Michael W. Drazer, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Michael Drazer is an Assistant Professor in the Section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago. He was raised on a family farm before graduating from Indiana University with degrees in Biochemistry, Biology, and English. He earned an MD and a PhD in Human Genetics from the University of Chicago. He cares for patients with hereditary blood disorders and hereditary cancer syndromes as a member of the Hematology, Leukemia, Stem Cell Transplant/Cellular Therapy, Mesothelioma, Myeloma, and Cancer Risk programs at UChicago. He is a trainer in the Human Genetics PhD program at UChicago.
Outside of the lab and hospital, you can find him running long distances through the woods of the Midwest and up/down the mountains of the western United States.
Aubrianna S. Ramsland, BS
Research Technologist
Aubrianna was raised in Minnesota before earning degrees in Biological Sciences (with a Cancer Biology specialization and Research Honors) and Biological Chemistry from the University of Chicago. She wrote an undergraduate honors thesis focused on the role of FGFR3 in mediating T cell exclusion in the setting of anti-PD-L1 therapy in the group of Dr. Randy Sweis. Her work has been presented at the Annual Meeting for the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and she most recently has authored manuscripts in Haematologica and Advances in Oncology.
In the Drazer group, she is responsible for designing and implementing new gene editing protocols, genomics, and modeling hereditary blood disorders (using both cellular and murine systems).
Outside of the lab she enjoys running, playing the flute, and studying biology and mathematics.
Tadeusz Kubicki, MD
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tadeusz Kubicki is a post-doctoral scholar in the Department of Medicine at the University of Chicago. He earned an MD from Poznan University of Medical Sciences in Poland and is a hematology fellow at University Hospital in Poznan. He is a member of the myeloma team at University of Chicago, with a particular focus on clinical trials and drug development. In the Drazer group, his projects involve the design and interpretation of next generation sequencing studies with a particular focus on identifying novel drivers of malignant disease.
He has authored publications in journals such as Blood, Lancet Oncology, the Blood Cancer Journal, Leukemia & Lymphoma, and Oncotarget.
After work he enjoys family life, good books (but Charles Bukowski would do, too) and lengthy discussions on everything from sports and global politics to modern architecture.
Owen Mitchell, BS
Clinical Research Coordinator
Owen is a Clinical Research Coordinator at the University of Chicago Medicine, where he is responsible for leading and coordinating biobanking efforts for the Mesothelioma Program. Originally from Michigan, he graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in Genomics and Molecular Genetics. While at MSU he worked in the lab of Dr. Karen Liby, where he investigated the role of PARP inhibitors on murine mammary gland development. He then worked as a Research Technician at the Van Endel Institute in Grand Rapids before moving to the University of Chicago. He has co-authored manuscripts in Cell Genomics and Scientific Reports.
Outside of the hospital, Owen enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking his neighbor’s dog, going to the beaches in and around Chicago, and (secretly) building his collection of LEGOs.
Zara Khosravi, MS
Laboratory Manager
Zara was born in Iran before coming to the United States to earn a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Ohio University. She then worked at Stanford University and the University of Chicago in a series of molecular engineering projects. She was recruited to the Drazer group where she is now responsible for the genetic engineering and design of our patient-derived cellular models as well as the immunologic profiling of our murine models. Her work has most recently been featured in Biointerphases and Advances in Oncology.
Outside of the lab, Zara enjoys traveling, enjoying new foods, playing chess (she is a former national-level player), designing jewelry, formulating skin care products, and cooking.
Gregory W. Roloff, MD
Hematology/Oncology Fellow
Gregory Roloff is a Hematology/Oncology fellow at the University of Chicago. He has been selected to serve as the chief fellow during the 2023-24 academic year. He graduated from the State University of New York with a Biology degree and earned his medical degree from the University of Buffalo. He completed his residency at the Loyola University Medical Center before moving to UChicago for fellowship.
Greg has a particular interest in applying contemporary genomics to the clinical care of patients with hematopoietic malignancies. He has most recently authored manuscripts in Haematologica, Blood Advances, JCO Precision Oncology, Journal of Genetic Counseling, Genetics in Medicine, and Frontiers in Oncology.
He enjoys exercising, playing golf, eating guacamole, and petting dogs - although only one at a time.
Feighanne Hathaway, CGC
Clinical Genetic Counselor
Feighanne Hathaway is a licensed and board certified genetic counselor in the section of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Chicago Medicine. Feighanne received her Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and her Masters of Science Degree in Genetics from Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to joining the University of Chicago, Feighanne established genetic counseling services at the New York University (NYU) Clinical Cancer Center, was part of the National Ovarian Cancer Early Detection Program at NYU, and started a support group for young women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations at NYU.
Recently, she served as the Program Chair for the Chicago Urological Society’s meeting and presented at the 2nd Annual NYC Prostate Cancer Summit. Her research interests include genetic susceptibility to prostate cancers and hematological malignancies. Additionally, she is interested in making genetic services available to underrepresented or underserved populations and training more professionals in genetics to meet the growing demands/needs of genetic testing. She is an active member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC) and the Genetic Task Force of Illinois. She has also served as an author of publications in the Journal of Genetic Counseling and Cancer.
Outside of the hospital she enjoys snowboarding, coaching and playing soccer, crossword puzzles, and reading.
Alumni:
Staff:
Kelsey E. McNeely: Research Technologist; now at University of Michigan
Rotation students:
Anna Goncalves: University of Chicago Human Genetics program
Students:
Azaii Calderon: summer student, MD candidate at Harvard Medical School
Julia Dorr: summer student, undergraduate at Loyola University Chicago
Remicia Germeille: summer student, undergraduate at San Diego State University
Desiree Hall: summer student, student at Kouts High School
Rachel Hodge: summer student, undergraduate at Furman University
Shaili Smith: summer student, undergraduate at the University of Chicago