2026
Bergmeier lab research video published on UNC Health YouTube
Bergmeier Lab well represented at the 2026 Gordon Research Conference (Seminar) on “Integrative Mechanisms of Hemostasis in Health and Disease”. Drs. Bergmeier, Lee and Martianov attended/presented their work.
Alexey Martianov and David Paul present their work at the International Society for Hemostasis and Thrombosis 2026 Congress in Paris, France
Matthew Vander Ploeg defends his doctoral dissertation to earn his PhD.
He will return to Medical School at UNC to complete his MD training. Congrats Dr. Vander Ploeg!
Matt’s image of a “Migrating human platelet releasing vesicles” is featured on cover of the July 2026 issue of Blood Advances!
David Rocco defends his doctoral dissertation to earn his PhD.
He has accepted a postdoctoral position at Duke University. Congrats Dr. Rocco!
The Bergmeier Lab welcomes our new postdoc Jan Zlamal! Jan is a physician scientist from Austria/Germany. He was awarded a Walter Benjamin Research Fellowship from the German Research Foundation to do his work here at UNC!
Bergmeier Lab Attends the 12th Symposium on Hemostasis in Chapel Hill
Zena Khaled Joins the Bergmeier Lab to Earn her PhD!
Welcome Zena!!!
Bergmeier proposal receives NIH/NHLBI R35 Outstanding Investigator Award!!!
The award is intended to “promote scientific productivity and innovation by providing long-term support and increased flexibility to experienced Principal Investigators … whose outstanding record of research demonstrate their ability to make major contributions to the heart, lung, blood and sleep (HLBS) research.”
2025
Aleksei Martianov PhD, receives the ASH Richard T. Silver, MD Abstract Achievement Award
Matt Awarded an NIH F30 for his project: “The role of the small GTPase Rap1 and environmental cues in the regulation of adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics in migrating platelets”. Congrats Matt!!!
Alexey is awarded a 2025 Staff Excellence Award at the BCBP Holiday Party!
Drs. Lee and Bergmeier contributed to an eBook on Platelet Physiology
Bergmeier Lab attends the International Society for Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH) 2025 Congress in Washington DC
Bergmeier lab recently collaborated with colleagues at Harvard Medical School
The Bergmeier lab recently collaborated with colleagues at Harvard Medical School on a significant study titled “Coagulation factor XII haploinsufficiency is protective against venous thromboembolism in a population-scale multidimensional analysis“.
Bergmeier Lab Reports Surprising Findings on Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Bleeding
2024
Dr. Robert Lee won Best Oral Presentation Award
at the 19th International Symposium on Blood Substitutes for his talk entitled “Interpretation of platelet signaling defects in Thromboelastography”
Congrats Bobby!
Wolfgang Bergmeier awarded R01 Grant
This new R01 is focused on the role of fibrinogen in thrombosis and is a collaborative grant with Drs. Matthew Flick and Rafal Pawlinski.
Abby defends her doctoral dissertation to earn her PhD.
She has accepted a Post-Doctoral position at Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation to begin 2025. Congrats Dr. Abigail Ballard-Kordeliski!
The Bergmeier Lab attends the 19th MidWest Platelet Conference in Lexington, Kentucky
Abigail (Abby) Ballard-Kordelisk’s publication is selected for the cover of September 5th Issue of Blood!
The Bergmeier Lab attends the 11th Symposium on Hemostasis at the Carolina Inn in Chapel Hill.
Nikola Ziegmann and Federico Boggio join the lab as international scholars from Germany and Italy, respectively.
2023
The Bergmeier Lab attends the 2023 Biochemistry and Biophysics Retreat in Durham, NC. David Rocco presents a poster of his work and Abigail Ballard Kordeliski is invited to present a talk showcasing her work.
The Bergmeier lab said Farewell to two of our post-doctoral research associates, Jean Marie Mwiza and Nazli Deger. Good luck in your future scientific endeavors!
Nazli and Jean Marie
Dr. Jean Marie Mwiza accepts a teaching position at Durham Tech and NC A&T. Congratulations Jean Marie!
