Scholars
Predoctoral Students
Name: Zeeba Manavi
Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Email: zm114@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Examining cellular senescence in an animal model of Multiple Sclerosis
Mentor(s): Jeffrey Huang, Ph.D. (Georgetown University), Daniel S. Reich, M.D., Ph.D. (NINDS)
Bio: I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at Georgetown University. Prior to my predoctoral training, I earned a B.S. in Biology from the University of Maryland College Park, followed by a M.S. in Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology from Georgetown University. My interest in neuroinflammaEon lead me to the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Huang where I aim to understand the role of senescence in central nervous system inflammation and remyelination in animal models of Multiple Sclerosis. My goal in this project is to characterize the senescent cell population and to determine whether clearance of these senescent cells, using senolytics, will result in an improved outcome for a preclinical model of multiple sclerosis. As a TL1 Scholar, I will be collaborating with Dr. Daniel Reich at NINDS to bridge the gap between basic science and clinical research to improve upon treatments for patients living with multiple sclerosis. My overall research interest is to understand the mechanism by which glial inflammation and aging contribute to impaired CNS regeneration in order to identify therapeutic strategies for treating age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
Name: Deborah J George
Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Email: djw103@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: The Role of Eph/Ephrin Signaling in Type II SGN Turning
Mentor(s): Dr. Thomas Coate, PhD (Georgetown University) & Dr. Michael Deans, PhD (University of Utah)
Bio: I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at Georgetown University. I am studying the axon guidance phenomenon in mammalian cochlea. My work focuses on determining the involvement of Eph/Ephrin signaling in mediating type II SGN turning events, and how Eph/Ephrin and planar cell polarity signaling possibly interact in this process. Prior to starting my PhD, I earned a M.S. in Biology at American University, where I studied the genomic basis of Halicephalobus mephisto’s (“The Devil Worm”) heat tolerance using computational genomic software. I worked at Janelia Research Campus as a study support associate, where I was responsible for breeding specific genetic crosses for multiple researchers. I earned my B.A. in Animal and Poultry Science from Virginia Tech, where I studied how epidermal growth factor (EGF) facilitates nutrient flow by trophoblasts of the bovine placenta. My ultimate goal is to contribute to the development of novel treatments and therapies for human disorders and diseases.
Name: Mark D Hatcher
Title: PhD Student | Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University
Email: mark.hatcher@bison.howard.edu
TL1 Research Topic: The role of PPARα on the expression and activity of renal sodium transporters during high dietary salt consumption
Mentor(s): Dexter L. Lee, Ph.D. (Howard University); Kathryn Sandberg, Ph.D. (Georgetown University)
Bio: I am a PhD student in the Physiology and Biophysics at Howard University. Under the guidance of Dr. Dexter L. Lee, I study the role of PPARα in regulation of sodium transporter expression/activity in the kidney under hypertensive and high sodium conditions. As a pre-teen, my father sparked my interest in science when he brought home textbooks from the high schools where he served as custodian. That interest would grow into obsession when I lost him to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy a month after my 18th birthday. I studied Physiology and the University of Maryland and developed my musical and creative interests in the years that followed. This enabled me to consider the communicative aspects of the sciences, particularly public understanding among underserved and underrepresented communities. At Howard, I contributed to studies in both body fat/caloric intake moderation of heart rate variability and fear memory recall /post-fear conditioning sleep before returning to hypertension. My dissertation will be focused on determining the protective properties of PPARα against hypertension in kidneys under high dietary salt pressure. The link to salt-sensitive hypertension and subsequent translation of those results into easily accessible information may ensure that many more fathers are able to attend their sons’ graduations.
Name: Arthur Patrick McDeed
Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatic, & Biomathematics,
Georgetown University
Email: apm116@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Novel statistical methods for the analysis of methylated cfDNA in serial liquid biopsy samples
Mentor(s): Jaeil Ahn, PhD, Ming Tan, PhD, Anton Wellstein, MD/PhD (Georgetown University)
Bio: I am an PhD candidate in the Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatic, & Biomathematics at Georgetown University. My research interests, broadly, are in the application and development of innovative statistical methods for the analysis of longitudinal biomarker data to better understand the complex nature of human health and disease. My current research sits right at the forefront of this exciting, rapidly evolving area. In working with collaborators in the Wellstein-Riegel Lab at Georgetown University, I have identified the immense need for novel statistical methods for the analysis of cell-free DNA in liquid biopsy samples to fully realize the potential and clinical impacts of this approach. Specifically, my PhD research aims to decode the cellular origins of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), over time, utilizing cell-type specific methylation patterns. Tracking compositional changes of cfDNA fragments in circulation can reveal altered cellular contributions reflective of dynamic changes indicative of disease state, tissue specific damage, and of particular interest, treatment related adverse events in immunotherapy patients. The longitudinal and compositional nature of these data presents unique statistical challenges, requiring a novel approach that integrates biostatistical theory, systems biology, and bioinformatics, with the proper design and analysis of clinical and translational studies, requiring transdisciplinary collaboration to produce clinically relevant results.
Name: Emma C. Rowland
Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biochemistry, Georgetown University
Email: ecr52@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Investigating and targeting epigenetic and metabolic perturbations involved in TMZ resistance in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Mentor(s): Dr. Nagi Ayad, PhD (Department of Oncology, Georgetown University); Dr. Jing Wu, MD,PhD (NCI, National Institutes of Health)
Bio: As a PhD Candidate in the Department of Biochemistry at Georgetown University, I am interested in studying the complex underlying mechanisms that lead to treatment resistance in the most common malignant brain tumor among adults. My work focuses on assessing the cellular processes that promote methylation programs and antioxidant capacity in cancer cells, thereby mitigating or evading DNA and oxidative damage respectively. Before beginning my predoctoral studies, I earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Notre Dame and a Masters of Science in Biochemistry from Georgetown University. As a TL1 scholar, I will continue to hone my skills as a scientist, and I hope to gain the skills required for clinical and translational biomedical research. My career goal is to conduct translational research by leading a multidisciplinary research program investigating glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and other high-grade gliomas and effectively bridging the gap between basic and clinical research. Personally motivated by my grandfather who lost the battle to this disease, I hope to inform treatment strategies and improve the quality of life for those diagnosed with GBM.
Name: Max Stevenson
Title: Doctoral Candidate | Neurology
Email: mes407@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Investigating novel tyrosine kinase inhibitors as potential therapeutic options for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases
Mentor(s): Dr. Charbel Moussa, MBBS, Ph.D.
Bio: I am a fifth-year doctoral candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at Georgetown University interested in using novel pharmaceutical compounds to alleviate neurodegenerative disease pathology. Using both preclinical models and clinical trial data, I aim to determine how tyrosine kinase signaling contributes to disease pathogenesis and how inhibiting these proteins may provide therapeutic benefit. I previously completed my B.A. in cognitive science at the University of Virginia, where I worked in the Department for Brain Immunology and Glia exploring metabolic properties of T cells in multiple sclerosis, as well as the role of impaired brain cholesterol synthesis on Alzheimer’s Disease pathological pathways. As part of the TL1 program, I hope to continue my work to bring novel treatments for neurodegenerative disorders from the bench to the clinic.
Name: Adam Kaminski
Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
Email: ak1821@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Functional integration of brain regions across executive control demands in general childhood psychopathology
Mentor(s): Chandan Vaidya, PhD (Georgetown University)
Bio: My work as a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at Georgetown University is centered around identifying neural mechanisms explaining heterogeneity in childhood psychopathology. Neurodevelopmental disorders, such as ADHD, are highly heterogeneous and comorbid with psychiatric problems. Using fMRI and measures of functional connectivity, my work investigates brain functioning related to executive control which aims to explain individual differences in psychiatric and life outcomes. Before joining the IPN, I focused on developmental cognitive neuroscience research at multiple institutions, including Vanderbilt University and Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as psychology research, joining the lab of Dr. John Weisz at Harvard University to test physiological correlates of emotion regulation in childhood externalizing disorders. I earned my B.S. in Cognitive and Brain Science from Tufts University in Medford, MA
Postdoctoral Fellows
Name: Sadaf Ghaderzadeh, Ph.D.
