Postdoctoral Associates

My goal is to model the genetic, molecular, and cellular origins of Alzheimer's pathogenesis using multiomics in novel animal models of late onset disease. As part of the MODEL-AD and associated consortiums I will work to achieve these goals and to compare findings in model systems with data from human populations to increase the translational potential for research findings.

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Tamar Abel on Orcid

My work is centered around using behavioral testing and 2-photon calcium imaging to investigate mesoscale cortical dynamics underlying skilled limb function in the healthy and diseased brain. A deep comprehension of spatiotemporal neuronal activation patterns pre and post disease could be harnessed by targeted therapy for recovery.

My research interests involve elucidating the cellular mechanisms governing cardiovascular and skeletal muscle growth and development. My doctoral work at the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry focused on the role of muscle stem cells during postnatal murine growth. Additionally, I investigated the impact of cytotoxic cancer therapies on postnatal muscle growth, as well as the implications for aging. My postdoctoral work with Dr. Nadia Rosenthal focuses on growth factor signaling during postnatal cardiovascular and skeletal muscle development. Overall, my work aims to translate these developmental mechanisms to aging and disease conditions.

John Bachman on ORCID

Master and Ph.D. both in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biomedicine at the Complutense University of Madrid. My thesis project focused on studying the possible mechanisms involved in the progression of liver disease and hepatocarcinoma development. Specifically, identifying the role of platelets in the inflammatory response and regulation of the tumor microenvironment in the development of HCC. During that project I got greater experience in molecular biology, cancer research and immunology. Also, an extensive background in animal models, histology and immunofluorescence techniques. 
I currently work in the lab of Dr. Frederick Varn as a Postdoctoral associate, investigating how interactions between the microenvironment and tumor cells affect the development of brain cancer and therapies resistance using genomics and multiplex immunofluorescence approaches in human tissue samples.

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In the West Lab, I am investigating how mitochondrial genomic instability impacts immune activity within tumors and contributes to tumor growth and metastasis in genetically engineered melanoma models.

Abate Bashaw on Orcid

My goal is to create new methods of behavioral quantification and implement these methods to identify candidate genes and targets for high need clinical populations. Specifically, I aim to harness machine learning (ML) to assess spontaneous pain in models of neuropathic pain, migraine, and post-surgical pain. Using ML, animals can be observed at high spatial and temporal resolution over extended periods to infer pain-related behavior. This approach enables reproducible and automated assessment of spontaneous behaviors at speeds impossible for human grading. My work proposes to leverage the Kumar lab’s existing ML platforms and the genetic diversity of mouse strains available at JAX to create and validate an ML informed scale of neuropathic pain, migraine, and post surgical pain. Constructing these tools will yield: 1) an automated, sensitive, sharable, and reproducible assays of pain, 2) a robust measures of spontaneous pain behaviors, and 3) a tool to identify the genetic determinants of pain.

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Jacob Beierle on Orcid

I utilize mouse models and genome editing to better understand structural birth defects, such as congenital diaphragmatic hernias. By using novel genome editing techniques I am modeling patient specific variants in mice to increase our understanding about how single variants, or a combination of multiple variants, lead to these debilitating and often lethal defects. I am also using these studies to determine what genes and genetic pathways are critical in the development of birth defects.

Eric Bogenschutz on ORCID

I have worked in the field of medical oncology and tumor immunology, focusing on the cellular interaction of the immune system with cancer cells and the therapeutic potential of bi-specific antibodies in lymphoma eradication. Now I continue my research journey as a Postdoctoral Associate in the Trowbridge lab to study the aging-associated hematopoietic stem cell expansion and the transition risk of clonal hematopoiesis to myeloid malignancies.

