IMSIS Americas Summer Workshop 2026

Dr. Lau is internationally recognized in field of single-cell systems biology. His research focuses on gut biology, specifically the molecular events that occur at the intersection of mucosal damage, inflammation, and tumor initiation. His laboratory applies systems biology approaches to investigating interactions between cells and their microenvironment in modulating cellular identity, development, and the origins of cancer. Serving as co-chair of the NCI Human Tumor Atlas Network, he has led efforts to map human cancers at single-cell resolution, setting new standards for integrative cancer research. He is currently a full professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University, and the director of the Center for Computational Systems Biology.

Peggi Angel is tenured Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina and Co-Director of Mass Spectrometry Imaging. Dr. Angel’s work focuses on the contribution of spatial chemical biology to the external, endogenous environmental and mechanical forces in disease risk, progression, and therapeutic resistance. She has developed multiple mass spectrometry imaging approaches to spatial biology designed for use on clinically archived human specimens of tissues, cells and fluids. Notably, she pioneered a spatial method targeting the collagen proteome and other extracellular matrix glycoproteins from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues, integrative with other spatial modalities. She has further developed this approach as a way to target the extracellular matrix in cell culture and in biofluids. Dr. Angel has over 14 years cumulative experience in 5 biotech startups including Glycopath, Inc., a company that leveraged glycosylation patterns as a prognostic or diagnostic tool; she currently serves on the board of N-Zyme Scientifics, a company that produces enzymes for targeted mass spectrometry imaging. Dr. Angel is committed to creating a collaborative mass spectrometry imaging community and serves as Past President for the Americas Region of the International Mass Spectrometry Imaging Society, as Scientific Advisor for the US Human Proteome Organization, and as scientific advisor for Mass Spectrometry & Advances in the Clinical Lab. Dr. Angel is devoted to coaching and mentoring serving on multiple committees to advise and mentor young scientists in entrepreneurship within multidisciplinary teams.