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard University College of Medicine
Email: Sadaf.ghaderzadeh@bison.howard.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Systemic Administration of miR-451 Improves Autophagy Response in an Accelerated Mouse Model of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Mentor(s): Dr Maurice B. Fluitt, Ph.D., Howard University College of Medicine and Dr Sergei Nekhai, Ph.D., Howard University College of Medicine
Bio: Dr Sadaf Ghaderzadeh is an independent researcher with experience in both academia and the biotech industry. Her long-term research goal is to unravel the epigenetic mechanisms underlying Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD). Dr. Ghaderzadeh’s vision includes translating foundational discoveries into clinical applications to improve treatments for DKD. Currently, as a postdoctoral researcher holding an NIH TL1 grant, she is working in Dr. Ecelbarger’s lab at Georgetown University and Dr. Fluit’s lab at Howard University, both of which focus on Epigenetic and Metabolic Research, particularly non-coding RNAs. Her short-term goal involves applying her cell culture expertise to investigate the significance of miR-451 and HDACs, specifically HDAC6, as indicators and influencers in the early stages of DKD development. Her academic path began with a Bachelor’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology, followed by a Master’s degree in Human Genetics. During her Ph.D. at Dr. Antonei Csoka’s lab, Dr. Ghaderzadeh explored the epigenetic effects of the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin on human mesenchymal cells (HMSCs), focusing on genes linked to extracellular matrix metabolism and the epigenetic regulation of MSCs. Her research highlighted ciprofloxacins in vitro anticancer potential, sparking interest in its therapeutic repurposing. Dr Sadaf Ghaderzadeh aims to explore the therapeutic potential of miR-451 modulation in cell culture as a precursor to clinical interventions for DKD, bridging the gap from bench to bedside in the field of translational biomedical science.
Name: Branka Stanic, MD
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow | Georgetown University
Email: bs1132@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Investigation of the protective effects of angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonists in a model of cognitive dysfunction and anxiety-like behavior induced by sudden ovarian hormone loss.
Mentor(s): Kathryn Sandberg, PhD (Department of Medicine, Georgetown University); Dexter Lee, PhD (Department of Physiology, Howard University); Juan Saavedra, MD (Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University)
Bio: I was awarded a medical degree from the University of Novi Sad in Serbia in September 2009. After completing my residency and becoming a Specialist in Laboratory Medicine in Serbia, I moved to the United States. I joined Dr. Kathryn Sandberg's laboratory in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University Medical Center (GUMC) in March 2020 to obtain training in laboratory research in animal models of hypertension and RAS pathophysiology. During my PhD education, I investigated the role of the RAS in the physiological regulation of sodium and potassium balance, intravascular volume and blood pressure in newly diagnosed patients with pre-hypertension. In addition, I investigated the relationship between parathyroid hormone and aldosterone in patients with first stage of hypertension.
My TL-1 project builds on this theme and I have begun my postdoctoral fellowship research on the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonists in a model of cognitive dysfunction and anxiety-like behavior induced by sudden ovarian hormone loss.
My long-term goal is to investigate the molecular, biochemical and physiological regulation of the RAS in experimental models of hypertension and associated disease as a physician scientist.
Name: Ryan Staples, PhD
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
Email: rs2306@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Post-stroke language impairment
Mentor: Peter Turkeltaub, MD, PhD; Andrew DeMarco, PhD, CCC-SLP
Bio: I am a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Neurology at Georgetown University. I earned a B.A. in Psychology at the University of Connecticut. I then worked at Haskins Laboratories at Yale, studying language acquisition and healthy language processing, before doing my PhD at Rutgers University. At Rutgers, I used fMRI and computational modeling to understand both healthy and impaired language processing. As a postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown, I am focused on developing a better understanding of post-stroke language impairment, with applications to recovery and treatment. As a part of the TL1 program, I hope to continue to develop my translational skills such that I can produce research that will materially impact the treatment of acquired language disorders.
Alumni
Name: Jalisa T. Nurse
Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biology, Howard University
Email: jalisa.taylor@bison.howard.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Post-transcriptional regulatory processes in E. coli: regulation and function of sRNAs and RNA modifications
Mentor(s): Karl Thompson, PhD (Howard University), Jhansi Gajjala, MD (Howard University)
Bio: I am a PhD candidate in Biology with a concentration in Microbiology, working under the mentorship of Dr. Karl Thompson. My career interests in scientific research were peaked at a very early age because of witnessing her maternal grandmothers’ rapidly declining health along with an overwhelming desire to help her. My passion for research combined with my desire to help others like my grandmother, led me to translational biomedical science. My work is focused on gene regulatory mechanisms involved in envelope stress. The cell envelope is a major part of the bacterial cell wall and is also a target of antibiotics like penicillin and its derivatives. Therefore, the significance of her work, is that in identifying regulatory factors that affect the cell wall may assist in characterizing the dynamics of the membrane and the development of novel antibiotics. In addition, nitric oxide is a chemical effector of immune cells during infection. Understanding how nitric oxide influences membrane integrity may also assist us in understanding how bacteria evades the immune response and causes disease. This basic information is critical in developing novel antibacterial strategies and therapeutics. I also enjoy leisure reading, traveling with my family and spending quality time with my daughter.
Name: Alison Schug
Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
Email: aks134@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Neuroanatomical and Functional Effects of Bilingualism on Dyslexia
Mentor(s): Guinevere Eden, D.Phil. (Georgetown University) & Nasheed Jamal, MD (UCLA)
Bio: As a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at Georgetown University, I am interested in understanding how the bilingual language experience differentially affects the manifestation of reading disability, or dyslexia, in brain structure and function. Prior to joining the IPN, I earned my B.S. at King’s College where I double majored in neuroscience and theatre. After graduating, I spent a year working as a research technician at iFyber, LLC testing antimicrobial properties of wound dressings. I then came to Georgetown University to earn my M.S. in Integrative Neuroscience. During this time, I worked in the lab of Dr. Josef Rauschecker studying crossmodal plasticity of visual motion brain areas of congenitally blind adults. Finally, I joined the IPN in 2018 and began working in Dr. Guinevere Eden’s Center for the Study of Learning studying the impacts of bilingualism on brain structure and function.
Name: Collis Brown
Title: (PhD Candidate) | Department of Pharmacology, Howard University
Email: collisbrown66@gmail.com
TL1 Research Topic: Potential Drug Therapy for Fragile X Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome
Mentor(s): Dr. Tamaro Hudson PhD (Howard University), Sonya K Sobrian PhD (Howard University)
Bio: As a Pharmacology PhD candidate at Howard University, I am interested in investigating the neurodegenerative pathogenesis of Fragile X Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) and promoting potential pharmacotherapy treatment. FXTAS is a late-onset disorder, usually occurring after age 50, and its signs and symptoms worsen with age. This condition affects males more frequently and severely than females. Currently, there are no effective treatment options. Therefore, understanding the biology of FXTAS could help spur effective treatment options, specifically using natural compounds. Under the direction of Drs. Tamaro Hudson and Sonya. K Sobrian. I will primarily investigate the disruption of mitochondrial oxidative pathways important for cellular respiration in patients with FXTAS. My long-term career goal focuses on the development of therapeutic options that will address health care challenges of neurodegenerative diseases within the clinical and transitional field.
Name: Alexander Brunfeldt, PhD
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
Email: ab3832@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Neurophysiological correlates of upper-extremity impairment and recovery in stroke survivors
Mentor(s): Barbara Bregman, PT, PhD (Georgetown University); Peter Lum, PhD (The Catholic University of America)
Bio: Dr. Brunfeldt’s research focus is on translating theoretical and mechanistic motor control principles into functional tasks to improve movements in stroke populations. Dr. Brunfeldt earned Bachelor of Science degrees in Physics and Kinesiology from Indiana University (2009). Upon graduating from Rutgers University with a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (2012), he worked for 3 years as a researcher within the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Michigan. Dr. Brunfeldt recently completed his PhD in Kinesiology from Michigan State University where he investigated the behavioral impact of motor adaptation on interhemispheric communication during goal-directed reaching. His TL-1 project builds on this theme by developing bimanual reaching tasks in virtual reality environments, augmented by exoskeleton assistance, to promote paretic limb use in stroke survivors with hemiplegia. He will couple this with electromyography to assess neuromuscular signatures of impaired coordination to support evidence-based rehabilitation approaches to stroke recovery.
Name: Plamen Nikolov
Current Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
Email: pn243 at georgetown dot edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Internal Models in Speech Production
TL1 Mentor(s): Maximilian Riesenhuber, PhD (Georgetown University) & Peter Turkeltaub, MD/PhD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: My doctoral research in the IPN at Georgetown University is primarily focused on investigating the neural bases of internal models during speech production and speech production learning.Prior to joining the IPN at Georgetown, I earned both B.S. and M.S. in Biomedical Engineering at Virginia Commonwealth University; during this time, under the supervision of Drs Ou Bai and Dingyu Fei, I worked on a variety of brain-computer interface (BCI) projects.After graduation, I spent a few years working as a Research Assistant in Dr. Natalia Trayanova’s Computational Cardiology lab in the Institute for Computational Medicine at Johns Hopkin’s University.Finally, I joined the IPN in 2018 and began working in Dr. Maximilian Riesenhuber’s Computational Cognitive Neuroscience lab studying the neural bases of internal models during spoken language processing.
