Core Team
Bridget Austin, MS
Biobank Program Manager
Bridget Austin is the Biobank Coordinator for the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL) at the University of Pennsylvania. As such, Bridget works as a clinical liaison between the research and clinical sides of the CSTL, assists with various research projects such as the ACCELERATE Natural History Registry, and coordinates biological sample donation to the CSTL's Castlebank. Bridget earned her MS in Psychology from Villanova University.
Abiola Irvine
Research Specialist
Abiola Irvine is a Research Specialist in the Cytokine Storm and Treatment Laboratory at the Perelman School of Medicine. She supports the translational research team in the experimental lab by using immune-based assays and other methods to further our understanding of Castleman Disease. Prior to joining the CSTL team Abiola earned her BS in Psychology with a neuroscience minor from Haverford College and looks forward to applying to medical school in the future. Outside of the lab Abiola enjoys hiking, roller skating, and playing with her dog Hendrxx.
Criswell Lavery
Research Administration Coordinator
Criswell Lavery is the Research Administration Coordinator for the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL) at the University of Pennsylvania. She leads the front-end of the ACCELERATE natural history registry, working to compile accurate and comprehensive data on diagnosis and treatment processes for patients with Castleman Disease. Criswell earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Rochester and is currently pursuing her MPH degree at Penn.
Payton Morrissey
Executive Assistant
Payton Morrissey is the Executive Assistant to David Fajgenbaum, MD, MBA, MSc at the Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL) at the Perelman School of Medicine. She provides direct support to the Director of the CSTL and oversees calendar management and the coordination of travel and events. Prior to joining the CSTL, Payton was a cybersecurity consultant and media coordinator for a cybersecurity firm. She graduated with her B.S. in Security and Risk Analysis from the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State University.
Martin Romeo, PhD
Associate Director of Translational Immunology
Martin (Marty) Romeo is the Associate Director of Translational Immunology at the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment and Laboratory (CSTL) within the Perelman School of Medicine ant the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular from Johns Hopkins University, studied vascular biology as a post-doctoral fellow at the National Cancer Institute, worked in the pharmaceutical industry and then directed the Translational Science Laboratory shared resource at the Medical University of South Carolina before joining the CSTL. He is currently involved with efforts to discover biomarkers and druggable targets in cytokine storm disorders. Marty is a hopelessly obsessed fly angler who spends as much time as he can with his family, traveling to destinations both populated and remote in pursuit of adventure.
Mateo Sarmiento Bustamante
Data Analyst
Mateo Sarmiento is a Data Analyst for the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL) at the Perelman School of Medicine. He synthesizes and analyzes information across a Castleman patient’s medical history to gain insight on things such as the wide spectrum of symptoms and the effectiveness of treatment regimens that Castleman patients experience. Mateo looks forward to spending his gap years at the CSTL before applying to medical school. Prior to joining the CSTL, Mateo earned his BA in Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania where he researched the epigenetics of drug addiction.
Saishravan Shyamsundar
Data Analyst
Saishravan Shyamsundar is a Data Analyst for the Center for Cytokine Storm & Treatment Laboratory (CSTL) at Perelman School of Medicine. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. At CSTL, he supports the ACCELERATE Registry Team (ART) in data compilation and analysis of medical records of Castleman Disease patients. The analysis of this data could then provide further insights into understanding the mechanisms of the disease and identifying effective treatment options. He hopes that his work with this team helps lead to better prognosis for patients with Castleman Disease
Brent Shaw
Marking and Communications Fellow
Brent Shaw is the Marking and Communications Fellow at the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment & Laboratory (CSTL) at the University of Pennsylvania. Previously, Brent lead a marketing agency in Los Angeles that specialized in brand awareness for best-selling authors and non-profits. Early in his career he was the Director of Research at a Sports Medicine Clinic and has multiple publications in the Sports Medicine and Stem Cell Clinical Research fields. Brent received his BS in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UC Santa Barbara.
Joseph Zinski, PhD
Senior Research Investigator
Joseph Zinski PhD is a Senior Research Investigator at the Center for Cytokine Storm Treatment and Laboratory (CSTL) within the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He received his BS from UConn in Chemical Engineer and his PhD from UPenn in developmental biology. He is using bioinformatic, machine learning, and deep learning to develop better diagnostic tools and treatments for Castleman disease.