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NameEmailPhD ProgramResearch InterestPublications
Vetreno, Ryan

EMAIL
PUBLICATIONS

PHD PROGRAM
Neuroscience, Pharmacology

RESEARCH INTEREST
Addiction/Alcohol Research, Aging/Alzheimer's, Behavior, Biochemistry, Brain Development, Developmental Biology, Disease, Epigenetics & Chromatin Biology, Immunology, Microbiome, Molecular Biology, Molecular Mechanisms of Disease, Neurobiology, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Neuropharmacology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Regenerative Medicine

My research interests involve investigation of proinflammatory neuroimmune and epigenetic mechanisms in animal models of developmental neurobiology and neurodegeneration, including (1) alcohol pharmacology, (2) alcohol responsivity and tolerance, (3) adolescent neurodevelopment, (4) cholinergic system and neurocircuitry, (5) microglial function, and (6) Alzheimer’s disease. A major focus of the laboratory is elucidation of neuroimmune and epigenetic mechanisms underlying adolescent binge alcohol-induced disruption of basal forebrain cholinergic neurocircuitry in adulthood. A second major focus of the laboratory is investigation of lasting adolescent binge drinking-induced neuroimmune priming as a novel etiological factor contributing to the onset and progression of basal forebrain neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease. Our laboratory combines ex vivo and in vivo rodent models of alcohol abuse and Alzheimer’s disease with innovative molecular techniques.

Prim, Courtney

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Neurobiology

“I am interested in researching the cellular and molecular pathogenesis of neurological disorders and diseases. I am particularly interested in the role of astrocytes during normal brain development, as well as in neurological disorder and disease.”

Descant, Katherine

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Neurobiology

“I’m interested in pursuing neuroscience research that explores the connection between neural circuit development and modulation with behavior. Specifically, what happens when these circuits are misregulated as a lens for better understanding neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders.”

Blondel, Leo

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Genetics, Neurobiology, Translational Medicine

“I am interested in taking part in research aiming to understand the causes and progression of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases, as well as identifying potential therapeutic targets. I am interested in using my background in AAV gene therapy to participate in translational research projects and contribute to treatments for these conditions.”

Marquez Gonzalez, Ariana

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Genetics, Neurobiology

” I am interested in the molecular mechanisms behind neural disorders. I would enjoy continuing working with iPSCs models studying neuronal development as well as cell interactions between neurons and glial cells. I want to study epigenetic changes that contribute to neural disorders. How the environment plays a role in brain plasticity, and I would like to employ bioinformatics to model neuronal networks.”

Clarke, Brandon

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Drug Discovery, Neurobiology, Pharmacology

“I am interested in learning and gaining a better understanding of the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases. I’m also interested in gaining a better understanding of drug discovery in the context of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, and pain.”

Dogan, Breana

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Immunology, Neurobiology, Pharmacology

“I am interested in studying cells involved in neuro-inflammatory mechanisms and understanding how those cells contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Specifically, I am interested in Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and seizure disorders.”

Tormes Vaquerano, Jovan

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Cell Biology, Neurobiology, Pharmacology

“As a graduate student, I would be interested in working on a project related to the development and application of novel optical imaging platforms. Specifically, I am interested in understanding the relationship between physiological / cellular interactions and disease-states. There are a number of faculty developing high-resolution microscopes (and adjacent technologies, such as molecular biosensors and genetic engineering) to approach neurological questions and cytoskeletal dynamics. Additionally, the expansion of these technologies may expand therapeutic / pharmaceutical efforts in the future.”

Joshi, Anusha

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Molecular Medicine, Neurobiology, Pharmacology

“I am interested in pursuing translational research in neurodevelopmental or neurodegenerative disorders.”

Schneider, Gates

EMAIL

PHD PROGRAM

RESEARCH INTEREST
Neurobiology

“I am interested in studying how neural circuits give rise to behaviors seen in neuropsychiatric disorders utilizing systems neuroscience approaches. I am also interested in exploring molecular techniques to advance our knowledge of the relationship between these disorders and the genome and epigenome.”