Lab Members
Meet the Dmello Lab team members. We welcome requests for information about our collaboration opportunities.
Principal Investigator
Crismita Dmello, PhD
Assistant Professor
Neurological Surgery
crismita.dmello( at )northwestern.edu
Dmello's BiographyCrismita Dmello, PhD, grew up in Mumbai, India, and has pursued a multidisciplinary research path spanning molecular biology, cancer biology, immunology and infectious diseases.
She earned her doctorate in Life Sciences from ACTREC (HBNI University, Mumbai, India) in 2017, followed by postdoctoral research on malaria biology at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research. Driven by a strong interest in translational cancer research, Crismita transitioned to brain tumor translational research, completing postdoctoral and research faculty training at Northwestern University.
Dmello's lab focuses on engineering hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and modulating tumor-intrinsic pathways to enhance immunotherapy for brain tumors. She is passionate about building a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and supportive team dedicated to advancing innovative therapies for brain tumors.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Heba Ali, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
heba.ali( at )northwestern.edu
Ali's BiographyHeba Ali, PhD, is a cancer immunotherapy investigator specializing in tumor-immune interactions in glioblastoma and meningioma. She earned her doctorate in biological sciences from Florida International University and a master’s degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
In the Dmello Lab, Ali leads research on tumor-intrinsic mechanisms of immune evasion. Her research explores the CHK2–YBX1/YBX3 hub, uncovering its role in shaping the tumor-immune landscape and improving responses to immune checkpoint blockade in glioblastoma. She also investigates CHEK2-deficient meningiomas, demonstrating their susceptibility to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
A strong advocate for innovation in STEM, Ali mentors early-career investigators and contributes to translational cancer research to improve outcomes for patients with aggressive brain tumors.
Jianzhong Zhang, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
jzzhang( at )northwestern.edu
Zhang's BiographyJianzhong Zhang, PhD, earned his doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from Xiamen University in China in 2023. He previously worked on developing biomimetic therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy.
He is currently focused on engineering hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for the treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) in the Dmello Lab, co-advised by Peng Zhang, PhD. He is passionate about developing novel biotherapeutics to benefit cancer patients.
Research Associates
Ningjia (Rowan) Zhou, MS
Research Associate
Ningjia.zhou( at )northwestern.edu
Zhou's BiographyNingjia (Rowan) Zhou, MS, is a research associate in the Dmello Lab and a graduate of Northwestern University’s Master of Biotechnology Program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biological science from Beijing Normal University in China.
Trained in immuno-oncology, Zhou investigates mechanisms of immune evasion in gliomas, focusing on the roles of EphA3 and germline CHEK2 mutations in shaping CD8⁺ T‑cell function and immune gene signatures. She also plays a key leadership role in lab operations, overseeing animal study coordination, reagent procurement and regulatory and safety compliance. By integrating scientific expertise with strong operational management, she supports the lab’s translational research efforts.
Graduate Students
Venkatanagasai Raju Alluri
Graduate Student
VenkatanagasaiAlluri2026( at )u.northwestern.edu
Alluri's BiographyVenkatanagasai Raju Alluri is a second-year master’s student in biotechnology with a minor in synthetic biology. He aims to bridge the gap between engineering and biological sciences to facilitate innovation in cancer research and other fields.
Alluri earned his bachelor’s degree in biotechnology from KL University in India. During his final year, he worked as an undergraduate intern at the Sugaya Lab at the University of Central Florida, focusing on extracellular vesicle research and glioblastoma (GBM). His interest in GBM led him to join the Dmello Lab, where he is identifying the domains that constitute the interactive basis of the CHK2-YBX1-YBX3 hub.
Medical Students
Vivekanudeep Karri
Medical Student (Rush Medical College)
vivekanudeep_karri( at )rush.edu
Karri's BiographyDeepu Karri is a medical student at Rush University and a visiting pre-doctoral fellow in the Dmello Lab. He graduated from Rice University in 2020 and subsequently conducted oncology research at Texas Children’s Hospital, where he developed an interest in mutational drivers of cancer.
After moving to Chicago, he joined the Dmello Lab to continue his passion for research alongside his medical education. Karri is currently studying the mechanistic function of CHEK2 mutations in gliomas using genomic patient data, in vitro studies and mouse models. Outside of the lab and school, he enjoys running by the lake, exploring the Chicago food scene and watching medical dramas.
Undergraduate Students
Morgan Cook
Morgancook2027( at )u.northwestern.edu