Meet Our Team
Alexander G. Raufi, Principal Investigator
Alexander G. Raufi, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. As a hematologist/oncologist at the Lifespan Cancer Institute at The Miriam, Rhode Island, and Newport Hospitals, he specializes in Gastrointestinal Oncology. He is also the Director of the Gastrointestinal Clinical Trials Program at Lifespan Cancer Institute. Dr. Raufi received his medical degree from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at the University of California, Irvine in Orange, California, and his fellowship training in hematology/oncology at Columbia University/New York-Presbyterian in New York, New York.
Dr. Raufi conducts both laboratory and clinical research at Brown University’s Legorreta Cancer Center and Lifespan Cancer Institute. His research interests include the development of novel immunotherapy combinations in gastrointestinal malignancies and preventive strategies for gastrointestinal cancers. He is a recipient of a 2019 Young Investigator Award from the Conquer Cancer Foundation/American Society of Clinical Oncology. Dr. Raufi is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Association for Cancer Research.
Current Lab Members
Archana Saxena
Dr. Archana Saxena has joined the research team at Brown University as an Instructor (Research). She earned her Ph.D. in Immunology from Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. During her doctorate, she explored innovative treatments for inflammatory diseases, particularly emphasizing the therapeutic potential of plant-derived bio-actives. She worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Medicine at the University of South Carolina (UofSC). Her research focused on the therapeutic effects of Indole-3-Carbinol in treating colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer. Dr. Saxena has been acknowledged for her impactful work with the 2022 AAI Careers in Immunology Postdoctoral Fellowship and the 2022 UofSC ASPIRE award. At Brown University, Dr. Saxena is broadening her research to include pioneering studies on biliary tract cancer (BTC) therapies. Dr. Saxena leads her field in utilizing humanized patient-derived xenograft mouse models and exploring new immune checkpoint inhibitor combinations, showcasing cutting-edge cancer-fighting strategies through advanced techniques to discover novel therapeutic methods.
Alexis Lannigan
Lexi Lannigan is a Laboratory Technician at the Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University. She previously studied at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, receiving both her B.S. in bioengineering and M.S. in biomedical engineering & biotechnology. She previously worked as a medical assistant at the Southcoast Cancer Center, where she learned she had a passion for research & development. She is currently interested in using organoid models to study chemoprevention and treatment of GI malignancies. In her free time, Lexi enjoys training for Spartan Races and spending time with her pet bunny.
Ruwan Parakrama
Ruwan Parakrama is a postdoctoral research fellow in the Raufi lab. He received his MD degree from New York Medical College in 2020 and completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Hofstra University/Northwell Health in Long Island, New York. He also holds MS degrees in Biochemistry (The University of Tennessee) and Regulatory Affairs (Northeastern University). Prior to medical school, he worked at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, where he helped launch Praluent (alirocumab), an anti-PCSK9 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of high cholesterol.
Grace Sun
Grace Sun is a California native who's lived in Rhode Island for over a decade. She is currently a resident physician in the Brown University Internal Medicine Program. With a longtime passion for all things related to oncology, Grace is thrilled to be a member of Dr. Raufi's lab where she studies novel therapies for cholangiocarcinoma. Outside of work, Grace enjoys bouldering, going to museums, and the many restaurants that Providence has to offer.
Jasper Chan
Jasper Chan is a Junior ('25) at Brown University, majoring in Health & Human Biology and pursuing a premedical track. On campus, he serves as the Treasurer of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. He has previously done clinical research at the City of Hope Cancer Center, presenting his data at the European Association of Palliative Care. He has also studied abroad in Israel, learning about HIV in diverse settings. His current research project focuses on evaluating the effects of the imipridone, ONC212, in the KPCy pancreatic cancer mouse model. In his free time, Jasper enjoys doing pilates, watching action movies, listening to EDM, and spending time at the beach.
Francesca Rothell
Francesca Rothell is a Clinical Research Assistant for the Lifespan Oncology Research Department at the Lifespan Cancer Institute. Her primary focus is on women’s studies including clinical trials in breast and gynecological cancers. She received her Master’s in Medical Sciences from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and performed graduate research on health literacy and chronic disease management. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Medical Anthropology and Dance Studies from Swarthmore College where she conducted research on telemedicine and reproductive health care.
Robert Edwards
Robert Edwards IV is the Clinical Research Associate for the Lifespan Oncology Research Department Phase I Team at the Lifespan Cancer Institute. After playing Division I baseball at St. Bonaventure University, Robert graduated with a bachelor's degree of science in biology. Robert made the move from Buffalo, NY to Providence, RI where he has been with Lifespan since September 2022 in various roles at both The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital. Outside of his duty as a research associate, Robert has conducted chart reviews surrounding glioblastoma patients and analyses of Rhode Island's clinical trial participant population. Robert hopes to apply to medical school and pursue a career as a research-focused oncologist.
Naveena Sunkara
Naveena Sunkara, MD is a third year internal medicine resident at Brown University. She attended New York Medical College for medical school and graduated with honors with a degree in Neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley. She is planning to continue her training with a focus in Gastroenterology. Within GI she’s interested in the molecular and epidemiological study of GI malignancies.