Name: Gregory T. Gallanis
Current: MD-PhD Candidate, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University
TL1 Title: MD-PhD Candidate, Department of Oncology, Georgetown University
Email: gtg12@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Impact of CDK4/6 inhibitor-induced cellular senescence on stromal responses to metastatic breast cancer
TL1 Mentor(s): Anna T. Riegel, PhD, Anton Wellstein, MD, PhD, Marc Lippman, MD (Department of Oncology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I am an MD-PhD candidate in the Department of Oncology at Georgetown University, and I study the impact of CDK4/6 inhibitor-induced cellular phenotypes on breast cancer metastasis and growth. My work focuses on studying how CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment may affect the pre-metastatic niche to modulate seeding and growth of tumor cells. Prior to my graduate training, I earned a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California. As a TL1 scholar, I will continue to develop my medical and scientific skills so that I may thrive in both the clinical and laboratory environments. My career goal is to become a leading medical oncologist and scientist who provides effective and compassionate care of the whole person by treating my patients with evidence-based medicine, engaging them in influential clinical research, and delivering meaningful discoveries back to them at the bedside.
Name: Devin Palmer
Current Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
Email: ddp40@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
TL1 Research Topic: Targeting the Tectopontine Pathway to Monitor and Control Seizures
TL1 Mentor(s): Dr. Patrick Forcelli, BS (Boston College) / PhD (Georgetown University), Dr. Gholam Motamedi, MD (Tehran University of Medical Sciences)
TL1 Bio: As a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at Georgetown University, I am interested in how regions and cellular activity within the brain can be monitored and modulated to control seizures. Overall, the main goal of my research is to use in-vivo electrophysiology techniques to evaluate cellular activation patterns within the brainstem whilst using optogenetic stimulation protocols to inhibit or activate cells and, in turn, influence seizure suppression. Prior to joining the IPN, I earned my B.A. in neuroscience from Macalester College where I evaluated how different levels of environmental enrichment can reverse cholinergic deficits often linked to Alzheimer’s Disease. After graduating from Macalester, I worked in a neuroinflammation/neuroprotection & anti-convulsion lab at the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. Here we evaluated the neuroinflammatory cascade linked to status epilepticus induced military threat agent exposure, and sought to discover neuroprotective and anti-convulsive countermeasures. I am passionate about seizure research, and very fortunate to have Dr. Forcelli’s guidance as I continue to explore and identify new targets for the advancement of seizure treatment paradigms.
Name: Christina X. Marea, PhD, MSN, MA, CNM
Current Title: Assistant Professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown University
Email: christina.marea@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Postpartum Health Disparities
TL1 Mentor(s): Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza, PhD, Georgetown University, School of Medicine
TL1 Bio: Christina Marea is a CNM in Washington DC where she has practiced for the past ten years. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, Master of Science in Nursing and Midwifery from Yale University, and Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution from the University of Bradford in the UK as a Rotary World Peace Fellowship recipient. Dr. Marea completed her PhD at Johns Hopkins University where her research focused on reproductive health of refugee and immigrant populations, gender-based violence, and health care provider education strategies to reduce health disparities for vulnerable populations. Dr. Marea has participated in research collaborations with global partners in Jordan, Syria, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Uganda. Dr. Marea has practiced clinically in the US in both birth centers and tertiary care hospitals, and internationally with Doctors without Borders in South Sudan and at Hospitalito Atitlan in Guatemala. She maintains her clinical practice at an FQHC in Washington DC that serves marginalized women in a maternity care desert on the eastern side of the city. Dr. Marea is currently a co-chair of the Washington DC Maternal Mortality Commission.
Name: Joseph I. Aubee
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Sloan-Kettering Institute
Email: joseph.aubee@howard.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Microbiology, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: Regulation and function of the i6A37 tRNA modification
TL1 Mentor(s): Karl M. Thompson, PhD (Howard University), Jhansi Gajjala, MD (Howard University)
TL1 Bio: I am a PhD Candidate in Microbiology at Howard University, working under the mentorship of Dr. Karl Thompson. My career progression and professional development are guided by profound interest in Biomedical research which began in 2005, when I was hired as a Research Technician at the Medical Research Council, The Gambia. The research training I have acquired over the years has contributed to my development as a scientist, and sparked a passion for research excellence. My dissertation focuses on the post-transcriptional regulation of MiaA. The study of post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in bacteria is not exhaustive, thereby limiting our ability to decipher the in-depth mechanisms of the bacterial cell. Subsequently, a central focus of my research is to elucidate the regulation and function of the tRNA isopentyladenine transferase enzyme in Escherichia coli via small RNA action. In this study, I aim to investigate and determine the role sRNAs play in the regulation of MiaA, and also delineate the role of MiaA in the expression of heat shock proteins in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. My other research interests include drug development, microscopy, functional genomics, and cancer biology. Outside of the lab, I enjoy cooking, traveling, volunteering, photography, jogging, singing, and the outdoors.
Name: Chaz Hinzman
Current Title: Venture Fellow, Flagship Pioneering
Email: cph51@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Understanding the Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Promoting Pancreatic Cancer Tumorigenesis
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Amrita Cheema and Dr. Partha Banerjee (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: As a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology at Georgetown University Medical Center, my research centers on the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the progression of pancreas cancer. I specialize in the characterization of EVs in pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis using biochemical, molecular biology and analytical techniques. The goal of my research is to elucidate mechanisms by which pancreatic cancer EVs transform normal human pancreatic epithelial cells in the early stages of disease. Through these characterization efforts, I aim to identify actionable therapeutic and/or diagnostic targets for early-stage pancreatic cancer treatment and detection. Before graduate school, I worked at a boutique investment firm where I specialized in the life sciences sector and aided early-stage biopharmaceutical companies (pre-Phase 2) in raising capital to fund their research efforts.
Name: Lauren Rosko, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Children’s National Hospital
Email: lmr104@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: The role of creatine synthesis in myelin integrity and behavior
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Jeffrey Huang and Dr. Mark Burns (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: As a neuroscience PhD candidate at Georgetown University, I am interested in promoting remyelination in mouse models of multiple sclerosis. Prior to starting at Georgetown, I earned my B.S. in biology and psychology from Stony Brook University. As an undergraduate, I studied the role of the mesolimbic dopamine circuit in drug abuse under Dr. Panayotis Thanos at Brookhaven National Laboratory. I earned a Master’s degree in Biotechnology at NYU while working as a research technician at Columbia University. At Columbia, I studied the effects of early maternal separation on brain and behavior. I am conducting my thesis work in the laboratory of Dr. Jeffrey Huang studying the role of creatine synthesis in myelination and neuronal integrity with a focus on translational models of multiple sclerosis.
Name: Sean Carey, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Sleep Medicine, Harvard
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biology, Georgetown University
Email: Sdc91@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Neuroinflammation and Synaptic Plasticity
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Kathy Maguire-Zeiss (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I attended The College of the Holy Cross as an undergraduate earning a B.A. in Biology and graduating in 2015. After graduation, I worked as a research technician under Dr. Maryrose Sullivan at the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury Hospital. The lab’s field of study was urology research with a focus on autonomic neurotransmission and smooth muscle physiology. I began a PhD. at Georgetown in the department of Biology in 2016 and joined the Lab of Dr. Kathy Maguire-Zeiss. My current interests include the glial response to pathogenic proteins and how resulting inflammation alters synaptic connections and plasticity. While at Georgetown I hope to further my understanding of neuroscience as well as the translation biomedical sciences.
Name: Martha Gay, PhD
Current Title: Assistant Professor, Georgetown Univeristy
Email: mdg111@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Liver Cancer
TL1 Mentors: Jill Smith, MD; Alex Kromer, M.D. / Ph.D.; Leena Halvinki-Clarke, Ph.D.
TL1 Bio: Dr. Gay received her B.S. in Biology from Hampton University (2004) and entered the workforce as a Cytogeneticist at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in Virginia. In the fall of 2008, she earned her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and from Howard University (2015). Currently, Dr. Gay is an NIH TL-1 Postdoctoral Scholar at Georgetown University Medical Center.
Dr. Gay's goals are to inspire others with her accomplishments and to help pave the path for the next generation of scientists to transcend the ranks of a doctoral education. Martha has involved herself in an array of academic programs that have demonstrated scientific leadership. In addition, to the investigative aims in her current project with liver cancer in Dr. Jill Smith’s lab, she is an inquisitive young scientist that takes full advantage of various scholastic platforms as well as challenging professional development opportunities.
