Biological Science

USCIS approved a petition for a Resident Physician working in the field of transplant of pancreatic islets for the cure of diabetes. The beneficiary concluded an important study reporting the largest single center experience in the world of combined liver and intestine transplant in children from living donors.

The NIW petition recognized his scientific interest in the isolated and combined transplant of intestine and liver from living donors to pediatric patients.

Biotechnology used to determine three-dimensional (3D) structures of proteins that are important in designing drugs against infections caused by the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate studying in the field of biotechnology in the specific area of crystallographic determination of protein structure.

The NIW petition recognized the researcher’s role in her national research effort geared towards developing drugs to minimize secondary infections caused by bacterial pathogens and towards understanding the misfolding and degradation of cell proteins in order to create viable solutions to human diseases such as mad cow disease and Alzheimer’s.

This outstanding researcher has had significant impact on understanding the evolutionary origin of infectious diseases such as HIV as endogenous retroviruses are closely related to exogenous retroviruses of which HIV is included. The research explores the relationship between repetitive DNA elements and nucleosome binding and its impact on human gene expression.

This scientist is an expert in genetic and epigenetic analysis of next generation sequencing data which has revolutionized the scientific arena and is likely to become the mainstay of scientific analyses in the future. The importance of this research is that it is having a significant impact on understanding the evolutionary origin of infectious diseases. The beneficiary’s I-140 petition was approved in 144 days.

This research scientist works in the field of immunology as it relates to asthma and cancer research. The scientist has been involved in the Tumor Microenvironment Network project, the goal of this project is to combine the efforts of leading US cancer research laboratories to enable a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cancer and to expedite the finding of effective cancer therapeutics.

Recently, this researcher found that lung tumors often induce remote production of immune cells that travel to tumors and promote tumor growth, so is currently investigating the mechanisms by which the mobilization and recruitment of these cells is controlled. The beneficiary’s I-140 petition was approved in 58 days.

USCIS approved a National Interest Waiver petition for a postdoctoral research associate working in the field of neuroscience for the contribution of contributed groundbreaking, innovative research in the specialty area of neural dopamine signaling. The work has had a significant impact in the analytical field of neurotransmitter function.

The NIW petition recognized petitioner’s novel treatment of addiction. His unique expertise in a methodological approach that will revolutionize the way scientists study the brain reward system that is ultimately affected by drug abuse. His work on brain reward processes is very important in terms of the insight it will reveal with regard to new therapeutics in the fight against drug abuse.

USCIS approved a National Interest Waiver petition for a postdoctoral research fellow working in the field of oncology. Petitioner works in the field of oncology, specifically in the area of skin and hematological cancers (blood, bone marrow and lymph node cancers). He is currently focusing his research on important and fundamental questions as they relate to inhibitors and therapeutic targets against these terminal diseases. He played a pivotal role in altering the rules of nuclear mechanisms like transcription by introducing the challenging method of extracting and purifying a nuclear enzyme necessary for in vitro assays. He is one of few researchers in the world with specialized expertise in the assessment methodology of the metastatic potential of a tumor in many forms of cancer.

Petitioner’s research has significantly contributed in the demonstration of the anti-proliferative effects of Schlafen 5 in malignant melanoma cells. He has proven that this human protein coding gene has antimelanoma effects and inhibits cell invasion during metastasis. This work will have profound effects on the treatment of skin cancer patients. In addition, petitioner has shown that leukemia can also be regulated and inhibited by this novel family of proteins. His findings reveal the same mechanism is able to prevent the proliferation of leukemic cells by causing cell death, offering the potential of permanent remission. The implications of petitioner’s research are enormous since these types of malignancies are aggressive in nature and in most cases resistant to chemotherapy. His research could significantly contribute to a reduction in number of deaths due to cancer.

USCIS approved a National Interest Waiver petition for a research scientist working in the field of parasitology. For well over a decade, the petitioner has been engaged in research in the area of parasitology, and more specifically, in the area of malaria and the parasite Plasmodium falciparum.

