Dr. Brisa Palikuqi is an Assistant Professor at the Yale Stem Cell Center and the Department of Comparative Medicine at the Yale School of Medicine. Originally from Albania, she earned her Ph.D. at Weill Cornell Medicine under the mentorship of Dr. Shahin Rafii, where she developed a platform for vascularizing organoids and tissue explants in vitro. In 2020, she joined UCSF as a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Ophir Klein’s lab, focusing on the role of blood and lymphatic paracrine factors in intestinal regeneration and disease.

In her independent lab at Yale, Brisa investigates the complexity of endothelial cell paracrine signaling in tissue repair, using both in vivo and in vitro models to uncover mechanisms that can be leveraged to drive regeneration on demand for precision medicine.

She is the recipient of a K01 Career Development Award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), as well as prior honors including the NIH F32 Kirschstein Fellowship, the Program in Breakthrough Biomedical Research Postdoctoral Grant, the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Fellowship, and several travel and poster awards.

Brisa’s mentorship philosophy centers on providing personalized guidance that supports each mentee’s unique goals and development as both scientists and individuals. She is deeply committed to fostering a respectful, inclusive environment where all lab members feel empowered to grow, contribute, and thrive. She believes that strong mentorship is foundational to both scientific discovery and personal growth.

Outside the lab, Brisa enjoys yoga, exploring neighborhoods and cities, and spending time with her cat.

Katy joined the Palikuqi lab as a Postdoctoral Associate in January of 2026. She completed her Ph.D. in December of 2025 in the laboratory of Dr. Yajaira Suarez at Yale, studying how endothelial cell lipid homeostasis affects inflammation, the endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and atherosclerosis progression. She is the recipient of two predoctoral research awards (NIH, AHA) and has won multiple poster awards and travel awards at conferences. Her Ph.D. research sparked a broader interest in how endothelial cell function can control whole-body lipid homeostasis in both physiology and disease. In the Palikuqi lab, Katy plans to study how dietary perturbations can influence the function of endothelial cells in various regions of the intestine, with subsequent consequences for both local interactions in their niche as well as greater implications for whole-body metabolism through nutrient absorption. In her free time, she loves completing the New York Times crossword and puzzles, reading, and baking.

Olivia joined the Palikuqi lab as a Ph.D. student in March 2026. Originally from Illinois, Olivia graduated from Boston College in May 2025 with a B.S. in Biology. At Boston College, Olivia worked in the Folker lab studying mechanisms of intracellular organization in syncytia. In the Palikuqi lab, Olivia is currently investigating the role of endothelial-immune interactions in colon repair. Outside of the lab Olivia enjoys reading speculative fiction and is training for the 2026 Chicago marathon.

Zoe joined the Palikuqi lab as a Ph.D. student in February of 2026. She completed her undergraduate studies at San Jose State University with a Bachelors Degree in Molecular Biology and Minor in Chemistry. While at SJSU she studied the development of the intestine, specifically looking at the mechanisms of apico-basolateral cell polarity and won multiple NIH travel awards while working there. From there she joined the PREP program at UC Davis where she studied macromolecular crowding of the cytoplasm throughout aging. She is now a Ph.D. student at Yale where she has attained the Gruber Fellowship and plans to study the role of the lymphatic niche in epithelial repair of the intestine. Outside of the lab Zoe likes to sew and read and occasionally attend concerts. 

Naveena joined the Palikuqi Lab as is a Postgraduate Associate in March 2025, following the completion of her Master’s in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of New Haven. She is currently working with single-cell data from the human intestine, focusing on the role of endothelial cells in intestinal regeneration. Before joining the Palikuqi Lab, she contributed to mosquito genomics research, where she gained hands-on experience in genomic data analysis. Separately, through her thesis for a Post Graduate Diploma in Bioinformatics, she developed skills in molecular modeling and docking studies. Outside the lab, Naveena enjoys cooking, exploring new places, hiking, and attending live concerts.

Jorge joined the Palikuqi Lab as a Postgraduate Associate in August 2025. Born and raised in Bolivia, Jorge moved to Houston to pursue his undergraduate studies at Rice University. Through the Rice University Department of BioSciences joint BS/MS program, Jorge graduated in May 2025 with a BS in Biochemistry and an MS in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. At Rice, Jorge worked in the Uribe Lab to examine the cellular mechanisms behind enteric nervous system development in zebrafish. In the Palikuqi Lab, Jorge is currently working on evaluating the role of endothelial cells in inflammatory bowel disease and nutrient absorption. Ultimately, Jorge hopes to obtain his MD/PhD and work at the forefront of translational research and patient care.
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Rongxin joined the Palikuqi Lab at the Yale Stem Cell Center as a Postgraduate Research Associate in November 2025. Born and raised in China, Rongxin completed both her BSc in Biological Sciences and her Master’s by Research degree at the University of Warwick in the UK. Before joining the Palikuqi Lab, she worked in the Koentges Lab at Warwick to uncover cell migration and interactions during rodent tooth development. In the Palikuqi Lab, Rongxin is investigating the roles of endothelial and lymphatic cells in intestinal regeneration and repair. Rongxin aims to pursue a PhD and contribute to the interdisciplinary forefront of developmental biology, cell biology, and translational medicine. Outside the lab, Rongxin enjoys swimming and spending time with her dog.
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Odree is a Yale College undergraduate majoring in Biomedical Engineering and an undergraduate researcher in the Brisa Palikuqi Lab at the Yale Stem Cell Center. Her research, supported by the Yale College First-Year Summer Research Fellowship, focuses on the role of endothelial cell dysfunction in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), combining transcriptomics, vascularized organoid models, and microfluidic systems to investigate mechanisms of inflammation and tissue repair. She is particularly interested in developing physiologically relevant models that can advance therapeutic strategies for chronic inflammatory diseases and hopes to pursue a career in translational medicine and biomedical innovation.

Cece is a Yale College undergraduate majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology and an undergraduate researcher in the Brisa Palikuqi Lab at the Yale Stem Cell Center. Before joining the Palikuqi Lab, she was a summer student researcher at City of Hope in California working at the intersection of stem cell and cardiovascular research. Her research was funded by the California Institute of Regenerative Medicine (CIRM). In the Palikuqi lab, she is working on deciphering endothelial cell regionalization along the intestine and hopes to learn more about the intestines! Outside of the lab, Cece enjoys hiking, running, and listening to music. 

Ana is a Yale Undergraduate.