Name: Bryce Jones
Current Title: MD/PhD Candidate | Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Email: baj46@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: MD/PhD Candidate | Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
TL1 Research Topic: Chronic Kidney Disease
TL1 Mentor: Moshe Levi, MD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I am an MD/PhD candidate training under the direction of Dr. Moshe Levi. My research in the Levi Lab focuses on novel treatments for chronic kidney disease. I primarily study these treatments using a mouse model of Alport syndrome, a rare genetic disease that causes kidney failure. My long-term career goal is to become the preeminent expert on an orphan disease specific to the medical subspecialty that I enter. I would conduct translational research on this disease at a large academic medical center and treat patients with refractory cases from around the world.
Name: Paige Brooks, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH
Email: pmb85@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Cochlear Spiral Ganglion Neuron Survival
Tl1 Mentor(s): Dr. Thomas Coate, PhD (Georgetown University) & Dr. Ronna Hertzano, MD, PhD (University of Maryland School of Medicine)
TL1 Bio: I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Biology at Georgetown University where I am studying the role otic mesenchyme cells play in supporting cochlear spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). SGNs are the first-order auditory afferents, and while they are necessary for most therapeutic hearing options, they are also sensitive to even moderate noise damage. My work focuses on the potential for otic mesenchyme cells - a poorly understood but abundant cochlear cell - to support SGN survival through the transcription factor Pou3f4. Prior to beginning my graduate work, I earned a B.A. in Neuroscience from Colgate University where I studied supporting cell development in the zebrafish lateral line under Dr. Jason Meyers. As a TL1 Scholar, I am dedicated to continuing to develop my expertise in neuroscience and sensory biology, and I hope to use this expertise to investigate novel therapies in the auditory system.
Name: Shiva Hassanzadeh-Behbahani
Current Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Investigating Frontostriatal Neural Injury in Adults Living with HIV
TL1 Mentors: Xiong Jiang (PhD) (Georgetown University) and Ronald Ellis (MD, PhD) (University of California, San Diego)
TL1 Bio: As a PhD candidate in the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience (IPN) at Georgetown University, I am interested in how the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects the brain and leads to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). The overarching goal of my research is to use brain imaging techniques to inform early HAND diagnosis and improve the quality of life for individuals impacted by HIV/AIDS. Prior to joining the IPN, I earned my B.A. in psychology from George Mason University, where I conducted cognitive science research using eye tracking. I am passionate about applying cognitive neuroscience methods to help improve the cognitive functioning of individuals impacted by neurological disorders, such as HAND.
Name: Sarra Djemil, PhD
Current Title: Scientific Program Manager, NCI SBIR Development Center
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Plasticity and vulnerability of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in Alzheimer's Disease
TL1 Mentors: Daniel T.S. Pak, PhD (Georgetown University), and Brent Harris, MD, PhD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: As a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, my research interests center on identifying therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. After completing my Ph.D. in Pharmacology at Georgetown University, I joined the lab of Dr. Daniel Pak. My current project focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms that render basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCNs), the first to succumb to death in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), susceptible to degeneration. Ultimately, my goal is to identify pharmacological interventions that will halt the death BFCNs and thereby delay the progression of AD.
Name: Joseph L. Paul
Current Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Howard University
Email: paul.joseph@bison.howard.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: Investigating the Functional Role of RASAL2 in Prostate Cancer
TL1 Mentors: Bernard Kwabi-Addo PhD (Howard University), and Yasmine Kanaan, PhD (Howard University)
TL1 Bio: I have a background and M.S. degree in Cancer Biology. As a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Howard University, I have chosen to investigate the functional role of RASAL2 in prostate cancer. RASAL2 is an inhibitor of the Ras protooncogene which is mutated in roughly 30% of human cancers and is known to cooperate with Myc, another well-known oncogene. My goal is to establish the biology of RASAL2 in the prostate and the molecular mechanism regulating its expression. Successful completion of this proposal will not only provide more insight into the biology of RASAL2 in the prostate but can potentially identify it as a novel marker to exploit for therapeutic intervention. This is significant since RASAL2 can act as tumor suppressor and driver of disease progression in different cancers.
Name: Alan Fowler
Email: ajf115@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience
TL1 Research Topic: MicroRNAs as biomarkers for tyrosine kinase inhibition in neurodegenerative proteinopathies
TL1 Mentor: Charbel Moussa MD, PhD (Dept. of Neurology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I am currently seeking a PhD in neuroscience with an emphasis on neurodegeneration and therapeutic strategies. After completing my bachelor’s in chemistry, I had the opportunity to work with several investigators in the field of endocrinology and metabolism and neuroendocrinology, specifically investigating how central or peripheral signaling mechanisms regulates metabolic homeostasis. For my doctoral training at Georgetown University, I have transitioned into the field of neurodegeneration. Under the mentorship of Dr. Charbel Moussa, I am studying mechanisms of autophagy in models of neurodegenerative proteinopathies and the role of tyrosine kinases in their pathogenesis. Under the TL1 training grant, my proposed research aims to use omics approaches to understand changes in gene regulation as a result of tyrosine kinase inhibition via Nilotinib and establish microRNAs as reliable biomarkers of response to pharmacological intervention via Nilotinib. My long-term career interests lie on the translational research involved in optimizing therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases.
Name: Joseph Posner, PhD
Current Title: Medical Student, Georgetown University
Email: jlp253@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: MD/PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: The Neural Reading Network and How it Changes After a Stroke
TL1 Mentors: Rhonda Friedman, PhD (Georgetown University) & Peter Turkeltaub, MD/PhD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: "My background, ultimately leading me to become a cognitive neurologist, started at the Community College of Baltimore County where I graduated with A.S. in Chemistry. I then continued my education at the University of Maryland Baltimore County where I graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry. These experiences led me to pursue a career as a medical researcher, and to obtain research experiences working with Dr. Mortimer Mishkin at the NIMH working on the connections between the auditory cortex and the thalamus, and with Dr. Argye Hillis at Johns Hopkins University working on the factors affecting aphasia recovery in stroke survivors. Currently, I work under the dual mentorship of Drs. Rhonda Friedman and Peter Turkeltaub in the MD/PhD program at Georgetown University. My research, under the TL1 Training Grant, will attempt to understand the neural pathways that govern reading processes, and how those pathways change after a stroke that affects reading ability. In the future, I hope to investigate the ability of the human brain to change as a result of experience or injury, in the hopes of applying that knowledge to potential treatments for those who have lost certain cognitive functions."
Name: Victoria Brooks
Current Title: Graduate Research Assistant, Howard University
Email:victoria.brooks@bison.howard.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Department of Microbiology, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: Red blood cell alloimmunization in Sickle Cell Disease
TL1 Mentors: James G. Taylor, IV, MD (Howard University), and Sergei Nekhai, PhD (Howard University)
TL1 Bio: My background is in Microbiology, I have a B.S. in Microbiology/Biotechnology, however, it was not until graduate school that I took interest in the biomedical research emphasis of Microbiology, especially Immunology and microbial–host interactions. I am currently a PhD. candidate at Howard University pursing a degree in Medical Microbiology with an emphasis in Immunology; working under the guidance of Dr. James G. Taylor, Director of the Howard University’s Center for Sickle Cell Disease. My thesis research proposes to elucidate a biological basis of red blood cell alloimmunization in multiple transfused sickle cell disease patients. I am using both genetic and immunological based approaches to determine if there are susceptibility profiles associated with this complication in frequently transfused patients. Alloimmunization is the major factor limiting the use of transfusion therapy in sickle cell disease, and this work has the potential for early identification of patients at increased risk.
Name: Kevin Cook, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral fellow, Developing Brain Institute, Children's National
Email: kc1022@georgetown.edu
Pubmed Link: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Role of the medial temporal lobe in autism spectrum disorder
TL1 Mentor: Chandan Vaidya PhD
TL1 Bio: I am a PhD Candidate in Neuroscience at Georgetown University, where I where I am investigating the role of memory and learning in explaining clinical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. In particular, I use imaging techniques to examine differences in brain activity in children with autism, with an emphasis on structures in the medial temporal lobe. Prior to joining the Neuroscience program at Georgetown, I obtained by B.A. in psychology from Skidmore college and then went on to earn my M.A. in clinical psychology from University of Hartford. After working as both a mental health clinician at a community clinic and then as a researcher in a lab examining clinical and symptom overlap between autism and schizophrenia, I joined the neuroscience program at Georgetown and the lab of Dr. Vaidya. Ultimately, it is my hope to continue to explain clinical symptoms seen in autism through the lens of differences in fundamental cognitive processes.