Xiurong Cai on Orcid

I did my undergraduate studies at Case Western Reserve University where my first research project was studying the crosstalk between Notch Signaling and HIF1a in angiogenesis in the laboratory of Dr. Diana Ramírez-Bergeron. Additionally I worked in the laboratory of Dr. Aaron Proweller studying Notch signaling as it related to vascular smooth muscle cell biology. I then attended the NYU Grossman School of Medicine to complete my PhD in the laboratory of Dr. Gregory David where my dissertation focused on the role of the chromatin-regulator Sin3B to coordinate differentiation and cell cycle in the hematopoietic system. I am interested in cell cycle regulation and progression as it relates to other fundamental biological processes and am currently focused on the role of quiescence in modulating therapy resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Alexander Calderon on Orcid

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In my Ph.D., I have worked on getting a detailed account of hair bundle development on mouse cochlear hair cells from embryonic to postnatal stages, to establish major developmental milestones. Hair bundle is comprised of several actin-based stereocilia and a single tubulin based kinocilium. I have assessed several actin regulators with a focus on the function of ezrin and radixin proteins.

In my current role as a post-doctoral associate in Tarchini lab, I intend to mechanistically understand the early development of hair bundle on the mouse cochlear hair cells.

Metastatic disease is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, and it is unclear whether organ-specific tolerance mechanisms are involved in cancer outcomes. I mainly focus on investigating the mechanisms that underlie metastatic tumor growth in different organs and identifying potential molecular targets for both preventative and treatment interventions.

I research the genetic impacts of cellular senescence in the aging process, utilizing diversity outbred mice as a model for human aging. Cellular senescence refers to the state where cells permanently cease dividing and become resistant to apoptosis. In the context of aging, senescent cells can adopt a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), triggering heightened inflammatory signaling that can result in chronic inflammation, a key factor in various age-related diseases. My objective is to uncover the genetic determinants driving senescence during aging and evaluate the optimal utilization of senolytic drugs. My expertise in cell biology, omics, and circadian biology equips me to address this research challenge using tissue-based assays, omics datasets, and cellular assays. My former training is a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of North Texas (’18), followed by a Doctorate of Philosophy in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (’23).

Ashok's research focuses on the interplay of the immune system in various diseases. His previous experience includes non-invasive detection of cancers from liquid biopsies utilizing immune cell signatures and antimicrobial studies against lower respiratory pathogens like influenza and pneumococci. Ashok is currently working on longitudinal monitoring of the immune-microbiome interface in autoimmune skin diseases using the novel microneedle skin patches.

Ashok Dhinakaran on Orcid

I am driven by the stories microbes tell in order to live. My goal in research is to understand the functional diversity of the human microbiome by developing computational tools to facilitate the characterization of less studied species, strains and genes. My academic and research training allow me to probe this fundamental microbiological question using the wealth of publicly available 'omics data using computational methods. As an undergraduate at Bard College I majored in both biology and computer science and as a Ph.D. student in Dr. Deborah Hogan’s laboratory at Dartmouth College I studied microbial interactions between bacterial and fungal opportunistic pathogens. Now, as a postdoc in Dr. Julia Oh's lab, my focus is centered on deciphering molecular mechanisms of microbial and host interactions within health- and disease-promoting microbiomes, with a focus on the opportunistic pathogen Staphylococcus epidermidis. Specifically, I aim to develop and test the utility of a machine-learning model to identify virulence-associated transcriptional signals, validate the predictive utility of the model using gene knock-down experiments, and apply an investigation of gene essentiality to S. epidermidis behavior in polymicrobial co-culture.

Education:

Dartmouth College Ph.D., microbiology and immunology Adv: Deborah Hogan 2015-2021
Bard College B.A., biology and computer science 2011-2015

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Georgia Doing on Orcid

Gaomin received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from Peking University studying the initiation and regulatory mechanisms of mitochondrial electrochemical flashes. From 2019-2023, Gaomin investigated how calcium signaling regulates mitochondrial function during aging as a postdoc at Vanderbilt University.

I began my postdoctoral work at The Jackson Laboratory in the lab of Lenny Shultz in January 2023. My goal is to better understand the intricate connection between the nervous and immune systems during homeostasis and disease. My current research focuses on understanding how microglia contribute to proper central nervous system function, and utilizes humanized mouse models to better understand the role of microglia in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's. 

