Kathleen M. Caron, Ph.D. is the Frederick L. Eldridge Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology in the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—one of the nation’s largest, interdisciplinary physiology departments, consistently ranked in the Top 10 in NIH funding. Prior to her role as Department Chair, Dr. Caron served as Assistant Dean for Research in the School of Medicine. Dr. Caron graduated from Emory University with a BS in Biology and a BA in Philosophy. For her graduate work, she trained with Dr. Keith L. Parker in the Department of Cell Biology at Duke University where she elucidated the role of steroidogenesis in regulating sexual determination and adrenal and gonadal development using genetic mouse models. To gain more experience in gene targeting approaches, Dr. Caron pursued her postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Dr. Oliver Smithies at UNC-CH, where she was the first to discover the essential role of adrenomedullin peptide for embryonic survival. Her laboratory currently uses sophisticated gene targeting approaches to model human disease in mice. With a special emphasis on vascular biology and G protein-coupled receptors, the Caron laboratory has gained valuable insights into the genetic basis and pathophysiology of lymphatic vascular disease, preeclampsia and sex-dependent cardiovascular disease. Dr. Caron has received numerous awards including a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Award in the Biomedical Sciences, an Established Investigator Award and an Innovator Award from the American Heart Association, a Jefferson Pilot Award in Biomedical Sciences and a UNC-CH Mentoring Award. She consistently serves in multiple scientific advisory roles for academia, scientific journals, industry, foundations, and the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Caron is an accomplished teacher and mentor, having served as an advisor to over 50 graduate, post-graduate and clinical trainees. She is highly regarded for her impassioned drive for excellence and approach to individualized mentoring and career advising, as recognized by her participation in numerous symposia and articles related to professional development. Dr. Caron is married to Michael Datto, MD/PhD, Director of Clinical Laboratories for Duke Health Care System. They enjoy spending quality family time with their two children, Nicholas and Sophia.
Liz Douglas earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC. She spent nine years at Wake Forest University School of Medicine working as a laboratory technician in several research labs, most notably in the lab of Dr. Timothy Peters in Pediatric Infectious Diseases. There, she focused on studying the transmission and behavior of the Influenza virus and other respiratory pathogens in human populations. In August 2015, Liz joined Dr. Kathleen Caron’s lab as Laboratory Manager, where she has played a key role in a diverse array of research projects. Her contributions include studies on cardiac lymphatic remodeling during pregnancy, the effects of e-cigarette exposure on embryonic development and placental function, and the therapeutic potential of GPCRs in migraine treatment. In 2024, she founded the Lab Staff Peer Group within the Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, fostering mentorship and community among lab staff across the department. That same year, she was honored with the Dean’s Performance Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions. Outside the lab, Liz enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and quilting.
Natalie Torres-Valle graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology in 2024. During her undergraduate years, Natalie worked in the Caron Lab as an Undergraduate Research Assistant, focusing on learning the mechanics of genotyping and DNA isolation. Natalie began working as a Lab Technician in the summer of 2024 where she is interested in studying the role of receptors in lymphatics and cardiovascular health as well as solidifying a career path in biological research. Outside of the lab, Natalie enjoys crochet, baking, and reading.
Bin Ye earned her medicine degree in China, where she worked as an oncologist and clinical scientist focusing on innovative approaches to cancer prevention and treatment. Her clinical work sparked a strong interest in cancer biology, leading her to conduct research on molecular mechanisms of cell death and drug resistance. She joined the Caron Lab in the winter of 2024 and is interested in exploring the genetic and signaling pathways that regulate lymphatic physiology, such as identifying pharmacologically targetable lymphatic GPCRs. Her long-term goal is to focus on translational research that bridges basic science and clinical applications. Outside the lab, Bin enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and cooking.
László Bálint received his PhD from Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary under the supervision of Zoltán Jakus. His focus was on characterizing the mechanisms that regulate the developmental program of the meningeal lymphatic vessels. He joined the Caron lab in the summer of 2021 and is interested in exploring the structural and functional heterogeneity of the lymphatic system and broadening our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms determining organ-specific lymphatic function. When he is not in the lab, he enjoys discovering nature while cycling and hiking.
Yanna Tian received her Ph.D. in Physiology at Augusta University under the supervision of Dr. Zsolt Bagi. Her research focused on elucidating novel mechanisms of impaired wall shear stress-induced vasodilation of small resistant arteries in aging. Before her Ph.D. training, she received master’s degree in Preventative Veterinary Medicine at Yangzhou University, China. She is a certificated Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in China. Then she worked as a research assistant in the Center for Biotechnology & Genomic Medicine, Augusta University. She joined the Caron lab in the summer of 2022. She is interested in studying the mechanisms of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the lymphatic vascular system and the role of lymphatic vessel in different organs under disease conditions. While not in the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, she also enjoys running and hiking.
