Diana Monsivais, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Monsivais is Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology and Immunology at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM), where she runs a laboratory focused on endometrial biology and female reproductive diseases. Dr. Monsivais was awarded a K99/R00 Award from the NICHD and a Next Generation Pregnancy Award from the Burroughs Wellcome Fund to study the role of the endometrium in female reproductive health and pregnancy. Her lab is funded by the NIH to uncover the signaling mechanisms that drive endometrial cell renewal and are abnormal in endometrial cancer, endometriosis and infertility.
Suni Tang, PhD
Staff Scientist
Dr. Tang received her bachelor’s degree in Biology from Yunnan University and a PhD in Genetics from Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in China. She performed postdoctoral fellowships at University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, KS, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) in Amarillo, TX, where she studied chemoprevention and chemotherapy of prostate cancer. Dr. Tang joined the group in 2020 and leads the studies related to human endometrial organoids and stromal cell decidualization in endometriosis. Outside of the lab, Suni enjoys gardening.
Sydney Parks, B.A.
PhD Candidate
Sydney is a PhD candidate in the Cancer and Cell Biology Graduate Program at BCM. She received her B.A. in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from Rice University. In the Monsivais lab, Sydney is studying novel kinase targets for endometrial cancer as well as TGFβ signaling in the endometrium during early pregnancy. Outside of lab, she enjoys pickleball, pilates and gardening.
Zian Liao, M.B.B.S.
PhD Candidate
Zian is PhD candidate in the Genetics and Genomics Graduate Program at BCM. She received her undergraduate degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University in Clinical Medicine and a Master’s Degree from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and UT Health Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Genetics & Epigenetics. At BCM, Zian is studying the genome wide binding distribution of the SMAD proteins in the uterus to understand early pregnancy development and endometrial cancer. She enjoys exploring the diverse food scene around Houston.
Anna Catherine Unser, B.S.
PhD Student
Anna Catherine is a PhD student in the Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics (DDMT) program at BCM. She graduated with her B.S in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University in May of 2023. In 2024 she joined the Monsivais lab where she studies endometrial stem cells and the molecular mechanisms that contribute to endometrial regeneration. Outside of the lab, Anna Catherine enjoys reading and baking.
Dominique Cope, B.S.
Medical Student
Dominique obtained her undergraduate degree in Integrative Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. She is currently a medical student at BCM and conducts research studies related endometriosis and pregnancy loss projects in the lab. Outside of the lab, Dominique enjoys baking and even won an Irish baking competition!
Genesis Herrera, PhD
T32 Postdoctoral Fellow
Genesis holds a Bachelor of Science in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA and a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Houston. Her research has spanned diverse areas, including the application of Zein nanoparticles on small intestine epithelial cells, the creation of 3D intestinal epithelial systems for studying infections, and exploring the role of nanomaterials and antibiotics in microbial resistance. In 2024, Genesis joined BCM as a postdoctoral fellow in the Monsivais Lab, where she is expanding on her previous expertise to develop 3D endometrial models from menstrual-effluent derived cells. Beyond her professional pursuits, Genesis enjoys baking and creating gemstone art canvases.
Rupak Thapa, PhD
T32 Postdoctoral Fellow
Rupak received his PhD from Southern Illinois University where he conducted studies that identified transcription factor and non-coding RNA control of endometrial decidualization with Dr. Brent Bany. In the Monsivais Lab, Rupak is using mouse models and primary human endometrial stromal cells to uncover the mechanisms that control oxidative stress during implantation, decidualization and are relevant to early pregnancy loss. Rupak enjoys spending time with his family, traveling to different places and learning about different places and their cultures.
Monsivais Lab 