Petitioner is working with partners across the world to find a cure for malaria in a global collaboration among leading institutions in North America, Europe and Asia. Malaria infects about 400 million people worldwide every year, and kills between 1 million and 3 million. Two parasites, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, widely cause the disease, but petitioner has focused on Plasmodium falciparum because it is both deadlier and amenable to culture in the laboratory. The NIW petition articulated that petitioner works in a highly specialized area and that she is one of only a few people in the world that possesses the necessary practical and theoretical knowledge to effectively complete the necessary research in this specialization of parasitology.

The USCIS approved a NIW petition for a research assistant professor working in the field of radiology and interventional radiology. Petitioner works on the study of life-threatening cancers, novel techniques of prevention, and early diagnosis and treatment.

Petitioner is nationally and internationally recognized for his cutting-edge research on borderline ovarian tumors through his incorporation of recent advances in histopathology, molecular biology and cytogenetics, which are producing promising results. This unique group of tumors has the potential of turning into ovarian cancer, but can be less threatening than more deadly forms of ovarian cancer. Other researchers and scientists have had difficulty distinguishing these subtypes of borderline ovarian tumors from invasive cancers. Petitioner’s work has advanced the scientific communities understanding of these borderline tumors. He created a simplified algorithmic approach for management and diagnosis of these tumors which is expected to lead the way toward the facilitation of accurate diagnosis and differentiation from advanced ovarian malignancy benefitting women all over the world, specifically those who desire to preserve fertility.

The petitioner has been engaged in research in the area of immunology, gene therapy, signal transduction, and intravital imaging. Much of the petitioner’s research focuses on the new, emerging field of intravital immuno-imaging. Through Multiphoton Intravital Microscopy, the petitioner studies by direct observation the dynamics of immune cells during the establishment of an immune response. On top of that, by using fusions between signaling molecules and fluorescent proteins, he belongs to the very limited group of researchers able to analyze the functional consequences of interactions between immune cells, in terms of triggering of signaling pathways, in vitro and in vivo.

The petition illustrates that the petitioner’s studies provide much-needed information on the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. As a result of his research, therapies may be developed to specifically repair the underlying genetic alterations of the Wiskott – Aldrich syndrome. His findings regarding HIV spread and long-lasting T cell memory will help to develop new prophylactic, as well as therapeutic, approaches to efficiently combat life threatening infectious diseases.

The USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Research Fellow working for the US Department of Veterans Affairs.

The petition highlighted the petitioner’s work pertaining to scleral inflammatory disease, treatment for birdshot retinochoroidopathy, and peripheral ulcerative keratitis. The petitioner developed the largest database of patients with scleral inflammation and analysis of the collected data, which has provided a guideline for the early diagnosis and treatment of this potentially-blinding ocular disease. The petitioner designed crossover trials to assess the utility of virtual simulators in improving the dexterity of dominant and non-dominant hands in cataract and retina surgery. He also designed a large study to validate the construct of a new indirect ophthalmoscope simulator and to assess if this technology is to be implemented in the training of new eye care professionals in the United States.

USCIS approved a NIW petition for a postdoctoral research associate working in the field of molecular virology, veterinary infectious diseases, and swine immunology. Petitioner’s current research focuses on the inhibitory effects of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) on interferon induction in cell culture and in pigs. PRRSV is a devastating disease that currently costs the U.S. pork industry more than six-hundred million dollars ($600,000,000) annually with a cumulative cost of more than a billion per year when production related costs such as veterinary care and biosecurity measures are also considered. Thus, the focus area of petitioner’s research is of national and international interest to the entire pork industry.

USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in a bioscience lab for a public state research university.