Prior to my postdoctoral training, I received my PhD in Immunology from the University of Michigan, where I worked in the lab of Benjamin Segal studying the regulation of myeloid cells in a murine model of Multiple Sclerosis. Part of this work was performed in the Neurology Department at The Ohio State University.

I am passionate about ensuring science and research is accessible to all. I share this enthusiasm with aspiring scientists and the general public by mentoring and training undergraduate students, hosting podcasts focused on immunological concepts, and participating in other outreach activities.

Previous Awards and Accolades:

2021-2023 – NINDS F31 Funding
2021 – John Wallace Diversity Award, Autumn Immunology Conference
2020 – AAI Trainee Abstract Award, American Association of Immunologists (Meeting Canceled)
2017 – Bernard Maas Fellowship, University of Michigan

Education:

University of Michigan Ph.D., Immunology Adv: Dr. Benjamin Segal 2017-2022
Murray State University B.S., Biomedical Science 2013-2017

Experience:

The Jackson Laboratory Postdoctoral fellow Adv: Dr. Lenny Shultz 2023-Present

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Ashley Munie Gardner on Orcid

Most of the eye diseases result from underlying genetic defects. While working at the Nishina lab, my current research interests include identifying gene functions and genetic interactions, leading to eye diseases. Such an information can provide insight to the underlying pathways which are important for normal eye development and whose disruptions/alterations lead to eye disease phenotype. I intend to apply both traditional and modern approaches for such studies.

Navdeep Gongna on ORCID

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I have been working across multiple disciplines including immunology, microbiology, and bioinformatics. My research efforts during my Ph. D has built towards the application of multi-omics approaches to understanding microbe-host interaction. Thrilled by the recent development of metabolomics, I committed my efforts to develop metabolomic tools and analysis pipelines to decipher metabolic phenotypes in immune-related disorders and other diseases.

My current research includes developing metabolomic tools to the reconstruction of biochemical networks. The milestone towards this will be developing tools to upgrade genome scale metabolic models by using mass spectrometry data, via a combination of computational, genetic, cellular and isotope tracing techniques.

         Minghao Gong on ORCID          

Minghao Gong on Google Scholar

My interest in leukemia research developed during graduate school in Dr. Zan Huang’s laboratory at Wuhan University, where I investigated signaling pathways governing leukemogenesis. For my postdoctoral training, I worked in Dr. Panagiotis Ntziachristos’s laboratory at Northwestern University, investigating aberrant splicing changes and post-translational regulation in T-cell leukemias and their impact on therapeutic responses. I joined in Dr. Eric Wang lab to continue my research to elucidate the regulation of aberrant splicing in leukemia chemoresistance.

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Cuijuan Han on Orcid

After obtaining my B.S. and B.A. in Psychology at Appalachian State University, I did my Ph.D. at the University of South Carolina in Dr. Deanna Smith's lab. In her lab, I studied mechanisms regulating dynein-dependent axonal transport with a particular interest in how impairment of these pathways can lead to neurodegeneration.

Timothy Hines on ORCID

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As a rheumatologist, I have been exposed to a mysterious clinical course of patients. A person who was fine yesterday develops joint pain, which spreads to systemic arthritis. Behind this, there must be a complex and ever-changing interaction between genetic polymorphisms and the environment. At JAX, I want to disentangle the fundamental rules governing such interactions one by one, since such an accumulation of efforts will lead to the future treatment of each patient.

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Takeshi Iwasaki on Google Scholar

After a thesis in development focused on the primordial germ cells in the testis at Université Paris Orsay, I started a post doctoral fellowship in the Tarchini Lab. Working on the development of hair cells in the inner ear, I study the upstream cues of the Galphai, which are central to the proper development of the cochlea.