Name: Tamar Demby, PhD
Email: tcd35@georgetown.edu
Pubmed Link: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Oncology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Mouse Modeling of APOE Genotype in Chemotherapy-related Cognitive Impairment
TL1 Mentors: Dr. G. William Rebeck, Dr. Jeanne Mandelblatt
TL1 Bio: I am a 4th-year PhD student in Georgetown University’s Tumor Biology program. Having completed my undergraduate degree in Biotechnology at Rutgers, I wanted to combine pursuit of studies in animal systems biology with translational approaches that would help me turn basic research discoveries into novel translational approaches in the medical field. I was drawn to the Tumor Biology program based on my strong interest in cancer biology as well as the program’s interdisciplinary approaches to cancer research and emphasis on communication between basic and clinical researchers. As a graduate student at Georgetown, I went through multiple research rotations in cancer biology laboratories before joining the laboratory of Dr. G. William Rebeck of the Neuroscience department, under dual mentorship with Dr. Jeanne Mandelblatt of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program. I embarked on a project to develop a mouse model of the effects of Apolipoprotein E genotype on cognitive sequelae of chemotherapy treatment. APOE4 is well characterized as a strong and prevalent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Recent clinical research lead by Dr. Mandelblatt indicates that among older breast cancer survivors who have been treated with chemotherapy, APOE4 carriers are at increased risk for cognitive impairment. My work uses animal behavioral tests to establish changes in cognition in transgenic mice expressing human APOE3 or APOE4; I use the same mice to investigate mechanisms by which APOE genotype influences cognitive outcome after chemotherapy treatment. This research has given me new insight to the role of basic and translational research on cancer survivorship, which has become an area of great interest to me. Using clinical insights to generate animal models for translational research gives me a broad perspective on the relationship between basic, clinical, and translational approaches, and how researchers in different areas can effectively work together to improve the lives of cancer patients and cancer survivors.
Name: Kimberly Nkem Uweh, Pharm.D.
Current Title: Pharmacy Care Service Lead, Safeway Pharmacy
Email: Kimberly.Uweh@ucdenver.edu
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: Examining Characteristics of Placebo Effects on Trauma-Related Insomnia in a Suvorexant Trial
TL1 Mentors: Primary Co-Mentors: Ihori Kobayashi, PhD (Department of Psychiatry and Medicine, Howard University) & Khang Ho, Pharm.D.(Department of Research Pharmacy, Georgetown University), Co-Mentor: Thomas Mellman, MD, & Erin Wilhelm, MPH (Department of Regulatory Affairs, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: Kimberly is a pharmacist and clinical researcher in her first year of Postdoctoral training at the Sleep and Stress Research Center at Howard University. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a minor in Chemistry from San Jose State University (2012) and her Doctorate of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy& Pharmaceutical Sciences (2017). Her research interest consists of understanding the placebo effect and its clinical implications in future treatments in psychiatric disorders. Her project aims to analyze data from the placebo group in an ongoing double-blind placebo study on Suvorexant for the treatment of trauma related insomnia (TRI). The placebo effects on TRI are unknown, and the proposed project will provide valuable information for the development of TRI treatments.
Name: Elyssa LaFlamme, PhD
Current Title: Regulatory Scientist and Medical Writer, RQM+
Email: eml97@georgetown.edu
Pubmed Link: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Medial temporal lobe receptor populations regulating memory and association
TL1 Mentors: Ludise Malkova, PhD, and Patrick Forcelli, PhD (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: My research interests center on the neuropharmacology regulating cognitive and emotional dysfunction underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, with the ultimate goal of designing more specific and effective treatments. I received my B.A. in neuroscience and biological sciences at Smith College, where I studied the effects of intracerebral oxytocin in the central nucleus of the amygdala and in the lateral septum on female social affiliation for my honors thesis. I came to Georgetown University for the doctoral program in pharmacology because of its emphasis on the intersection between pharmacology and neuroscience, and with the mentorship of Drs. Ludise Malkova and Patrick Forcelli, I have developed my ability to apply pharmacological tools and techniques for cognitive and behavioral research. I am now in my fourth year, and for my graduate thesis I am investigating the role of specific receptor populations in the medial temporal lobe in long-term memory and association, with a particular emphasis on nonnavigational spatial memory.
Name: Parnika Kadam, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania.
Email: psk40@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Regulation of the angiotensin type 1 receptor by an upstream short open reading frame in the receptor mRNA 5’ leader sequence
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Kathryn Sandberg, Dr. Susette Mueller, Dr. Joseph Verbalis and Dr. Robert Speth
TL1 Bio: After I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology, I realized that I have a drive and passion for biochemistry and molecular biology. I believe the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology generate an unlimited range of valuable and useful tools and approaches that can lead to discovering and improving treatments for patients battling with diseases. My parents have always encouraged me to pursue and excel in the career I am most passionate about. After college, I moved to the United States to pursue a Masters degree in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Program at Georgetown University. This learning experience helped me to grow as a researcher and encouraged me to pursue a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology. My thesis research is entitled Regulation of the angiotensin type 1 receptor by an upstream short open reading frame in the receptor mRNA 5’ leader sequence. The angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) is a key player in the renin angiotensin system and blocking the activity of this receptor is a common clinical treatment for hypertension and cardiovascular and renal diseases. My research aims to deduce the mechanisms in which the sORF upstream of the AT1R coding region regulates the function of AT1R and explore the role of this sORF in human physiology/ pathophysiology. This fine regulation of AT1R can be a key to better treatment options for hypertension.
Name: Katherine O’Connell, PhD
Current Title: Social Scientist, The Lab @ DC
Email: kmo52@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Affective processes in human empathy and social behavior
TL1 Mentor: Dr. Abigail Marsh
TL1 Bio: I am a Neuroscience PhD candidate interested in understanding how affective processes and emotions influence behavior, and how these influences play a role in the development and maintenance of clinically-relevant socioemotional traits in neurologically healthy populations and individuals who have had a stroke. I use methods including computational behavioral modeling and brain imaging to study how people respond to social and emotional events. I obtained my B.S. from The Pennsylvania State University and completed a post-baccalaureate research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health before joining the Laboratory on Social and Affective Neuroscience at Georgetown University under Dr. Abigail Marsh. I joined the TBS training program in 2017 with the long-term goal of improving outcomes and quality of life for individuals with social difficulties.
Name: Jay Patel, PhD
Current Title: Medical Student, Georgetown University
Email: jap282@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: MD, PhD Candidate | Tumor Biology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Tumor Biology
TL1 Mentors: Stephen Byers, PhD (Department of Oncology, Georgetown University) and Jacqueline Jonklaas (Department of Medicine, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: As an MD/PhD student at Georgetown University, my research interest is in understanding how mitochondrial metabolism influences cancer progression. My interest in mitochondrial biology began as an undergraduate at Brandeis University from which I received a BS in biochemistry. It has recently been discovered that mitochondrial metabolism contributes to therapy resistance in many cancers. My goal is to use basic science to discover novel signaling pathways that regulate mitochondrial function, and translate this work into the clinic by developing new drugs that target these pathways. Such mitochondrial targeted therapies will then help treat therapy resistant cancers.
Name: Katherine G. Michel, PhD, MPH
Current Title: Assistant Professor | KL2 Scholar, Georgetown University Medical Center
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University Medical Center
TL1 Research Topic: HIV/STIs, Women's Health, Health Disparities
TL1 Mentors: Seble G. Kassaye, Richard Schlegel
TL1 Bio: My research at Georgetown University and the DC Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) has focused on the natural history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia-2 in women living with HIV and the effects of the cervicovaginal microbiota on HIV trajectory. In my Immunology PhD at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, my research focused on the effects of hormonal contraception on the systemic and genital immune milieu. During my MPH in Global Epidemiology at Emory University, I conducted work on sexual minority health on college campuses, contraception and reproductive health care access in Atlanta, and couple's HIV testing.
Name: Andrew DeMarco, PhD, CCC-SLP
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Multimodal imaging of the neural mechanisms of transcranial direct current stimulation in stroke aphasia treatment
TL1 Mentors: Peter Turkeltaub, MD, PhD (Department of Neurology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: Andrew is a neuroscientist and licensed speech-language pathologist in his first year of Postdoctoral training in the Cognitive Recovery Lab at Georgetown University. Broadly, his research interests relate to understanding how the speech and language systems break down in the brain in aphasia (difficulties understanding or talking e.g., after a stroke) and how that information can inform aphasia rehabilitation. His areas of expertise include acquired neurogenic disorders, neuroimaging, and aphasia rehabilitation. His current training focuses on gaining experience with neurostimulation techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to evaluate their potential for enhancing aphasia rehabilitation.