The NIW petition focused on the petitioner’s areas of research, including his development of integrated microfluidic systems for rapid forensic DNA analysis and of numerous medical microdevices to be used in point-of-care testing, including a novel new sample-to-answer immunoassay plastic lab-on-a-chip for point-of-care testing. He was also involved with the development of reusable micro-sensors for continuous and on-site heavy metal measurement for environmental health monitoring.

USCIS approved a NIW petition for a clinical cytogenetics fellow in the field of cancer research focusing on human genetics. Petitioner is an internationally known researcher in his specialty area of human genetics. His work is recognized as being of substantial intrinsic merit on a national scope. The primary focus of petitioner’s research is to understand the epigenetic changes associated with radiation-induced genomic instability, which is thought to be an early event in radiation carcinogenesis.

Petitioner is involved in testing for all the disorders from the point the patient samples are received in the lab to the time the results are reported out to the ordering physician. Petitioner’s research efforts go beyond the laboratory testing of patients. He is also responsible for quality control, assurance and improvement of the laboratory. Petitioner develops new laboratory tests based on the improvements in the understanding of diseases and the treatment options available.

USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Research Professional working in the field of evolutionary genetics at a world-class private research university.

The NIW petition focused on the petitioner’s contributions in the areas of gene regulation and development. He has developed a number of algorithms for the design of synthetic regulatory DNA sequences which can be made to express in arbitrary patterns and could provide a useful tool for gene therapy applications that require a targeted gene expression. His research focuses on use of the neutral path algorithm to reconstruct the common ancestral sequence of a cis‐regulatory module in two related species, differing in sequence in the extant species. His work has practical importance in the healthcare industry.

The USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Staff Scientist working in the field of immunology at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) lab.

The petitioner’s work focuses on researching the possibility of the tyrosine kinase Itk as a novel therapeutic target for treating and preventing further exacerbation of autoimmune disorders. He made the discovery that Itk deficiency prevents the development of pro-inflammatory T cells, and instead, leads to the induction of regulatory T cells, an important subset of T cells that prevent potentially over-destructive features of inflammation during autoimmunity. His work has concentrated on the generation of better models of related disorders of the immune system.

USCIS approved a petition for a genetics researcher working in the field of genetic engineering in agriculture in order to enhance the health promoting values of soy foods, understand the regulation mechanisms of phenylpropanoids in soybeans and develop soybean pathogen resistance.

The NIW petition showed that the researcher is undertaking cutting edge research aimed at developing biotechnology techniques to improve crop resistance to diseases and to improve the quality of crops for human and animal consumption. The work the engineer is doing is specifically in the areas of plant metabolism, soybean resistance to pathogens, design of new soybean varieties and determination of environmental effects on health promoting compounds.

USCIS approved a petition for an Assistant Professor working in a new area involving computer modeling of the development and consequences of diseases in swine.

The NIW petition recognized his role in addressing the complex issue of combining fundamental growth, nutrition, disease and genetic principles in a theoretical framework that can then be reproduced in computer programs by careful mathematical and computer programming techniques.

USCIS approved a National Interest Waiver petition for a research scientist working in the field of entomology as it relates to solving agricultural and crop production problems, in order to boost agricultural productivity to maximum sustainable levels to keep pace with the growing needs of our world’s rapidly expanding population.

The NIW petition recognized petitioner’s work investigating the genetic variation and gene flow of the fall armyworm. The findings are important in understanding the dispersal of the pest, monitoring the spread of insecticide, resistance monitoring against transgenic crops, and implementing area-wide management programs. The study on susceptibility of fall armyworm to insecticides showed that rotational and combined application of insecticides helped to delay insecticide resistance development and prolong life span of the products as well as to reduce insecticide load into the environment.

USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate working at a public state research university in the fields of toxicology and parasitology.

The NIW petition focused on the petitioner’s work and how it has helped with the discovery and understanding of new pharmaceuticals that can improve the controlling of parasitic diseases in farm animals and humans. The petitioner is also one of few scientists who can use electrophysiology, especially the highly sophisticated patch clamp technique, to study the mode of action of antiparasitic drugs and the molecular mechanisms of drug resistance in parasitic nematodes, commonly known as round worm.