Jean Marie
Aleksei Martianov joins the lab as a postdoctoral research associate. Alexey earned his PhD in Biophysics from Emanuel Institute of Biochemical Physics in Moscow and will study platelet intracellular signaling. Welcome Alexey!
Alexey
Dr. Jean Marie Mwiza presented at this year’s ISTH in Montreal, Canada in June.
Abby presents on megakaryocytes at the GCR in Lucca, Italy in March
Abby is awarded an F31 grant. Congrats Abby!
Abby
2022
Jean Marie Mwiza defends his doctoral dissertation to earn his PhD. He has joined the lab as a postdoctoral research associate. Congrats Dr. Jean Marie Mwiza!
The Bergmeier Lab attends the 2022 Biochemistry and Biophysics Retreat in Durham, NC. Abby, Nazli, and David present posters of their work!
The Bergmeier Lab
Matthew Vander-Ploeg joined the lab as a PhD-MD student. He graduated with a BS in Physiology from Michigan State University. Welcome Matthew!
Matthew
David Rocco is awarded an NIH Training Grant (T32) from the Integrative Vascular Biology Program. Congrats David!
David
The Bergmeier lab is happy to welcome their newest member, Research Technician, Summer Jones! Summer graduated from UNC in 2022 with a BS in Neuroscience and Biology with a minor in Chemistry. Welcome Summer!
Summer
Jean Marie has cover art selected for the May 26th Issue of Blood!
Congratulations to Gracie Clark and Wyatt Schugg! Gracie and Wyatt will join graduate school in fall 2022 at UNC and UVA, respectively. Good luck on your future scientific endeavours!
 Gracie |
 Wyatt |
Gracie Clark wins Best Poster Award at 10th Symposium on Hemostasis: Coagulation, Platelets and Transfusion Medicine! Congrats Gracie!
Abby, Gracie, Wyatt, Jean Marie and Bobby present their work at the 10th Symposium on Hemostasis.
Nazli Deger joins the Bergmeier lab as Postdoctoral Research Associate. Nazli earned her PhD at UNC in 2022 in Biochemistry and Biophysics and will work on elucidating the signaling mechanisms in megakaryocytes. Welcome Nazli!
Nazli
2021
Bobby Lee, David Paul, Jean Marie and Abigail Ballard present their work at the XXVIII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Philadelphia, USA.
Bobby Lee’s work on the “Loss of the Rap-GAP, Rasa3 Leads to Severe Thrombocytopenia Primarily due to αIIbβ3 Integrin-dependent Platelet Clearance in the Spleen” is highlighted at ISTH.
Members of Bergmeier lab help establish the UNC Biochemistry and Biophysics Environmental Task Force to spearhead the “Green Labs Initiative”. Way to go!
Wolfgang Bergmeier, Dalia Fleifel, Abigail Ballard, Holly Shepherd
David Paul receives 2020 Biochemistry and Biophysics Staff Excellence Award.
David Rocco joins the Bergmeier Lab to earn his PhD! Welcome David!
David
The Bergmeier Lab welcomes Gracie Clark and Wyatt Schugg! Gracie and Wyatt graduated from UNC in 2021 and will pursue their interest in research as Research Technicians.
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Gracie |
Wyatt |
2020
Congrats to Jean Marie for earning a Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Fellowship for his project, “Determining the Platelet Signaling Pathway(s) Critical in Venous Thrombosis Pathogenesis”.
The Bergmeier Lab is seeking a new Postdoctoral Fellow! Click Here!
Bobby Lee wins the 2020 Kenneth M. Brinkhous Early Career Investigator Prize in Thrombosis.
Maximilian Bazil graduates with Highest Honors for his work (with Bobby Lee) on understanding the mechanisms of antibody-mediated thombocytopenia.
Abigail Ballard joins the Bergmeier Lab to earn her PhD! Welcome Abby!
Abby
Bergmeier and Campbell labs collaborative research makes cover of JTH.