- Spatial transcriptome analysis of young and old mice breast tissue to identify an association aging and transcriptome changes - Refinement of the Iso-seq and MAS-seq pipeline and development of RNA splicing consequence estimation approach
- Exploring transcriptome changes in longitudinal samples to elucidate PARPi resistance mechanism in ovarian cancer patients
- Large-scale isoform analysis to find cancer-specific isoform expression patterns (Long/short read RNA seq)

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Hyeongu Kang on Orcid

In the Hinson Lab, I am utilizing iPSC and in-vivo mice models to dissect out the genetic and molecular basis of dilated cardiomyopathies. We harness the power of genomic tools such as CRISPR-Cas9 to facilitate our studies.
Prior to my current appointment, I have worked with fruit flies to study the underlying mechanism of developmental hematopoiesis.

aditya Kanwal ON ORCID

Understanding how NK cells specifically respond to distinct viral infections remains a focal point, holding significance for pioneering new treatment modalities. In particular, identifying the pivotal signaling pathways governing the activation and migration of NK cells in response to specific infections stands as an imperative pathway for future research. This understanding is critical in laying the groundwork for future NK cell-based therapies.

I introduce myself as a computational biologist studying evolution using genomics approaches. Before joining JAX, I have been studying evolution of mammalian including human and livestock animals using population genomics approach.

        Kwondo Kim on Orcid         

Kwondo Kim on Research Gate

I am a Postdoctoral Associate at The Jackson Laboratory, where I study the intricate network activities of neural assemblies that are crucial for complex cognitive behaviors. My research aims to elucidate the neural architectures implicated in the development of neural diseases and to identify potential therapeutic targets. Currently, my work focuses on circuit remapping in the peri-infarct area post-stroke, employing advanced techniques such as active circuit mapping, optogenetics, influence mapping and gene expression profiling. With a strong background in neuroscience and extensive experience in both academic and research settings, I strive to contribute to the development of effective therapies for neural disorders by advancing our understanding of neural circuitry and its plasticity.

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Osung Kwon on Orcid

Completed PhD work in the field of computational neuroscience. Worked on thesis project that studies the transformation of sensory representation across brain structures in the somatosensory pathway.

Neuroinflammation is typically characterized by alterations in supporting central nervous system cell types including astrocytes, myeloid, and vascular cells. In the last decade tremendous amounts of work has shed light on transcriptional responses of these cells. However, a notable gap in the literature is understanding how common stressors such obesity and diabetes influences these responses. Leveraging the Howell lab's expertise in diverse mouse models and microglia, we are characterizing how obesity and diabetes influence microglial transcriptional responses. Additionally, we are interested in how these perturbations may promote the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and Alzheimer’s disease.

michael maclean ON ORCID

My primary research interest is mapping the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative disease with the goal of identifying therapeutic targets. My doctoral work with Dr. Richard Libby at the University of Rochester focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in glaucoma. I investigated the retinal ganglion cell (RGC)-intrinsic apoptotic mechanisms that lead to neuronal death—specifically, I tested the role of DDIT3, JUN, MKK4, and MKK7 in driving RGC degeneration. I also studied the importance of endothelin signaling as an extrinsic vasoactive driver of glaucoma-relevant RGC death. My postdoctoral work with Dr. Gareth Howell focuses on the mechanisms driving both glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology. I am leveraging a genetically diverse wild-derived mouse strain (WSB) to identify novel alleles driving cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Furthermore, I am testing the potential of therapeutically strengthening the blood-brain barrier to ameliorate CAA and AD using genetic and pharmacological strategies. Ultimately, I aim to identify and test therapeutic targets to treat CAA and AD.

Olivia Marola on ORCID

My goal is to better understand the complex relationship between cancer cells and immune cells. In most instances of cancer the immune system ultimately falls short and is unable to effectively combat the cancer cells. Through numerous laboratory techniques I hope to better understand these short comings to inform the development of novel or improved anti-cancer therapeutics.