Name: Emily Andre, PhD
Current Title: Regulatory Associate, MCRA, LLC
Pubmed Link: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Investigation of the effects of Plk2 kinase activity on amyloid precursor protein endocytosis and processing
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Daniel Pak, Dr. Raymond Turner
TL1 Bio: As a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, my main focus is on understanding mechanisms of neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). After completing my PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Virginia, I began investigating the link between neuronal hyperexcitation and AD pathologies in the lab of Dr. Daniel Pak. We are currently focused on the role of polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2), an important regulator for synaptic homeostatic plasticity, in the modulation of amyloid precursor protein internalization and processing and subsequent generation of secreted amyloid beta.
Name: Sikoya Ashburn, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Email: sma250@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Cerebellar involvement in reading and math disabilities
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Guinevere Eden
TL1 Bio: I began my venture as a cognitive neuroscientist at Duke University where I graduated with a B.S. in Neuroscience and B.A. in Spanish. While at Duke, I volunteered as a research assistant in behavioral neuroscience and cognitive neuroimaging labs. Before matriculating into the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience at Georgetown University, I worked as a research assistant for an Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) study with the goal of using fMRI to find a novel biomarker for AD under the direction of Dr. Xiong Jiang. At this time, I was also a MRI technician for the Center of Functional Magnetic Imaging with Dr. John VanMeter. Presently as a doctoral candidate under the mentorship of Dr. Guinevere Eden, I study the cerebellum’s involvement in higher cognitive functions, particularly with respect to reading and math. Under the TL1 training grant, I am using a combination of functional activation and connectivity to test potential cerebellar involvement in children with co-morbid reading (dyslexia) and math (dyscalculia) disabilities. In the future, I hope to continue using neuroimaging methods to elucidate the cerebellum’s involvement in other developmental and learning disorders, which may then be used to redefine current interventions.
Name: Megan Huizenga, PhD
Current Title: Sr. Medical Science Liaison, Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Email: mnh34@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Pharmacological and gene therapy approaches for limbic seizure control
TL1 Mentors: Patrick Forcelli, PhD (Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: My research interests center on the discovery on improved therapeutics through the identification of disease mechanisms. My research pursuits began as an undergraduate at the University of Connecticut. While earning my B.S. in psychology and neuroscience, I created a rodent model of depression to test novel therapeutics. I then continued my research efforts as a lab assistant at Massachusetts General Hospital in a neuroepigenetics lab where I investigated epigenetic alterations associated with a heritable drug resistance phenotype and assessed the efficacy of novel compounds in a Huntington’s disease cell line. Most recently, I was accepted into the Ph.D. program in Pharmacology at Georgetown University and am completing my thesis research with Dr. Forcelli investigating both pharmacological treatments for pediatric seizure models and gene therapy approaches for targeting limbic seizures in adult animal models.
Name: Adam Caccavano, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, NIH/NICHD
Email: ac1625@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Hippocampal network disruptions in early amyloid pathology
TL1 Mentors: Dr. Stefano Vicini, Dr. Dan Pak
TL1 Bio: I am a third year PhD candidate interested in how hippocampal oscillations with a critical role in memory consolidation become disrupted in Alzheimer's disease. I approach this problem through the techniques of electrophysiology, calcium imaging, immunohistochemistry, and computational modeling. I have a background in physics, with a B.S. from the University of Oregon and an M.S. from Portland State University. I am drawn to the interdisciplinary and translational nature of neuroscience, and hope to add to the growing body of work that bridges basic science findings in animal models to human pathology.
Name: Latifa Jackson, PhD
Current Title: Assistant Professor, Howard University
Email: latifa.jackson@howard.edu
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: The Impact of Adverse Life experience on Allostatic Load and the Genomics of Resilience in African Americans.
TL1 Mentors: Joseph Wright (primary mentor), Vence Bonham, Carlos Bustamante, and David Williams
TL1 Bio: Dr. Jackson received her Bachelor’s degrees in Cell/Molecular Biology and Genetics (B.S.) and French Language and Literature (B.A.) from the University of Maryland at College Park (1997). She received my Master’s degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology (2011) from University of Arizona. She completed her Ph.D. in Biomedical Science (Fall 2014) in the School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems at Drexel University. Her dissertation research investigated the use of gene locality in identifying genomic regions of interest for chronic and infectious disease and how disease risk and resistance alleles segregate in human populations. She uses bioinformatics, functional genomics and evolutionary biology approaches to study genetic patterns that contribute to disease phenotypes within a biological anthropology framework. Her research seeks to build models of human immunological responses to key infectious disease that account for how genetic variants and environmental factors contribute to disease phenotypes.
Name: Alana Lelo, PhD
Current Title: Equity research associate - Guggenheim Securities
Email: al958@georgetown.edu
TL1 Title: PhD, MD Candidate | Tumor Biology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Role of the tumor suppressor stromal antigen 2 (STAG2) in bladder cancer
TL1 Mentors: Todd Waldman, MD, PhD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: As an MD/PhD candidate, my ultimate goals involve bridging the gap between basic science and clinical medicine. More precisely, I ultimately aim to exploit the knowledge garnered from bench science to develop new, targeted therapies in pediatric oncology. My academic training and research experience have provided me with an excellent background in molecular biology, molecular genetics and clinical medicine. While an undergraduate at New York University, I sought out a variety of diverse research experiences. I spent two summers interning in the translational research department at OSI Pharmaceuticals where my focus was on the characterization of small molecule receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. During the semesters, I worked in two different HIV labs. In one, I studied the transplacental crossing cytokines. In the other, I gained experience in monocyte isolation for the ultimate use in the characterization of a protein implicated in HIV resistance. Because of my interest in clinical medicine, I also devoted time to volunteering in a post-anesthesia care unit, where I was able to have intense interaction with patients and physicians. Following my graduation from New York University, I sought to immerse myself in research and completed a year-long internship at OSI Pharmaceuticals and then spent over a year at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. I matriculated into the Georgetown MD/PhD program in June of 2012 and recently entered my fifth year in the program. I have since completed my preclinical coursework and two research rotations, one with Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky and another with Dr. Todd Waldman. Ultimately, I chose to complete my thesis work with Dr. Todd Waldman. For my thesis project, I am determining if STAG2 mutational status correlates with prognostic outcome in non-invasive urothelial carcinoma. Recently, I have established a multi-institute collaboration in order to continue expanding my study. I am also at the bench, performing mechanistic studies to further elucidate the role STAG2 has in bladder cancer.
Name: Sara Maimouni, PhD
Current Title: Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Rutgers; Freelance Science Writer, BrightFocuse Foundation; Research Scientist, Bristol Myers Squibb
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Biochemistry, Georgetown University
Email: sm2856@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Metabolism and metabo-therapeutics
TL1 Mentors: Stephen Byers, PhD (Georgetown University) and Priscilla Furth, MD (Georgetown University)
TL1: I was born and raised in Morocco where opportunities to study basic science and conduct research are limited. In addition, I grew up in a family that pursued the arts, and as a child, I struggled with finding support for my budding interest in the sciences. It was not until I started volunteering at a diagnostic laboratory in my city while in high school that I became aware and interested in the health disparities in my community. My first exposure to scientific research was during my undergraduate studies in the United States. I had the chance to work as an undergraduate research assistant at Cornell University with Dr. Goldberg, a preeminent molecular biologist. In his lab, I studied drosophila molecular biology and developed an appreciation for numerous molecular biology techniques. My interest in public health research continued and at the end of my undergraduate career, I interned as an undergraduate research assistant in public health awareness for underserved populations at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. These diverse research experiences have provided me with a foundation in cell biology as well as public health. I am now a fourth-year cell biology Ph.D. candidate conducting basic science research on the metabolic function of retinoic acid receptor responder protein 1. I am also involved in translational research through my work on repurposing metabo-drugs for breast cancer therapy. These experiences have solidified my interest in metabolic reprogramming during cancer development and repurposing metabo-therapeutics for cancer therapy. I am the first woman in my family to pursue my doctoral degree, and the first member and woman in my family to pursue a career in science. I am thrilled to represent Moroccan women and scientists in this field.