UCIS approved a petition for a Research Technologist plays an integral role in the success of projects dedicated to the improvement of soybean quality. She has developed superior tools to overcome the difficulties of low transformation frequency of the soybean and the low rate of stable gene deletion, or the more technical term, gametophyte mutation.

USCIS approved a petition for Postdoctoral Research Associate whose research is focused in the areas of plant genes. The results of his research have produced critical developments vital for understanding the regulation of gene expression during seed development and for the soybean and other oilseed crop industries.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Research Scholar who has played a crucial role in demonstrating two novel groundbreaking ideas on the amniotic membrane transplantation for Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implants and applying aqueous suppressants one week after Ahmed Glaucoma Valve Implantation. Glaucoma and ocular Surface Disease is a critical area of research, especially given the world’s aging population.

USCIS approved a petition for a Research Fellow who has significantly contributed to the complex methodology of coagulation research. Her contributions to the field of cardiovascular epidemiology are in elucidating thrombosis mechanisms from several perspectives. Her research will provide a deeper understanding of the underlying disease mechanisms and will result in helping to prevent the disease and sudden death associated with it.

USCIS approved a petition for a Senior Scientist who has played a crucial role in inter-related research projects focusing on the microwave imaging techniques to detect tumors. She has successfully developed several novel approaches in microwave imaging that are now being used for breast cancer diagnosis.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Fellow, whose research has focused on the design of designing, programming and implementing behavioral and psychophysical experiments, as well as modeling, analyzing and interpreting the outcome of these experiments. This work is vital because it enables the most in-depth investigation of the mechanisms of motor learning, adaptation and generalization.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate whose research focuses on the advancement and development of skills in the area of polyaromatic hydrocarbon research and the synthesis of molecular receptors. This work is vital because his research on molecular receptors will improve the efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices containing fullerene derivatives as acceptors.

USCIS approved a petition for a scientist who successfully designed a novel chemical synthesis for a non-natural analog of DNA called amino -threose nucleic acids. His work can help inform the field of antisense therapeutics, which seeks to treat diseases by aiming for the cell’s RNA with non-natural nucleic acids.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Fellow whose goals are to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the information encoded in the genetic material of organisms and how it directs the organization and function of living systems enabled by analysis through integrative experimental and computational modeling approaches. His groundbreaking work has an enormous impact on the way we study and treat diseases that affect millions of Americans and for which treatments are not yet available.

USCIS approved a petition for a Researcher whose contributions have led to a change in the paradigm of cancer drug development and this achievement will allow for better treatments to battle cancer. His research directly benefits the U.S medical research community as he develops new methods for medical technology and therapeutics.

USCIS approved a petition for a Research Scientist who has played a crucial role in inter-related research projects focus on solving scientific challenges. She has made significant contributions to the field of membrane protein structure and function research and specifically in the area of bioenergetics.

The USCIS approved a NIW petition for a postdoctoral neuropharmacologist working in the field of neuroscience. Petitioner works in the field of neuroscience, specifically in the area of neurotrama, neuropharmacology and the treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBI is a “serious public health problem” according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). It affects 1.7 million Americans annually and “is caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts normal brain function.” Petitioner’s research is directly benefiting civilians and soldiers dealing with the effects of TBI. Protection of surviving cells in the brain after a head trauma is crucial to both recovery and future brain function.

In addition, petitioner’s current study of the metabolic role of the phospho-creatine system in mouse models of creatine deficiency causing, L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase (AGAT) knockout is vital to scientists looking for new insights creatine deficiency syndromes like mental retardation, expressive speech and language delay, autistic like behavior, hyperactivity, epilepsy and movement disorders. Petitioner’s critical research work in these areas of TBI is contributing significantly to the understanding of neuronal damage in central nervous system injury and accelerating the discovery and implementation of therapeutic treatments for TBI and other brain related disorders.

