Comparative Oncology and Immunotherapy Team

Maninder Sandey, BVSc, MVSc, PhD, DACVP
Associate Professor
Email: mzs0011@auburn.edu

Dr. Sandey is a board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologist with expertise in molecular biology, comparative oncology, and immunopathology. He earned his DVM from the University of Agricultural Sciences, India, followed by an MVSc in Animal Biotechnology from the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI). He completed his Ph.D. in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences from Auburn University and became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) in 2016. His research focuses on improving cancer immunotherapy by combining immune checkpoint modulation with targeted therapies to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.

Jonathan Marable
Research Assistant IV
Email: jgm0007@auburn.edu

Jonathan completed his B.S. in Laboratory Technology from Auburn University in 2014. He has been working in the Pathobiology Department since 2015 and joined the Sandey Lab as a Research Assistant in 2018. In the Sandey Lab, he specializes in DNA cloning, recombinant protein expression and purification using affinity chromatography with the ÄKTA Explorer FPLC. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, movies, TV shows, and listening to high-fidelity music.

Damien Ruiz, B.S.
PhD Candidate, Pathobiology
Email: dkr0004@auburn.edu

Damien Ruiz is a PhD student in Pathobiology at Auburn University, studying under Dr. Sandey. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from Weber State University before pursuing both a PhD in Biomedical Science and a Master of Education. His research focuses on developing cancer immunotherapies for canine patients. Early in his career, he engineered an oncolytic viral therapy capable of delivering an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Currently, he is developing combination immunotherapies, including a bispecific molecule that functions as both an immune checkpoint inhibitor and an agonist. During his free time, he enjoys calisthenics, and studying philosophy and history.

Alana Kramer, DVM, Diplomate ACVP
PhD Candidate, Pathobiology
Email: ajk0066@auburn.edu

Dr. Kramer is a board-certified veterinary anatomic pathologist and a current PhD student at Auburn University in Dr. Sandey’s lab. She earned her DVM from Michigan State University CVM in 2020. Following veterinary school she started a combined PhD/residency program at Auburn. Dr. Kramer has completed the anatomic pathology residency and became board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) in 2023. In, August of 2023, she received the CTSA One Health Alliance (COHA) Translational Research Fellowship which provides support for research training of residency trained veterinary specialists. Her research focuses include translational oncology studies, immunotherapies, and the immunostimulatory agonist 4-1BB (CD137). In her spare time she enjoys reading Fantasy and Sci-fiction novels.

Himanshi, B.Sc, M.Sc
PhD Candidate, Pathobiology
Email: hzz0112@auburn.edu

Himanshi holds a B.Sc. in Life Sciences from the University of Delhi and an M.Sc. in Microbiology from SRM University, India. Her research focuses on exploring immunotherapeutic strategies to synergistically enhance both adaptive and innate immune responses, with the goal of promoting tumor regression and improving overall survival outcomes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Outside the lab, she enjoys exploring local coffee shops and experiencing their vibrant atmospheres.

Undergraduate Students

Nathan Newman
Jillian Henderson