Name: Donte Pennington, PhD
Current Title: Director of Family and Consumer Sciences and Human Physiology Researcher, West Virginia State University
Email: Donte.Pennington@va.gov
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington DC VAMC
TL1 Research Topic: "Intracellular Ca2+ signaling as a biomarker of sarcopenia in African Americans"
TL1 Mentors: Bidhan Bandyopadhyay, PhD (Ca2+ Signaling Laboratory, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center) and Michael Harris-Love, DSc, (Muscle Morphology, Mechanics, and Performance Laboratory, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center)
TL1 Bio: I received my M.S. in Exercise Physiology from Marshall University and my PhD in Physiology from Howard University. My general research interest is clinical muscle morphology and translational calcium signaling physiology. Currently, I have joined as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center upon receiving my Translational Biomedical Science TL1 grant award. My research focus is to determine the compromise in intracellular Ca2+ signaling efficiency within sarcopenic African American Veterans as compared to their non-sarcopenic counterpart. Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), which is essential for skeletal muscle function, may be diminished in sarcopenia, resulting in muscle weakness and thus could be a key target for preventative therapeutic interventions. Potential findings from this effort would provide insight concerning how the changes in intracellular Ca2+ signaling affects downstream mechanisms leading to skeletal muscle tissue damage. The objective of this research is to elucidate the cell death (apoptotic/necrotic) pathways associated with SOCE-related intracellular Ca2+ signaling within sarcopenic and non-sarcopenic skeletal muscle tissue. This scientific endeavor will help me to understand whether the down/up regulation of intracellular Ca2+ singling pathway can be associated with ryanodine receptor expression/function and SOCE, compromising the sarcoplasmic reticular function within the sarcopenic skeletal muscle, which can induce cell death due to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Name: Mary Katherine Howell, PhD
Current Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, VA Capitol Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC)
Email: mary.howell@howard.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Clinical Psychology, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: Alternative fear activation pathways in post-traumatic stress disorder and treatment response
TL1 Mentors: Thomas A. Mellman, MD (Department of Psychiatry, Howard University)
TL1 Bio: As a graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program at Howard University, my primary research interests are in pathways of subjective distress and autonomic arousal and habituation that optimize treatment response in exposure-based treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. I also have an interest in post-traumatic distress presentation in various cultural contexts, such as urban-residing African American populations, Veteran populations, and Arab populations. After obtaining my B.A. in Psychology and Middle East Studies from Northwestern University, I began my training as a clinical scientist at Howard University and joined Dr. Mellman's lab, the Sleep and Stress Research Program, in 2014.
Name: Maurice B. Fluitt, PhD
Current Title: Assistant Professor | KL2 Scholar, Howard University College of Medicine
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
Email: mfb79@georgetown.edu
TL1 Research Topic: Assessing urinary exosomal microRNAs as early biomarkers and molecular regulators of diabetic renal disease
TL1 Mentors: Carolyn Ecelbarger, PhD (Department of Medicine, Georgetown University) & Gail Nunlee-Bland, MD (Department of Pediatrics and Medicine, Howard University)
TL1 Bio: My research interests include elucidating the molecular mechanisms of diabetes mellitus development and progression, specifically in minority populations. My previous academic and research experience under Drs. Kanwal K. Gambhir and Gail Nunlee-Bland at Howard University provided excellent training in clinical research and genetics. My PhD thesis research explored the role of ghrelin in obese African American adolescents. I recruited over fifty human participants for a pilot and feasibility study exploring circulatory microRNAs as biomarkers for type 2 diabetes mellitus in African American adults. My current research builds upon my previous work and focuses on the use of urinary exosomal microRNAs as early biomarkers of diabetic nephropathy. Identifying early markers of diabetic nephropathy is essential for slowing disease development and progression. This work will provide much needed insight into the diagnosis and serial monitoring of diabetic nephropathy, leading to the development of novel diagnostic and prognostic tests.
Name: Monica Javidnia, MS, PhD
Current Title: Staff Fellow (RG-405-13/1), Food & Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Office of Study Integrity and Surveillance
Email: mj522@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Pharmacology, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Tyrosine kinase inhibition for neurodegenerative tauopathies
TL1 Mentors: Charbel Moussa, MD, PhD (Department of Neurology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: My research interests lie in the study of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. The pursuit of my career goals has led me to several research opportunities around the country including developmental neurolinguistics at the Callier Center for Communication Disorders in Dallas, legume and tree nut allergens at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in New Orleans, and, most recently, tyrosine kinase inhibition for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases at Georgetown University in D.C. After earning my B.S. and M.S. in Neuroscience at the University of Texas - Dallas, I was accepted to the Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology at Georgetown University. I joined the Laboratory of Dementia and Parkinsonism in January 2015 and am excited to continue my thesis work with Dr. Moussa, in the Translational Neurotherapeutics Program, and the Translational Biomedical Science Program.
Name: Amrita Pai, MS, PhD
Current Title: Scientist II, Downstream PD, Vigene Biosciences, Inc.
Email: avp37@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See Link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Biochemistry, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Effects of ovarian hormone loss on immune regulation of hypertension
TL1 Mentors: Kathryn Sandberg, PhD (Georgetown University) & Shannon Dunn, PhD (University of Toronto) & Jason G. Umans, MD, PhD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I’ve been studying in the USA since 2011 and this experience has changed the way I think about biological science. I came to the USA for the Master's in Biotechnology program at Georgetown University, which provided me with the opportunity to intern at the National Institutes of Health and to work at MedImmune, a biologics research and development company based in Maryland. These diverse experiences made me realize that the only way to fully achieve my ambition of becoming a biomedical researcher was to pursue doctoral study. I am now in the fourth year of my PhD program. The focus of my project is on the effects of ovarian hormone loss on the mechanisms by which the immune system contributes to hypertension. Specifically, I am studying the hypothesis that cytotoxic interleukin 17 T cells play a key role in ovarian hormone modulation of blood pressure. We are using a novel animal model of resistance and susceptibility to hypertension exacerbated by ovariectomy. It is my hope that my PhD and future research will lead to new insights into the management and prevention of hypertension and in turn, reduce the devastating conditions associated with prolonged high blood pressure.
Name: Stephen P. Wright, PhD
Current Title: Scientific Advisor, Board of Directors, HighThrive Foundation
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: The cognitive protective effects of exercise
TL1 Mentors: Kathryn Sandberg, PhD (Georgetown University), Jason Umans, MD, PhD (MedStar, Georgetown University Hospital), Gillian Einstein, PhD (University of Toronto), Robert C. Speth, PhD (Nova Southeastern University) & R. Scott Turner, MD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: Ever since I designed a quantitative social science study of vocabulary in advertising at age 14, I've been a scientist at heart. At Cornell University I worked with Urie Bronfenbrenner on research into joint activities with others who were significant in their lives, and did related independent research on people who were important models in students' lives. I have a longstanding interest in learning and cognition, and in the contexts which influence it. My PhD dissertation focused on instrument design and measuring the social dimensions of living-learning programs in academic settings. I also did an internship in ways to apply modern positive psychology methods to increasing personal well-being. I spent several years exploring ways students learn a second language by reviewing methods in the literature and by developing curricula and testing that curricula through teaching students of all ages. I also examined another topic involving procedural memory: how students learn a complex physical activity, this time through my part-time work as an independent professional dance instructor. These experiences led me to return to academia as a postdoctoral fellow to train in the methodology that would enable me to investigate rigorously the mechanisms underlying the cognitive protective effects of aerobic exercise and to test my hypothesis that the complexity in dance (involving dimensions such as balance, coordination, skill acquisition and retrieval, responses to the actions of a partner, and some degree of unpredictability) adds to the benefits of physical exercise on cognition. Currently I am the scientific advisor and a board member of a non-profit devoted to helping individuals identify behavioral health challenges and increase personal well-being in the four domains addressed by the Well-Being Index model. We are working with Dr. Dawne Vogt (Boston University; Women's Health Sciences, VA Healthcare) to study an application of her model to use with veterans, other non-profits, and the general public.
Name: Stephanie Davis, PhD, MD
Current Title: Family Medicine Residency, Medstar Franklin Square
Email: sed51@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD, MD Candidate | Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Molecular mechanisms of multiple sclerosis
TL1 Mentors: Jeffery Huang, PhD (Georgetown University) & Anton Wellstein MD, PhD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I am interested in understanding the mechanisms of myelin repair in multiple sclerosis, with the ultimate goal of contributing to therapeutic advancement. I was first introduced to neuroscience research during my undergraduate degree at Barnard College, Columbia University, in the laboratory of Dr. Elizabeth Bauer. There I studied the molecular and behavioral mechanism of fear learning and fear extinction in Sprague-Dawley rats. I learned to perform stereotaxic surgery for the implantation of cannulae into the basolateral amygdala, design and run behavioral protocols, analyze behavioral data and to perform histological analysis of brain slices. Specifically, I studied the effects of L-type voltage-gated calcium channel blockade on fear extinction. After graduating Cum Laude from Barnard College, I spent 6 months as a paid intern in the Laboratory of Neuronal Microcircuitry headed by Dr. Henry Markram of the Blue Brain Project at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, where I studied the effects of various splice variants of transient receptor potential cation channels in layer 5 pyramidal neurons in mice. In 2012, I began my career as an MD/PhD candidate at Georgetown University. Clinical, personal, academic, and research experiences during my first two years in the MD/PhD program have drawn my attention to multiple sclerosis. I am conducting my PhD thesis in the lab of Dr. Jeffrey Huang, investigating the roles of inflammation and central nervous system remyelination in mouse models of multiple
Name: Keeshaloy Thompson, PhD
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Biotransformation of drugs and race and ethnic difference in smoking cessation strategies
TL1 Mentors: Milton Brown, MD, PhD (Department of Oncology, Georgetown University) & Subha Madhavan, PhD (Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: My primary research interest is in medicinal chemistry and centers on the biotransformation of compounds that takes place within the human body. My current research with Dr. Brown focuses on the metabolism of small molecules that interact with nicotinic receptors in the brain. I am particularly interested in using molecular modeling to develop new and effective therapeutics.