Jean Marie Mwiza receives a prestigious Predoctoral Fellowship From American Heart Association (AHA)
Wolfgang Bergmeier is named Director of Graduate Studies for Biochemistry and Biophysics.
Wolfgang Bergmeier completes training to be a “Certified Mentor”
American Society of Hematology Selects Robert H Lee to Receive 2020 Scholar Award (2020-2022)
2019
Dorsaf Ghalloussi wins “Best Postdoc Talk” at 2019 Biochemistry and Biophysics Department Retreat.
Wolfgang Bergmeier is promoted to full professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics.
Bobby Lee and Dorsaf Ghalloussi Awarded an Early Career Travel Grant, XXVII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Melbourne, Australia.
Jean Marie Mwiza presents his work at the 2019 Mid-West Platelet, Oklahoma City, OK.
Gabe Harousseau, graduates with Highest Honors for his work (with Dorsaf Ghalloussi) establishing a protocol for intravital imaging of megakaryocytes in bone marrow.
Jean Marie Mwiza is awarded a predoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association.
Bobby Lee awarded top poster presentation at Gordon Research Conference on the Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets, Galveston, TX.
Dorsaf Ghalloussi awarded “Best Ranked Abstract” at 2019 Gordon Research Conference on the Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets, Galveston, TX.
Wolfgang Bergmeier chairs Gordon Research Conference on the Cell Biology of Megakaryocytes and Platelets, Galveston TX.
Bergmeier Lab relocates to newly renovated Mary Ellen Jones Building
Wolfgang Bergmeier, Bobby Lee and Lucia Stefanini contribute a book chapter, “Platelets, fourth edition“.
Wolfgang Bergmeier awarded NHLBI Outstanding Investigator Award (R35)
2018
Dorsaf Ghalloussi wins “Best Poster” at the 9th Symposium on Hemostasis: Advances in the Clinical and Basic Sciences of Coagulation.
Jean Marie Mwiza is awarded an NIH Training Grant (T32) from the Integrative Vascular Biology Program.
Jean Marie Mwiza joins the Bergmeier Lab to earn his PhD. Welcome Jean Marie!
Adarsh Rao graduates with Honors for his work (with David Paul) in developing a flow cytometry test with the potential for identifying patients with an elevated risk of thrombosis.
2017
Aaron Cook, under the direction of John Sondek and Wolfgang Bergmeier, successfully defends his dissertation entitled, “Calcium-Induced Activation of Calcium and Diacylglycerol-Regulated Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor (CalDAG-GEFI)”
Bergmeier Lab has cover art selected for August issue of “Blood Advances”.
Bobby Lee and Dorsaf Ghalloussi are awarded Young Investigator Awards from the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis at Berlin, Germany.
Wolfgang Bergmeier becomes Associate Editor for “Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis”
Bobby Lee presents his work, “Mechanisms of Thrombocytopenia in Mice Lacking the Rap1 GAP Rasa3”, at the Biochemistry and Biophysics Department Seminar Series.
Wolfgang Bergmeier, Bobby Lee and Lucia Stefanini contribute a book chapter, “GTPases”, to “Platelets in Thrombotic and Non-Thrombotic Disorders”.
2016
Wolfgang Bergmeier joins Editorial Board of “Blood Advances”.
Katie Poe earns the 2016 Biochemistry and Biophysics “Star Heel” Award for her outstanding contributions to UNC.
Bobby Lee is granted a T32 post-doctoral Trainee Fellowship in Hematology at UNC.
2015
Aaron Cook co-establishes the Academic Research-Intensive Career Association (ARIC) which works through the Training Initiatives in Biomedical and Biological Sciences (TIBBS) at UNC. https://www.facebook.com/Academic-Research-Intensive-Career-Association-1026093474146309/
David Paul and Raymond Piatt win travel awards to the 2016 Thrombosis and Hemostasis Symposium of North America at Chicago IL.
Raymond Piatt is awarded “Best Poster” at 8th Symposium on Hemostasis at Chapel Hill.
Caterina Casari and Raymond Piatt are awarded Young Investigator Awards from the International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis at Toronto, Canada.