As an evolutionary biologist, I’m interested in the molecular mechanisms that shape genetic diversity and drive adaptation. Through my work, I aim to uncover new insights into these processes and their implications for human health. Ultimately, I am driven by a vision of using this knowledge to develop innovative research projects that can lead to the improvement of human health. In the Robson lab, I’m part of the Molecular Phenotypes of Null Alleles in Cells (MorPhiC) initiative. I implement single-cell comparative transcriptomics to identify target genes that possess primate-specific features and are implicated in human disease. Before joining the Robson lab, I worked mostly on the evolution of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in platyrrhine monkeys, with a focus on gene duplication and species hybridization. Other projects involved phylogeography and conservation genetics of primates in the Americas. More recently, I was part of a familial glioblastoma study that aimed at identifying heritable genetic variants associated with an increased risk of the disease.

Adrian Melo Carrillo on Orcid

My research focuses on determining how the alterations in the aging bone marrow microenvironment impact the progression of clonal hematopoiesis. Additionally, I also investigate how postnatal variations in stem cell quantity affect aging and disease risk.

During my postdoctoral training, I transitioned my research focus to the single-cell level, specifically delving into the investigation of epigenetic patterns in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) within the context of aging. Additionally, I am working on establishing correlations between somatic mutations and these epigenetic changes. This in-depth analysis, which combines multiple types of biological data, has the potential to facilitate early detection, treatment, and prevention of AML in the aging population. We are fortunate to be in an era where biological data is exponentially increasing, awaiting deciphering. The analysis of such vast datasets necessitates the development of novel computational methodologies, a realm I am actively exploring in my postdoctoral research.

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Natural Killer cells play a crucial role in the immune system's response against solid tumors. The overall focus of my research is developing genetically engineered NK cells to enhance their anti-tumor activity and persistence.

My primary area of research is the identification of cancer specific proteins and the development of novel anti-cancer immunotherapies for solid tumors, such as osteosarcoma. Utilizing high performance computing, we combine RNA sequencing and protein analysis in a proteogenomics workflow. The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic performs both long-read sequencing (Pacific Biosciences platform) and short-read sequencing (Illumina platform) on oncology patient samples. Our hybrid sequencing approach allows for generating a highly accurate cancer transcriptome upon which we can explore multiple biological mechanisms, such as RNA splicing and chromosomal rearrangements, leading to cancer specific mRNA isoforms. Mass spectrometry identification of isoform specific peptides aids in selecting candidates for validation in the laboratory. A central goal of my research is to expand current cancer treatment options and provide novel therapeutic agents with improved tumor specificity.

Francis O'Neil on ORCID

Daniel's research focuses on employing organ on a chip technology to study the interaction between the immune system and the microbiome in gastrointestinal diseases. His previous experience includes the evaluation of combinatorial immunotherapies and nanotherapeutics for cancer treatment, the development of microfluidic devices for studying bacterial physiology, and the optimization of in vitro models of healthy and pathological tissues.

Daniel Alfonso Peñarete on Orcid

My long-standing interest lies in understanding how age-associated cellular and molecular changes affect the function and behavior of an organism.

In the Robson lab, I study molecular changes during placental development at the single-cell resolution and seek novel markers that can be used to characterize human placental cell types and tissue specific senescence markers in the human placenta using single-cell transcriptomics, spatial transcriptomics, and multiplexed antibody-based assays. Cellular senescence is among the key biological hallmarks of aging, and I work as part of the KAPP-Sen Tissue Mapping Center Collaborative (Cellular Senescence Network), aimed at mapping cellular senescence in different parts of the healthy human body. 
To temporally capture markers along the developmental senescence program in the placenta, I couple in situ studies in human placental tissues with in vitro studies using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and trophoblast stem cells to differentiate them into cells of the trophoblast lineage with candidate gene knock-out experiments. I’m also particularly interested in investigating the function of placental genes with human/primate specific evolutionary basis.

