham

Undergraduate Student Researcher (September 2023 - Present)

Senior, BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Tiffany is a Senior pursuing a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Arizona. She is interested in medicinal chemistry and the development of therapeutic agents for cancer treatment.

Tiffany's current research interests include nanoparticles for cancer theranostics and applications of machine learning for breast and ovarian cancer detection and treatment.

Sienna Madriaga

Undergraduate Student Researcher (May 2024 - Present)

Senior, BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Biomedical Sciences, College of Science

Sienna is a Senior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology as well as Biomedical Sciences at the University of Arizona. Sienna has research experience in conducting biochemical analysis of leaf tissues from plant samples sourced globally.

In the future, she aspires to specialize in allergy and immunology, with a particular focus on advancing research in immunotherapy.

Amelia Luadtke

Undergraduate Student Researcher (May 2024 - Present)

Senior, BS in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Microbiology, College of Science and College of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences

Amelia is a Senior majoring in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Microbiology at the University of Arizona. In the future, she would like to focus her research on pathology and virology.

Currently, Amelia spends her time at the Kenry Lab researching the applications of nanomaterials for breast and ovarian cancer theranostics.

Sophia Buttny

Undergraduate Student Researcher (September 2024 - Present)

Senior, BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Sophia is a Senior pursuing a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a minor in Biochemistry at the University of Arizona. She hopes to continue her education by pursuing a PhD in Pharmacology in the near future.

Currently, Sophia is conducting her research at the Kenry Lab, working with machine learning to improve the applications of nanomaterials for ovarian cancer detection and treatment.

Lauren Tomlinson

Undergraduate Student Researcher (April 2025 - Present)

Sophomore, BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Lauren is a Sophomore pursuing a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and minors in Biochemistry and Medical Pharmacology & Toxicology at the University of Arizona.

Her current research interests are focused on biotechnological approaches to advance regenerative medicine, with the goal of translating fundamental discoveries into therapies. Lauren is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and is eager to contribute to innovations that improve patient outcomes.

Ashley Keller

Undergraduate Student Researcher (April 2025 - Present)

Sophomore, BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy

Ashley is a Sophomore pursuing her Bachelor's in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Arizona. She hopes to continue her education by obtaining a PharmD and wants to one day work in a compounding pharmacy. Her research interests include cancer diagnosis and treatment along with drug discovery and development.

High School Student

Megan Zhu

High School Student Researcher (November 2024 - Present)

Junior, University High School

Megan is currently a Junior at University High School in Tucson, Arizona. She is interested in learning more about the applications of artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as researching and learning more about medicinal chemistry and biology.