Lab Members

Mary Kate Kelly

Mary Kate Kelly

Research Technician

Ishav Shukla

Ishav Shukla

Medical Student

Ishav Shukla is a 2nd year medical student at UTSW. He received his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas in December 2021. He is interested in pursuing neurosurgery and his research interests include neuro-oncology topics such as immunotherapy for meningioma and glioblastoma, tumor cell migration, and tumor microenvironment. Outside of the lab, Ishav enjoys playing cricket and pickleball and trying new restaurants.

Hua-Kang Wu, PhD

Hua-Kang Wu, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Hua-Kang earned his Ph.D. in Immuno-hematology from the University of Tokyo, Japan.  He completed his postdoctoral training in Molecular Cancer Genetics at the University of Toronto, Canada, and gained further scientific experience in cancer research, focusing on tumor biomarker detection and characterization, translational clinical trials and pre-clinical studies at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX.  His academic and research background spans molecular cell biology, immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and animal experimentation. As an ASCP-certified Molecular Biologist and Cytometry Specialist, Hua-Kang excels in a variety of molecular techniques, including multicolor flow cytometry, imaging/microscopy, cell/tissue culture, in vivo disease models, and fluorescence-based methodologies.  Proficient in molecular cell biology, immunohistochemistry, qPCR, FISH, multiplex assays, ELISA, and single-cell analysis, he joined UT Southwestern Medical Center in 2018 as a Research Scientist/Lab Manager before transferring to Dr. Sun's Lab in 2024.  There, he focuses on advancing meningioma immunology and developing translational immunotherapies for aggressive meningiomas. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, especially traveling, hiking, riding bicycles, and cooking dinner with his daughter.