Name: Sandeep Nadella, MD
Current Title: Gastroenterology Fellow, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Email: snn29@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See Link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Epigenetic regulation of pancreatic cancer
TL1 Mentors: Jill Smith, MD (Georgetown University) & Narayan Shivapurkar, MD (Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I am Board Certified in Gastroenterology. My research interests include developing a comprehensive understanding of the basic mechanisms of pancreatic diseases including pancreatic cancer. My clinical training has helped me develop a background of the clinical manifestations of pancreatic disease such as chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. My research is focused on understanding the epigenetic changes that occur during pancreatic disorders including pancreatic cancer and regeneration of the pancreas after injury. Under the mentorship of Dr. Smith, I am studying the role of the gastrin: cholecystokinin receptor axis in pancreatic cancer development and progression. I hope to use the improved knowledge of epigenetic regulation to develop better tests for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, as well as, recruiting patients for development of a non-invasive "liquid biopsy" to help diagnose pancreatic cancer. I am developing a database of patients with benign pancreatic disorders including pancreatitis and pancreatic cysts, in hope to use machine learning algorithms to deliver insights into management of patients with these conditions.
Name: Lucas Tricoli, PhD
Current Title: Research Associate, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Email: ltricoli10@gmail.com
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Modeling prostate cancer in 3D
TL1 Mentors: Chris Albanese, PhD (Department of Oncology, Georgetown University) & Richard Schlegel, MD, PhD (Department of Pathology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: Using the training and expertise gained from development of my 3D trans-well culture model, I have a significant interest in furthering our understanding of indolent vs. aggressive forms of prostate cancer. This includes broadening the technique to look at other forms of cancer using this 3D model. Using this novel 3D technique, I will employ genetic and molecular interrogation to assess the exact mechanisms that lead to the development of aggressive compared to indolent disease in cancer. My work with conditionally reprogrammed cells has given me extensive experience with developmental biology in looking at differences in expression markers of luminal differentiated cells compared to basal stem-like cells. With a clinically relevant 3D trans-well culture model in development, accumulated knowledge of cell development and mechanistic studies on development of cancer, I have a significant interest in applying this knowledge to cellular regeneration techniques as well. My ultimate goal is to expand the field of translational cancer research using my acquired primary cell culture techniques, with an eye on cellular regeneration
Name: Shashwati Geed, PT, PhD
Current Title: Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
Email: sg1075@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital
TL1 Research Topic: Post-stroke arm recovery, neurophysiology of arm motor control, manual dexterity
TL1 Mentors: Alexander W. Dromerick, MD & Michelle L. Harris-Love, PT, PhD (MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital & Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I am a translational neuroscientist and physical therapist. A research fellow at the Neuroscience Research Center at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital. My research uses transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and neuroimaging tools to identify what distinguishes the neurophysiology of successful arm recovery after stroke from disabling arm impairment. The goal is to better understand what differentiates brain circuitry of people with almost completely recovered arms after stroke from the circuitry of people with persistent disability, and thereby, develop more mechanism-based interventions for stroke recovery. I also work with healthy adults and the ageing population to determine how hand function and manual dexterity changes with the ageing brain. I have expertise in neurophysiology, statistical and computational modeling, electromyography, 3-D motion capture, software development for data acquisition and analysis, and behavioral training. In addition, my current work at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital uses transcranial magnetic stimulation and neuroimaging methods. My doctoral degree in Kinesiology (with a concentration in motor control and neuroscience) is from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and received an Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training NIDILRR postdoctoral fellowship (2014-2015), and NIH/NINDS StrokeNet postdoctoral fellowship (2015-2016) after completing my PhD.
Name: Kevin Jones, PhD
Current Title: Specialist, University of California, San Francisco
Email: kevjones22@gmail.com
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University
TL1 Research Topic: Language rehabilitation, working memory, cognitive aging, cognitive training.
TL1 Mentors: Rhonda Friedman, PhD (Department of Neurology, Georgetown University) & Peter Turkeltaub, MD, PhD (Department of Neurology, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: I have conducted extensive research in the field of working memory by utilizing techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, high-definition electroencephologram, and eye-tracking. My research has targeted both healthy young adults as well as older adults who are often at a high risk of memory decline. I am now working with neuropsychological populations to study ways to ameliorate aphasia in individuals with stroke and other neuropsychological conditions.
Name: Elissa Carney, PhD
Current Title: Program Director for Science, Mathematics and Biotechnology, UC Berkley Extension
Email: elissa.carney@gmail.com
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Titles: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgetown University | Higher Education Physiology Program Coordinator, American Physiological Society
TL1 Research Topic: Nutritional modulation of risk of reproductive cancer
TL1 Mentors: Sonia de Assis, PhD (Department of Oncology, Georgetown University), William Barnes, MD (Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Georgetown University) & Nancy Dawson, MD (Department of Medicine, Georgetown University)
TL1 Bio: Elissa Carney PhD MS is currently working as Program Director for the Science Mathematics and Biotechnology department of UC Berkeley Extension. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Elissa has a BS in Biology Honors from Villanova University. She completed her MS in Physiology with a specialization in Complementary and Alternative Medicine and her PhD in Physiology & Biophysics at Georgetown University. She conducted her postdoctoral research at Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, DC where she investigated the effects of different dietary patterns on risk of breast cancer as part of the Georgetown- Howard TBS/TL1 program. In addition, Elissa completed a fellowship in Health Policy where she focused on investigating issues of reproducibility in research and leaks in the biomedical pipeline. Later, she worked as a Health Policy Analyst at a government contract company on various projects for the National Institutes Health and Department of Health and Human Services. Elissa co-developed core curriculum in the first-ever online advanced care nursing degree program at Georgetown University and was a Professor for the Pathophysiology curriculum for over a decade. Elissa loves spending time with her dog - Theodore, and traveling abroad.
Name: Philip Kurian, PhD
Current Title: Assistant Professor, Howard University
Email: pkurian@howard.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: Postdoctoral Fellow, Howard University
TL1 Research Topic: Quantum biology – Coherent energy transport in biomolecules in neurodegenerative illness.
TL1 Mentors: Thomas Obisesan, MD, PhD (Department of Medicine, Howard University) & Travis Caddock, PhD (Department of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University) & Georgia Dunston, PhD (Department of Microbiology, Howard University)
TL1 Bio: I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and received my doctorate in physics in 2013. As a postdoctoral scholar with the National Human Genome Center at Howard University, I am building a research program around how coherent energy transport in DNA, microtubules, and other biomolecules affects macroscopic biological functions. We are in the process of developing new paradigms with collaborators to connect our findings to studies of chronic degenerative illnesses, such as Alzheimer's disease, cancer, and HIV/AIDS.
Name: Aline Souza, MS, PhD
Current Title: Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
Email: aa1617@georgetown.edu
Pubmed: See link
TL1 Title: PhD Candidate | Biochemistry, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
TL1 Research Topic: Angiotensin system in an experimental model of anorexia.
TL1 Mentors & Current Mentors: Kathryn Sandberg, PhD (Department of Medicine, Georgetown University) & Rodrigo Alvim de Menezes, PhD (Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Ouro Preto – Brazil)
TL1 Bio: I am a fourth year PhD student from Brazil doing an internship in Dr. Sandberg's laboratory at Georgetown University. My thesis research focuses on the role of the renin angiotensin system in dysregulation of the cardiovascular system in an animal model of anorexia nervosa. I am investigating the hypothesis that acute food restriction modulates the brain renin angiotensin system leading to excitability of the sympathetic nervous system. This mechanism could contribute to why women who experienced anorexia nervosa are at increased risk of heart failure.