Principal Investigator

Dr. Samir Zaidi, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine (Medical Oncology) and Stephen Sherwin MD Investigator at the Yale School of Medicine, as well as a member of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Oncology (CMCO) at the Yale Cancer Center. Dr. Zaidi specializes in the treatment of patients with genitourinary cancers. Dr. Zaidi earned his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He then pursued his combined MD and PhD degrees at the Yale School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, graduating Cum Laude (MD) and with Distinction (PhD). He completed his internal medicine residency through the Stanbury Physician–Scientist Pathway at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) at Harvard Medical School. Following this, Dr. Zaidi joined Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) for a fellowship in medical oncology, subsequently serving as an Assistant Attending Physician in Genitourinary Oncology and Louis V. Gerstner Physician Scholar. Returning to Yale from MSKCC, Dr. Zaidi maintains both clinical and research interests in genitourinary cancers, focusing especially on prostate and kidney cancers. His research centers on understanding the tumor-specific and microenvironmental factors contributing to cancer resistance and lineage plasticity. Rooted firmly in basic biology, Dr. Zaidi's scientific approach emphasizes translational research aimed at developing innovative therapeutic strategies. As an integral member of the Yale Cancer Center and CMCO, Dr. Zaidi contributes significantly to initiatives designed to bridge clinical investigation and fundamental cancer biology, ultimately aiming to enhance patient care through improved cancer therapies.

Jake is a senior at Wesleyan University majoring in Biology and interested in medicine. A Scholar-Athlete, he is Captain of Wesleyan’s Varsity Baseball team.

Monieb Ahmed earned his PhD from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where he focused on developing advanced 3D tumour models to study cancer cell behaviour, drug responses, and the dynamics of the tumour microenvironment. His interdisciplinary background spans pharmaceutical sciences, cancer cell biology, and biological modelling, with an emphasis on designing physiologically relevant in vitro systems to better understand tumour progression and therapeutic response. Outside the lab, he enjoys bouldering and rock climbing.

I graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Bioengineering and a minor in German. I am interested in cancer biology and the discovery of new therapeutic targets, especially in regards to immunotherapy. I have experience in Electron Microscopy. I also love hiking and traveling!

Arun Kumar joined the Zaidi Lab as a Postdoctoral Associate after completing his PhD at the National University of Singapore where he developed non-viral delivery systems for hard-to-transfect immune cells. His research background spans immune cell engineering, materials science, and translational therapeutics. In his free time, Arun contributes news articles for MRS Bulletin and is passionate about science communication and outreach. Beyond research, Arun loves hiking and is eagerly committed to learning tennis this year.

Carol has been at Yale for over 25 years and serves as the shared lab manager for both the Zaidi Lab and the laboratory of Dr. Richard Lifton. She brings deep expertise in the genetic underpinnings of disease and plays a critical role in overseeing all operational aspects of the Zaidi Lab.

Tiago Prudente is a Brazilian medical doctor who earned his degree from Universidade Federal de Goiás. Since the beginning of medical school, he has been passionate about research, engaging in diverse projects ranging from laboratory studies on neurocysticercosis to systematic reviews and meta-analyses. He aspires to a career in oncology and presents a particular interest in cancer biology and the tumor microenvironment. Outside of medicine, Tiago is a dog lover, an avid reader, and enjoys exploring new restaurants and recipes with his family and friends.