Hanan Bloomer Email & Phone Number

Project Mentor:The Polygence Core Program is a 10-session research project where high school students are matched with an expert mentor to explore a specific and unique research topic selected by the student. As a mentor, I guide students through personalized passion projects in the field of biology. Some of the projects that I have helped students complete include:- Designing Universal CAR-T Cells for Cancer Treatment- Investigating the Role of Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells for… Show more Project Mentor:The Polygence Core Program is a 10-session research project where high school students are matched with an expert mentor to explore a specific and unique research topic selected by the student. As a mentor, I guide students through personalized passion projects in the field of biology. Some of the projects that I have helped students complete include:- Designing Universal CAR-T Cells for Cancer Treatment- Investigating the Role of Stem Cell-Derived Beta Cells for the Treatment of Diabetes- Evaluating Off-Target Effects of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing- Exploring the Complexities of Aging: Genetic and Environmental InfluencePedagogy Consultant:Launchpad is a 4-session program where students define their project idea prior to their Core program experience. After meeting with 3 distinct mentors specializing in the academic subjects that the student is interested in focusing their project on, I lead a reflection session designed to synthesize what the student learned from each of their mentors and help students converge at one specific Core project idea. Here, I use key pedagogy skills to help the student identify what is important and interesting to them. Show less

Bethesda, Maryland

Mentor: Andre Larochelle, M.D./Ph.D.Investigated gene and stem cell-based regenerative therapies for inherited blood diseases in the Larochelle Lab. Specifically, I developed a novel CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transgene integration technique in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) known as homology-independent targeted integration (HITI). This ex-vivo gene therapy approach, in combination with autologous stem cell transplantation, allows for the genetic modification and reinfusion of patients’ own… Show more Mentor: Andre Larochelle, M.D./Ph.D.Investigated gene and stem cell-based regenerative therapies for inherited blood diseases in the Larochelle Lab. Specifically, I developed a novel CRISPR/Cas9-mediated transgene integration technique in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) known as homology-independent targeted integration (HITI). This ex-vivo gene therapy approach, in combination with autologous stem cell transplantation, allows for the genetic modification and reinfusion of patients’ own HSCs, potentially curing inherited blood diseases. Manuscripts: - Genome Editing in Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells via CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Homology-Independent Targeted Integration (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.12.010)- Preclinical Evaluation of Foamy Virus Vector-Mediated Gene Addition in Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells for Correction of Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency Type 1 (https://doi.org/10.1089/hum.2022.065)- Robust Generation of Erythroid and Multilineage Hematopoietic Progenitors from Human iPSCs Using a Scalable Monolayer Culture System (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scr.2019.101600)Oral Presentations: - American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy 22nd Annual Meeting- 17th Annual National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) Research Festival- National Institutes of Health (NIH) Postbac Seminar SeriesPoster Presentations:- NIH Stem Cell Symposium- NIH Postbac Poster Day (Outstanding Poster Award)- 17th Annual NHLBI Research Festival Show less

Washington D.C. Metro Area

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency within the World Health Organization working to improve health and living standards of the people of the Americas.- 5 month internship was within the Emergency Operations Center.- I authored a report that outlined a course of action for health ministries to implement following an earthquake.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Mentor: Jan LaRocque, Ph.D.Applied CRISPR/Cas9 techniques to make a complete deletion of the white gene in Drosophila melanogaster and isolated a stable stock. This new line of Drosophila was instrumental in utilizing genetic assays to measure the preference between the sister chromatid and homologous chromosome as a template for homologous recombination (HR).Manuscript:- Chromosome Preference During Homologous Recombination Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Drosophila… Show more Mentor: Jan LaRocque, Ph.D.Applied CRISPR/Cas9 techniques to make a complete deletion of the white gene in Drosophila melanogaster and isolated a stable stock. This new line of Drosophila was instrumental in utilizing genetic assays to measure the preference between the sister chromatid and homologous chromosome as a template for homologous recombination (HR).Manuscript:- Chromosome Preference During Homologous Recombination Repair of DNA Double-Strand Breaks in Drosophila melanogaster (https://doi.org/10.1534/g3.119.400607)Poster Presentations:- International 59th Annual Drosophila Conference- 15th Annual Georgetown Undergraduate Research Conference Show less

Greater New York City Area

The Global Mental Health Program, based in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, champions better mental health worldwide through innovative research, education, and advocacy. - Performed in-depth literature review on several topics, including: postoperative depression, cannabis as an effective tool in tackling chronic pain and the opioid epidemic.- Assembled curriculum and syllabi for two classes: Contemporary Issues of Policy in Global Mental Health and U.S… Show more The Global Mental Health Program, based in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University, champions better mental health worldwide through innovative research, education, and advocacy. - Performed in-depth literature review on several topics, including: postoperative depression, cannabis as an effective tool in tackling chronic pain and the opioid epidemic.- Assembled curriculum and syllabi for two classes: Contemporary Issues of Policy in Global Mental Health and U.S. Mental Health Policy. Show less

Georgetown University, Dc / Shark Bay, Australia

The Shark Bay Dolphin Project began in 1982 and has led to the majority of education regarding bottlenose dolphins. The field site is located in Western Australia and data analysis takes place at Georgetown University. - Helped write a National Geographic grant proposal to get funding for a U.S. project examining the distribution and range of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay (using boat-based sampling and citizen science).- Navigate through data for current projects, e.g.… Show more The Shark Bay Dolphin Project began in 1982 and has led to the majority of education regarding bottlenose dolphins. The field site is located in Western Australia and data analysis takes place at Georgetown University. - Helped write a National Geographic grant proposal to get funding for a U.S. project examining the distribution and range of bottlenose dolphins in the Chesapeake Bay (using boat-based sampling and citizen science).- Navigate through data for current projects, e.g., looking at synchronous swimming and mother-calf relationship, prevalence in tooth rakes in male and female juveniles.- Participated in a collaborative project examining the range of bottlenose dolphin migration along the U.S. East Coast. Performed dorsal fin matching based on photographs gathered by numerous dolphin research centers from Florida to New York. We found dolphins migrating between Georgia and Northern Virginia. No conclusion as to overall migration patterns were drawn. Show less

Md/Phd Candidate

Activities and Societies: Anti-Racism Working Group, Sam W. Ho Health Justice Scholars Program (HJSP), Medical Student Patient.

Bachelor’S Degree, Human Science/Pre-Medicine

Activities and Societies: Varsity Lightweight Rowing ('14-'15), Georgetown Pre-Medical Society ('14-'18), No Lost Generation Georgetown.

High School

Activities and Societies: [Sports]: Varsity Basketball ('12-'14), Varsity Baseball ('13-'14), Junior Varsity Tennis ('10-'11) [Clubs].