For over a decade, the petitioner has been engaged in research in the area of pharmacognosy and natural products research. Her research focuses on the study of chemical compounds produced by lower organisms, such as plants, microorganisms, and marine invertebrates, which are invaluable both nationally and globally for the development of significant new drugs. These drugs are used to treat a wide variety of diseases, including malaria, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimers, and HIV. Her notable research accomplishments have included the discovery and isolation of natural product compounds with implications for treating global diseases such as malaria, AIDS, and leishmaniasis, and the isolation of compounds that have promise in the area of biodegradable, environmentally-friendly herbicides. The beneficiary’s I-140 petition was approved in 31 days.

The petitioner’s studies have laid the groundwork for a new avenue of therapeutics in the treatment of drug abuse and neurodegenerative disorders. Neurodegenerative disorders are the umbrella term for the progressive loss of structure or function of neurons, including death of neurons. Many neurodegenerative diseases including Schizophrenia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Huntington’s occur as a result of neurodegenerative processes. The results have given a mechanistic explanation to the already reported antiparkinsonian activity of A2A receptor antagonist KW-6002 and suggest that the other selective A2A receptor antagonist SCH-442416 could be useful in dyskinetic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders and in drug addiction. The beneficiary’s I-140 petition was approved in 89 days.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate who has developed a method using a model of monoclonal antibody MLS128 that has shown to significantly inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in breast tissue. He has significantly contributed to innovative and groundbreaking research in the areas of molecular cloning, designing constructs and folding tags for recombinant expression systems in bacterial and mammalian host systems, and structural studies of glycoproteins.

USCIS approved a petition for a Mechanical Engineer whose research has focused on experimental and theoretical biophysics of blood clotting, bleeding, and thrombosis. His research has vast and far reaching impact on various aspects of biomedical science and bioengineering.

USCIS approved a National Interest Wavier petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the fields of biophysics, nanofluidics and fluid mechanics whose research led to the development of soft programmable-shape nanoparticles and biosensors. This research was greatly aligned with the national goals of the Precision Medicine Initiative to “accelerate biomedical discoveries.”

The NIW petition successfully demonstrated the national interest and significance of the researcher’s work on culture and natural resources, such as water scarcity and management. The I-140 petition was approved in fewer than 3 months.

USCIS approved a petition for an Assistant Professional Specialist whose work crosses over into biomedical research and the fields of synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biology, chemical glycobiology, structural biology and computational chemistry.

This Professor’s contributions to understanding the molecular processes that contribute to or block the progression of diseases, such as cancer and stroke, could lead to significant breakthroughs in prevention and treatment. The development of a strategy to overcome antibiotic resistance, particularly Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (“MRSA”) that kills approximately 20,000 people a year in the United States alone, is a crowning development for this researcher. The beneficiary’s I-140 petition was approved in 56 days.

This NIW petitioner works in the field of computational biochemistry and computer aided drug design. His research is focused on the study of molecular mechanisms of protein aggregation; this aggregation is the fundamental cause of central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s and prion diseases. He played a critical role in developing a cost-effective, rapid, and precise procedure for analysis of HIV drug combination. HIV/AIDS is an incurable disease affecting individuals across the globe. A common problem in Africa is the drug counterfeiting; therefore, the development of analytical methods for their quality control is crucial.

The USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Research Fellow working in neurosurgery at an Ivy League teaching hospital.

The NIW petition focused on the petitioner’s advancements and developments in the area of glycan profiling of human serum based on mass spectrometry. The petitioner developed an automated HPLC platform for affinity purification of a target plasma glycoprotein, clusterin and subsequent study of the glycosylation of the protein in kidney cancer patients, which resulted in the discovery of putative glyco-biomarkers for renal cell cancer. She is currently leading projects involving metabolomics and proteomic profiles with risk of future disease, including breast cancer and type II diabetes.

USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Postdoctoral Researcher working at one of the premier organizations devoted to systems biology research.

The petition highlighted her inter-disciplinary research projects focusing on human diseases and disorders, nutritional studies, immunological and vaccine related investigations, microbiological, plant and environmental sciences. Throughout her research, the petitioner has developed novel analytical methods using metabolomics procedures, including the development of a plant-based vaccine. Her expertise on applying the immunology related experimental and analytical technologies is also being used to advance research on vaccine development for human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

USCIS approved a National Interest Waiver petition for a biochemistry and biophysics researcher. The researcher, who specializes in fluorescence dynamics and cholesterol research, has a Ph.D. in Chemistry.

The beneficiary’s research in the area of HDL, or “good cholesterol,” and its effect on cardiovascular disease, which is the number one killer of women and men in the United States, has been, and undoubtedly will continue to be, instrumental in improving the healthcare of our nation. Each year more than one million Americans have heart attacks, and about a half million people die from heart disease. Evidence submitted showed that the beneficiary’s research accomplishments are critical in providing new technologies in medicine and biology to prevent health-related disease, illness and death. The beneficiary’s I-140 petition was approved in 119 days.

USCIS approved a petition for a biochemist whose research targets fundamental questions in the area of metabolite fingerprinting and profiling in order to understand plant growth and development.

The NIW petition emphasized the important applications of this research in understanding plant metabolism, determining environmental effects on health promoting compounds (for example, isoflavones that prevent cancer), increasing plant resistance to various pathogens, and increasing crop yields in U.S. crops.

USCIS approved a petition for a Postdoctoral Researcher performing research in the area of biophysical research involving the study of the dynamics of major histocompability complex (MHC) molecules in the immunological and peptide vaccine design field.

The NIW petition recognized that his studies have lead to the development of peptide vaccines, which are used to sensitize naïve T-cells for clinical use in fighting against diseases such as cancer.

The USCIS approved an NIW petition for a Postdoctoral Research Associate working in the area of biochemistry at a medical school.

The petitioner’s research focuses on the advancement and development of skilled biophysical techniques such as Circular Dichroism, Stopped-Flow Analysis, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Her research also addresses the basic physiology of steroidogenic proteins and mitochondrial translocases. Her research provides insight into the major questions of ambiguous genitalia or adrenarche as well as the basic physiology of the mitochondrial steroidogenic pathway. Additionally, utilizing a technique called High Speed Countercurrent Chromatography, she was able to successfully isolate some biologically important antioxidants called catechins from green tea leaves with high purity.

USCIS approved a petition for an Assistant Professor whose research focuses on flavin chemistry and how catalysis greatly affect and cross over into applications in the area of skin cancer research. The research is vital to applications in the area of skin cancer and renewable energy research.

USCIS approved a National Interest Waiver petition for a research scientist that works in the field of Biochemistry and specifically research and discovery of antifungal drugs. Their work has involved cloning genes to express important proteins and test their biochemical activities. The scientist developed a plethora of biological reagents and assays that have been critical to research efforts. The research also plays a very important role in understanding tRNA synthetase enzymes as a drug target, which has been the focus of many pharmaceutical industries, which work on antibiotic development.

The NIW petition recognized this petitioner’s contribution to the advancement of AN2690 as a potential new antifungal therapy. The discovery of AN2690 was published in Science. Identification of the specific mechanism of action for this drug candidate was a direct outcome of petitioner’s work and is a significant step in the advancement of this potential therapy. AN2690 is in Phase 3 clinical development and has been licensed by major pharmaceutical companies.

USCIS approved a National Interest Wavier petition for a Ph.D. Candidate/Graduate Assistant in the fields of analytical chemistry and bioanalysis. The petition demonstrated the research’s history of contributions, such as a novel sensor to for the detection of L-DOPA in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. The researcher also developed a novel method to detect rare earth elements in natural and drinking water. The I-140 petition was approved in fewer than 4 months.