Ivan Brain Tumor Lab Members

Michael E. Ivan MD, MBS, FAANS
Primary Investigator

Michael Ivan is the Principle Investigator of the laboratory and has over 22 years of laboratory experience in both academia and industry. He has performed biological, vaccine, and cancer research at Cornell University, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Merck Pharmaceuticals, UCSF, and University of Miami. His focus is on understanding the invasion and migration of brain tumors and developing novel therapeutics to stop the progression of disease. He aims to shorten the bench to beside bridge by always incorporating his research in his clinical practice. Dr. Ivan also is an investigator on multiple brain tumor clinical trials. At UM he also acts as the Director of Research of the Brain Tumor Initiative

Ana Pascoini MS
Laboratory Manager / Research Scientist

Ana Pascoini is an experienced researcher and laboratory manager with over 8 years of experience, with demonstrated history of working in research focused on cancer and molecular biology. As a Research Associate at the Ivan Tumor lab, at the University of Miami, she is responsible to develop and carry out protocols  for processing patient tissue obtained from operation room, manage supply inventory, perform cell characterization experiments and collect information for project reports and grants. She recently finished her Master in Management from the University of Miami

Tatiana Slepak
Sr. Research Associate

Tatiana earned a Master of Science in Chemistry at Moscow Institute of Fine Chemical Technology and has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Miami. An experimentalist with more than 30 years of experience in biochemistry, molecular and cell biology she can accomplish any research project. In the Ivan Lab, Tatiana is investigating molecular mechanisms underlying biology of glioblastoma, very aggressive and incurable brain tumor. She is performing experiments on human primary tumor cells and mouse models of glioblastoma and is training students in different lab techniques. Her responsibilities also include writing research papers and grants.

Daniel Eichberg, MD
Research Fellow

Daniel Eichberg is a current University of Miami Neurosurgical Resident. He graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and concentration in Neurobiology. He began medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in 2011. In 2013 he was awarded a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Research Fellowship, which he completed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Koch Institute for Integrated Cancer Research in 2013 – 2014. Dr. Eichberg graduated magna cum laude from medical school in 2016 with Alpha Omega Alpha honor medical society distinction. Dr. Eichberg was recently awarded an NIH T32 Grant to work in the Ivan Brain Tumor Laboratory on invasive mechanisms of brain tumors.

Alexa Semonche
Research Fellow

Alexa, recently graduated from medical school at Rutgers and is now joining UCSF as a neurological surgery resident. Alexa recently completed a year
long fellowship in the Ivan Brain Tumor Lab focused on understanding photodynamic therapy in glioblastoma using 5-ALA and Laser Interstitial Therapy. Alexa completed the fellowship as a co-author on more then 20 research manuscripts focused on brain tumors. Alexa was award an NREF and an AOA scholarship for her research project.

Long Di
Research Fellow

Long Di is a medical student at the University of South Florida and is currently working in the Ivan Brain Tumor Lab as a research fellow. His project has been award the NREF MSSRF grant. Long has an impressive track record of multiple publications. He also has had active involvement as President of his medical school’s AANS chapter, establishing quarterly journal club meetings, resident talks, and neuroanatomy reviews. He is also a dedicated mentor and teacher for first year medical students as a peer tutor. Long has been critical in our project looking at 5-ALA and laser interstitial thermal therapy to treat glioblastoma.