Before I started as a Post-doctoral Associate in the Robson lab, I have worked as part of several labs in USA, Singapore and India in a variety of research projects that include:
-Evolutionary basis of human-accelerated conserved non-coding regions (HACNs) as putative enhancers
-Epigenetics (histone acetylome-wide associations) of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 
-Cellular senescence and aging
-Central nervous system (CNS) demyelination and its effects on urinary physiology with implications in multiple sclerosis (MS)
-Effects of aging on brainstem-bladder pathophysiology

RAMALAKSHMI RAMASMY ON ORCID

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I specialize in systems immunology, with a keen interest in deciphering how the immune system reacts to infections and vaccinations. Currently, my research is centered on exploring the age-associated changes in immune responses to vaccines, particularly those for seasonal influenza and pneumococcal diseases, employing single-cell technologies. The overarching goal of my work is to identify blood-based immunological biomarkers capable of distinguishing between individuals who respond to vaccines and those who do not.

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Sathyabaarathi Ravichandranon Orcid

Often dementia presents with a cerebrovascular component that contributes to the development of the disease. However, this area of research is understudied because few mouse models represent vascular decline in a way that mimics the human disease. Using the Howell lab's expertise in mouse genetics and my background in vascular biology, we are testing whether genetic perturbations in vascular development increase the risk for cognitive impairment and dementia with age. Additionally, we are interested in how exercise influences cerebrovascular reserve, and if its implementation reduces risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

As a postdoctoral associate, I am involved in two main projects. First, I am working on unraveling the role of the TCA cycle protein ACO2 in progressing hearing loss and neuronal degeneration. The main goal is to test possible therapeutic interventions to mitigate or prevent ACO2-related neurological disorders. Second, I am working on a second project to understand how the inner ear hair cells' architecture is maintained or degraded with age.

My previous work focused on therapeutically targeting the glucocorticoid receptor in ETS rearranged childhood bone malignancy Ewing sarcoma and Prostate cancer.

I am a postdoc in the Oh lab studying how commensal staphylococci interact with human skin to promote health or cause disease. Prior to joining the Oh lab, I completed my graduate studies at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in the lab of Dr. Alexander Horswill studying staphylococcal quorum sensing interference. Outside of the lab I enjoy spending time with my family and pets, hiking, and enjoying lots of local Connecticut produce.

My work is focused on dissecting gene by environment interactions in mouse pluripotent stem cells with the use of the Diversity Outbred population. Using systems genetics, I aim to understand how genetic variants interact with environmental cues to drive phenotypic variation.

The purpose of my research at the Ching Lau Lab is to examine genomic and epigenomic data from pediatric cancers in order to discover molecular phenotypes, prognostic biomarkers, and candidate therapeutic targets. My work includes method and pipeline development for integration of multi-omic data in the analysis of pediatric brain and bone tumors to develop a better molecular understanding of these often-lethal cancers. Currently, my research focuses on osteosarcoma, ependymoma, and intracranial germ cell tumors.

My work focuses on designing, developing, and implementing next-generation metabolomics and lipidomics approaches using liquid chromatography – mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to investigate complex biological pathways involved in human diseases. Further, I aim to understand the role of metabolites and lipids in shaping tumor characteristics/phenotypes.

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I have 13 years of cardiovascular and translational research experience with my primary projects being centered around cardiovascular genetic disorders, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure. Currently, I use advanced proteomic techniques to investigate mechanisms of heart failure and explore novel gene therapy solutions. As a graduate student I studied pathogenic variants that caused severe arrhythmia syndromes in infants and children. I used commercial and patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes and novel mouse models to investigate the cellular mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis. I also explored potential pharmacological interventions to reduce the risk of arrhythmic events. Additionally, I co-authored a paper addressing autonomic nervous system remodeling as an arrhythmogenic substrate in atrial fibrillation. Other previous work contributions include investigating various factors affecting voltage-gated potassium channel stability and investigating the effect of TGFβ signaling on cardiac gene expression in dystrophic mice with developing cardiomyopathy. Outside of research I am an active firefighter, emergency medical technician serving my community. Other previous community experiences include serving as multicultural affairs ambassador for the American Heart Association and a research advocate for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Duties included building relationships with community leaders and educating community members on major health topics.

LISA WREN ON ORCID

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