Monserrat Avila-Zozaya (aka Monse) earned her Ph.D. in cell biology from the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico in 2022. During her studies, she investigated the cellular mechanisms of the adhesion GPCR latrohilin 3. In 2023, Monse worked as a postdoctoral fellow researcher at Boston University, where she studied the role of regulators of G proteins in the brain in the context of pain. She joined the Caron lab as a postdoctoral fellow in 2024, where she is interested in identifying GPCRs relevant to the lymphatic system. Outside of the lab, Monse enjoys exploring the nature of North Carolina through biking and hiking.
Poonam Kumari earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, India, in 2023, where her doctoral research focused on the role of G protein-biased kappa opioid receptor agonists in alleviating neuropathic pain. In the same year, she joined Duke University as a postdoctoral associate, advancing her studies on signaling bias at the glucagon receptor (GCGR) and its regulation through ubiquitination, with the goal of improving therapeutic options for Type 2 diabetes. In the fall of 2024, Poonam joined the Caron Lab as a postdoctoral associate, where her research centers on GPCR pharmacology and signaling in lymphatic vascular biology, with an emphasis on uncovering translational insights for disease treatment. Outside the lab, Poonam enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.
Stephen Serafin received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2025. His predoctoral research focused on using proteomic-based approaches to identify key regulators of lymphatic signaling pathways, coupled with a variety of in vitro techniques to assess their cellular and functional roles. As a postdoctoral research associate, his training will center on translating these cellular insights into system-level physiological outcomes to improve health and disease. His overarching goal is to identify molecular targets in vitro, validate their physiological relevance, and ultimately leverage these findings to advance human health. When he is not in the laboratory, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Hannah completed her B.S. at the College of William & Mary in 2020. She completed her PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Emory University, where she worked in Dr. Adam Gracz’s lab to study intrahepatic bile duct (IHBD) development. Her doctoral research identified the transcription factor Sox9 as promoting developmental branching morphogenesis of IHBDs and established distinct developmental programs regulating the formation of small and large IHBDs. Now a postdoctoral fellow in Caron Lab, Hannah investigates how the intestinal neurolymphocrine unit influences inflammatory signaling along the gut–brain axis, combining her interest in tissue interactions with her expertise in 3D imaging. Outside the lab, she enjoys outdoor adventures, baking, animals, and living a life of wonder.
Kelly Orgel received her M.D./Ph.D. in Cell Biology and Physiology at The University of North Carolina – Chapel under the supervision of Dr. Wesley Burks. Her Ph.D. research focused on creating a novel, more physiologically relevant mouse model of peanut allergies using the Collaborative Cross, as well as studying the immunologic changes during peanut allergen immunotherapy. After her M.D./Ph.D., she completed her Pediatrics Residency at UNC. She is currently completing her the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship at UNC. (She is a lifetime Tar Heel!) Kelly joined the Caron lab in the summer of 2025. She is interested in studying the development of the lymphatic system in the neonatal intestine and how different environmental exposures and stresses may contribute to its function. While not in the lab, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young children, exploring restaurants in the Triangle, and going to the beach.
Anna Beeson earned her MS in Biology in Dr. John Meitzen’s lab at North Carolina State University (NCSU) investigating the dynamics of medium spiny neuron dendritic spines across the rat estrous cycle. She previously completed her BS in Animal Science and BA in Art Studies: Music at NCSU during which time she studied the role of ovarian structures in successful beef cattle reproduction. When she is not in the lab Anna enjoys spending time with her family, running, and painting.
Madison Kalk graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry at Wake Forest University in 2020. Her undergraduate research focused on developing chemical tools to study and leverage the cytoprotective properties of hydrogen sulfide in vitro. In 2021, she received her Master’s in Pharmacology at Georgetown University. After graduating, Madison worked as an Associate Scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb, gaining experience in sterile product formulation development and conducting in vivo noncompartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of both oral and parenteral assets. In Fall 2023, Madison returned to academia to pursue her Ph.D. in Pharmacology. By Spring 2024, she joined the Caron Lab, where she is currently studying the interactome of Receptor Activity Modifying Proteins (RAMPs) and G-Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs) in various cell types. Outside of the lab, Madison enjoys fitness classes and going to the beach.
Mariana Quiñonez graduated in Spring 2025 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a major in Kinesiology and minors in Nutrition and Chemistry. Her research experience includes studying concussions in youth sports, where she analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study to explore neurodevelopment and brain health outcomes. She is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Cell Biology and Physiology at UNC and joined Dr. Caron Lan’s lab to gain her first hands-on experience in a wet lab, which she finds extremely exciting. Outside of academics, Mariana enjoys visiting new parks to walk her dog and go for runs.