2014
Wolfgang Bergmeier becomes Associate Professor with Tenure in Biochemistry and Biophysics
Yacine Boulaftali finalist for the Kenneth M. Brinkhous Prize in Thrombosis of the American Heart Association
Yacine Boulaftali receives UNC Postdoctoral Award for Research Excellence
Wolfgang Bergmeier becomes Principal Editor for the journal “Platelets”
Caterina Casari receives 3-year fellowship from the European Hematology Association for studies on platelet clearance and function in Von Willebrands Disease type 2B
Caterina Casari receives Travel Award to visit the Thrombosis and Hemostasis Summit of North America (THSNA) in Chicago, IL.
2013
Yacine Boulaftali receives Sabin Travel Award from the McAllister Heart Institute to visit the XXIV Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Lucia Stefanini and Yacine Boulaftali receive Junior Investigator Travel Awards to visit the XXIV Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Wolfgang Bergmeier receives funding from the North Carolina Biotechnology Center to lead a team of UNC investigators to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying the CalDAG-GEFI/Rap1 signaling module
Wolfgang Bergmeier becomes Associate Editor for Thrombosis Research
2012
Firdos Ahmad receives Mannucci Award for best articles published in 2011 by the Journal of Thrombosis and Hemostasis
Lucia Stefanini promoted to Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at UNC Chapel Hill
Yacine Boulaftali receives ATVB 2012 Travel Award for Young Investigators for his abstract “Immunoreceptor Tyrosine Activation Motif Signaling in Platelets is Critical for the Maintenance of Vascular Integrity During Inflammation” (ranked in the top 10 percent of accepted abstracts)
Todd Getz awarded postdoctoral fellowship on T32 training grant in hematology
Lucia Stefanini receives URC Research Award from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Yacine Boulaftali awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association to investigate the role of CalDAG-GEFI in atherosclerotic plaque development and atherothrombosis
Lucia Stefanini awarded EHA-ISTH Joint Fellowship for studies on the fine tuning of Rap1 signaling in platelets
Brandi Reeves awarded postdoctoral fellowship on T32 training grant in hematology
2011
Bergmeier lab moves from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia to UNC, Chapel Hill
Lucia Stefanini, Moritz Solla, and Firdos Ahmad receive U.S. New Investigator Travel Awards to visit the XXIII Congress of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis in Kyoto, Japan
Moritz Stolla awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the American Heart Association to investigate the role of CalDAG-GEFI in venous thrombosis
Yacine Boulaftali awarded a postdoctoral fellowship from the French Foundation for Medical Research to investigate the role of CalDAG-GEFI in atherosclerotic plaque development and atherothrombosis
Wolfgang Bergmeier receives NIH funding to lead a team of investigators to develop novel strategies for the prevention of FcgammaRIIA-mediated platelet activation and thrombosis
Wolfgang Bergmeier receives research support from Bayer Schering Pharma AG to investigate CalDAG-GEFI as a target for the next generation of anti-platelet drugs
Wolfgang Bergmeier joins Editorial Board of the journal “Thrombosis Research”
2010
Lucia Stefanini receives award for best poster presentation at the Postdoctoral Research Symposium, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Moritz Stolla and Firdos Ahmad receive travel awards from the American Society of Hematology to visit the 52nd annual meeting in Orlando, Florida; Moritz Stolla serves as co-chair of the special interest session on “Platelet Activation”
Wolfgang Bergmeier awarded Innovative Research Grant from the American Heart Association to identify novel modifiers of platelet activation
2009
Lucia Stefanini receives award for best oral presentation at the Postdoctoral Research Symposium, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Lucia Stefanini receives award for best poster presentation at the 51st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology in New Orleans, LA
Lucia Stefanini receives travel awards from Thomas Jefferson University and the American Society of Hematology to visit the 51st annual meeting in New Orleans, LA
Wolfgang Bergmeier awarded the Kenneth M. Brinkhous Prize in Thrombosis of the American Heart Association
Wolfgang Bergmeier receives Scholar Award for Junior Faculty in Basic Science from the American Society of Hematology
