The CRM Early Career Executive Council (ECEC) consists of early career leaders in the field of regenerative medicine that are appointed on a yearly basis, with potential for renewal for up to 3-years. Council members include graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and staff that are currently appointed in CRM labs. ECEC members are provided with an honorarium at the end of each year.
Goals of the ECEC are set in collaboration with the Directors and Staff of the CRM and may include the following:
- Advise the Directors of the CRM on the needs of the in-training members of the Center
- Design and lead the implementation of yearly CRM networking and training events
- Contribute to and inform center communications including newsletters, social media, and outreach
Interested in joining the ECEC? Find more information here about how to apply.

Tayyab Adil, PhD
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Chair; CRM DPS Class of 2024
- Email: adilm@wustl.edu
Dr. Adil is a postdoctoral fellow in the Morris Lab. He joined the CRM ECEC as Chair in 2023. Tayyab’s research is focused on dissecting the mechanisms of cellular reprogramming with an aim to advance therapeutically beneficial cell types.

Garrett Easson
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member
- Email: geasson@wustl.edu
Garrett is a current graduate student in the Tang lab. He joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. His thesis research is focused on the mechanisms of intervertebral disc mechanical transduction to better understand the development of low back pain.

Mohamed G Hassan, PhD, MSc, DDS
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member; CRM DPS Class of 2024
- Email: hmohamed@wustl.edu
Dr. Hassan is a postdoctoral fellow in the Scheller Lab. He joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. His research leverages advanced imaging and molecular biology approaches to identify mechanisms underlying accelerated regeneration in neural crest-derived bone.

Matthew Ishahak, PhD
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member; CRM DPS Class of 2024
- Email: mishahak@wustl.edu
Dr. Ishahak is a postdoctoral fellow in the Millman Lab. He joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. Matt’s research is focused on engineering stem cell-derived organoid model systems to study human development and pathophysiology.

Renuka Khatik, PhD
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Co-Chair
- Email: khatik@wustl.edu
Dr. Khatik is a postdoctoral fellow in the Sharma Lab. She joined the CRM ECEC as co-chair in 2023. Renuka’s research is focused on engineering of nano-drug delivery systems.

Brittany Meyer, MSc
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member
- Email: mbrittany@wustl.edu
Ms. Meyer is a research technician II in the Theunissen Lab. She joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. She is interested in researching stem cells and their applications in disease therapy and regenerative medicine.

Dana Shaw, PhD
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member
- Email: shawd@wustl.edu
Dr. Shaw is a postdoctoral fellow in the Mokalled Lab. She joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. Her research is focused on the mechanisms of spinal cord regeneration with expertise in both zebrafish genetics and regeneration in the field of neuroimmunology.

Sadie M VanHorn
CRM Early Career Executive Council, Member
- Email: s.m.vanhorn@wustl.edu
Sadie is a graduate student in the Morris Lab. She joined the CRM ECEC in 2023. Her research focuses on developing methods to track cellular history in reprogramming models and intestinal organoids to probe the relationships between stem cell, progenitor, and terminally differentiated cell populations.