Meet the Team
Principal Investigator
A/Prof. Alen Faiz
Institute: UTSA/Prof. Alen Faiz is a molecular biologist and geneticist who is leader of the Respiratory Bioinformatics and Molecular Biology (RBMB) Lab. The labs primary focus is to understanding the biology of respiratory systems at the genetic and epigenetic levels, including under conditions of exposure to cigarette smoke and viral infection. A/Prof. Faiz’s research program has made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular pathways that underpin the development and progression of COPD and asthma through the development of bioinformatics pipelines and advanced cell culture and genetic editing techniques.
A/Prof. Faiz obtained his PhD at the University of Sydney, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in 2014. He then travelled on a RESPIRE2 fellowship from ERS as a postdoctoral researcher at the Experimental Pulmonology and Inflammation Research (EXPIRE) laboratory, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands (2014-18).
A/Prof. Faiz started at University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in 2018 and was promoted to Senior Lecture in 2021. A/Prof. Faiz has established a research program in Australia where he developed and set up the UTS CRISPR facility (2019-ongoing). As leader of this facility, he provide expert advice and training to students and research staff
Recently A/Prof. Faiz has focused on understand risk factors associated with SARs-CoV-2 infection through investigating the expression of genes required for viral entry which was published in an article by Reuters and picked up by the New York Times (https://medrxiv.altmetric.com/details/89343468/news).
A/Prof. Faiz has won American Thoracic Society Rising Star Award in 2018 and 2019 and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Lung Science Award in 2020.
Post-Doc
Dr. Sobia Idrees
Institute: Bioinformatics Cluster Center of Inflammation
Dr. Senani Rathnayake Mudiyanselage
Institute: UTS
Hao Chen
Institute: UTSHao Chen is a first-year post-doc whose work focuses on 1) spatial transcriptomics in respiratory conditions as well as 2) the role of mast cells in COPD patients. Through these projects, he aims to generate insights that advance the understanding of respiratory pathology and guide future therapeutic strategies. Outside of academia, he is a professional wine taster and holds certification in mastery of an Australian wine region. He also plays the piano and does boxing, bringing together science, art, and sport in his life.
Dr. Saima Rehman
Institute: Bioinformatics Cluster Center of Inflammation
PhD-Students
Rashad Mahbub
Institute: UTS
Antonia Karabatic
Institute: UTSAntonia Karabatic is a second year PhD student. She has a vehement interest in genetics, with a particular focus on rare pathogenic genetic variants involved in the development of COPD and early onset emphysema.
Her research focuses on CRISPR screening libraries to identify susceptible genes against cigarette smoke exposure, as well as bioinformatic analysis on the genome sequencing of patients with severe COPD and emphysema. When she’s not at the lab bench or teaching undergraduate students, she enjoys embroidery, travelling, bird watching and diving into the spider verse.
Manav Sharma
Institute: UTSManav Sharma is a second-year PhD student with a strong interest in genetics and respiratory diseases. He previously completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in RBMB, where his research focused on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). His current doctoral research investigates lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare respiratory disease. The project aims to determine the origin of LAM, identify novel biomarkers, and develop a LAM cell model for research. To achieve this, he combines both wet lab experimentation and bioinformatics approaches, bridging molecular biology with computational analysis. Outside of research, he enjoys practicing martial arts, reading, travelling, and exploring new museums.
Mitchell Spicer
Institute: UTSMitchell’s projects primarily focus on respiratory diseases, specifically viral and mTOR-related diseases, making use of his specialties in bioinformatics and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing techniques to do so. He is thrilled to be applying his passion for discovery through his PhD.
Andy Lan
Institute: UTSAndy Lan completed a Bachelor’s degree at Hanzehogeschool Groningen, University of Applied Sciences, and a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Groningen. His research experience spans wet laboratory work and bioinformatics, with a strong focus on translating scientific findings into patient outcomes. During his time at the University Medical Center Groningen, he gained valuable experience collaborating with clinical, epidemiological, and molecular researchers, which deepened his interest in bridging science and medicine.
Andy is now a PhD candidate at the University of Technology Sydney, where his research investigates the epigenetic regulation of asthma. Andy’s projects focuses on DNA methylation in asthma, mechanisms of T2-low asthma, corticosteroid sensitivity through FKBP5, and clinical and genomic differences between early- and late-onset asthma.
Research Assistants
Fia Sabrina Boedijono
Institute: Bioinformatics Cluster Center of Inflammation
Kathy Phung
Institute: UTSKathy is a Research Assistant who previously completed a Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Medical Science & Biotechnology) with RBMB. Her honours research investigated the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on genetic and epigenetic regulation in COPD patients. Currently, she supports research projects focusing on the molecular mechanisms that drive COPD and other respiratory diseases. Her work combines bioinformatics and laboratory research, using CRISPR editing experiments in respiratory cells to validate computational findings. She additionally manages the lab inventory for RBMB and the UTS CRISPR Facility.
Honours Students
Rachael Rowntree
Institute: UTSRachael is an Honours student who recently graduated with a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Pre-Medicine). Her research focuses on respiratory genetics and epigenetics, investigating whether hypercapnia has a genetic basis in patients with COPD. She is also exploring the clinical and epigenetic differences between early- and late-onset asthma. Outside the lab, Rachael works as a disability support worker and enjoys soccer and staying active.
Ruby Walz
(Co-supervised)Institute: UTS
Ruby holds a Bachelor of Forensic Science (Biology major) from UTS and is currently completing an Honours in Medical Science also at UTS. Her research focuses on the gut-lung axis; exploring how genetic variation in COPD and asthma is linked to the gut microbiome. With a strong interest in human health and disease, she approaches research with curiosity and a problem-solving mindset. Outside of academia, Ruby enjoys staying active through open water swimming and strength training, and finds creative balance through her passion for the visual arts.
Master (by Research) Students
Habib Eichoue
Institute: UTS
Alumni
Dr. Tayyaba Sadaf
Institute: Bioinformatics Cluster Center of Inflammation/UTSFormer PhD student and Post Doc that is now working for NSW Health.
Dr. Diren Reddy
(Co-supervised)Institute: UTS (former)
Former PhD student in the group, now a Post Doc at UKSH Lübeck.
Jos van Nijnatten
Institute: UTS (former)A previous PhD student that is now working in the IT and program design sector
Margo Jansen
(Co-supervised)Institute: UTS
A previous PhD student that is now working in the IT and program design sector