Our Members
Jing Fu, PhD
- Research Scientist
Dr. Jing Fu graduated with a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Peking University in China in 2006. Her work as a doctoral candidate focused on the role of p38 MAPK pathway in inflammation. After receiving her doctorate, Dr. Fu joined the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology as an Instructor. In 2007, she joined the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute as a postdoctoral researcher where her research focused on NF-kappaB signaling in cancer.
In 2011 Dr. Fu joined Dr. Lentzsch’s Laboratory as an Associate Research Scientist, and was then promoted to Research Scientist in 2018. She is currently investigating the role of MMP-13 in multiple myeloma-induced osteoclast activation and bone lesion. Furthermore, Dr. Fu is very interested in plasma cell associated AL Amyloidosis and exploring to enhance the activity of the fibril-reactive antibody 11-1F4 to improve its AL amyloid resolution efficiency and to develop this antibody as an imaging tool for patients with AL Amyloidosis.
Guifen “Judy” Liu
- Technician & Lab manager
Judy graduated with a Master's degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Shanghai University in China in 2018. In 2022, she joined the Columbia University Medical Center as a technician and lab manager who supports the lab research program and is responsible for lab orders.
![Judy Liu]()
Josefine Krüger
- Postdoc Research Fellow
Dr. Josefine Krueger graduated as MD from Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Germany, where she also started her residency in Internal Medicine in the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology. In her doctoral thesis she evaluated a new personalized medicine approach by using in vitro drug testing for patients with multiple myeloma. In 2023 she joined Dr. Lentsch’s laboratory as Postdoctoral Research Fellow. In her research she is investigating RAS mutated myeloma with focus on the MAPK GCK (Germinal Center Kinase) as a therapeutical target.
Michael Hughes
- Postdoc Clinical Fellow
Dr. Michael Sang Hughes received his A.B. in Classics magna cum laude from Harvard College. He matriculated to Harvard Medical School, where he received his MD cum laude. He subsequently completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. He is a current clinical fellow in Hematology-Oncology at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and he joined the Lentzsch Laboratory in 2023.
Dr. Hughes' prior research explored the interplay between cancers and the host immune system. As an undergraduate medical student, he worked with Dr. Kerry Reynolds and Michael Dougan to characterize immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced gastroenterocolitis. As a Johns Hopkins Physician Scientist Training Pathway scholar during his residency, Dr. Hughes worked with Dr. Ephraim Fuchs to investigate long-term outcomes of patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas who undergo haploidentical blood and marrow transplantation.
Dr. Hughes' current research focuses on novel anti-AL amyloidosis fibril strategies as well as survival outcomes in multiple myeloma populations. He was selected for the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award.
Michael Bayani
- Program Manager
Michael Bayani joined the team in 2022 and functions as the Program Manager of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Program at Columbia University Medical Center.
Michael provides administrative support and is responsible for lab orders as well as assisting in hiring new laboratory team members.
