Dissertation Project: Elucidating the Role of the Hypoxia Associated Factor in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Initiation
Undergraduate School: University of Sheffield, UK (MSc Biology); Universidad de Costa Rica (BSc Biology)
Faculty Mentor: Mei Koh
Dissertation Project: Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying the Impact of CYP2C8*3 Allele Expression on Asthma Symptom Control
Undergraduate School: Seton Hill University (BS Chemistry and Forensic Science)
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Reilly
Dissertation Project: Determining the role of E3 ligase-substrate interation networks during early development
We have developed a microfluidics-based, high-throughput in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 genetic screening platform (MIC-Drop) that can be coupled to multiple downstream phenotypic readouts to examine gene function at a large scale in a vertebrate system. There are 634 human E3s, many of which have not been thoroughly characterized because of the complexity of the ubiquitin system and a lack of high-throughput technologies to study it have hindered the elucidation of the functions of the majority of E3s in early development. We propose to advance the understanding of the functional roles of E3s during early development by using MIC-Drop to mutagenize all E3 ligase orthologs in the zebrafish, perform morphometric evaluations of the mutagenized larvae to pinpoint E3-induced developmental changes and investigate the mechanisms of E3/E3-substrate pair function in development using both proteomics and classical biochemical approaches.
Undergraduate School: University of Utah (BS Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology)
Faculty Mentor: Randall Peterson
Biomedical Engineering PhD Student
Dissertation Project: Development of focused ultrasound (FUS) approaches to modify neural circuits underlying seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).
Carena's research focuses on FUS, which is a promising noninvasive technology that can be used for therapeutic purposes by ablating tissue or modulating neural circuit function. FUS could be used to reduce seizure frequency for the one-third of people with drug-resistant epilepsy that may not opt for surgery or may not be a good candidate for surgery.
Undergraduate School: The Pennsylvania State University, BS Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management
Faculty Mentor: Karen Wilcox
Neuroscience PhD Student
Dissertation Project: NG2 Glia in the Theiler's Murine Encephalomyelitis (TMEV) model of viral induced Epilepsy
Undergraduate School: SUNY New Paltz
Faculty Mentor: Karen Wilcox
Dissertation Project: Investigation of Drug-Drug and Drug-Circuit Interactions in Children on continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Undergraduate School: University of Minnesota (BSc Biology)
Faculty Mentor: Kevin Watt
NIDDK F31 Fellow
Dissertation Project: A pharmacokinetic and efficacy study of a relevant combination therapy in a mouse model of Dravet Syndrome
Undergraduate School: University of Ghana (MPhil; BSc Biochemistry)
Faculty Mentor: Karen Wilcox
Dissertation Project: Investigating the Role of Very-Long Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Photoreceptor Health and Maintenance
Very long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLC-PUFAs) are a class of non-dietary fatty acids found the the retina and a few other tissue in mammalian vertebrates. VLC-PUFAs are synthesized by the enzyme ELOVL4. Our use genetic and biochemical approaches to study the effect of ELOVL4 and VLC-PUFAs on retinal health using zebrafish, mice, and cell culture models.
Undergraduate School: The American University of Nigeria (BS Natural & Environmental Sciences)
Faculty Mentors: Paul S. Bernstein and Karen Wilcox
Dissertation Project: Determining the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of NMDAR hypofunction in development of cognitive impairment
Undergraduate School: Shahid Behesti University of Medical Sciences, Iran (MS Human Genetics); Kharazmi University, Iran (BS Cell and Molecular Biology)
Faculty Mentor: Randy Peterson
Research Interests:
Undergraduate School: Brigham Young University, BS in Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: TingTing Hong
Dissertation Project: Coordinated Regulation of TRPA1, TRPV3, and Kinase Signalling Pathways in Lung Epithelial Cell Damage and Repair Following Environmental Pollutant Exposure
TRPA1 and TRPV3 have been found to be differentially expressed following various forms of lung epithelial cell injury. Kinase signaling pathways linked to growth factor signaling, and potentially TRP channels, may provide protection against environmental air pollutant injury in lung epithelial cells. Through inhibition or activation of various kinases followed by activation of TRPA1 and/or TRPV3, this may offer protection against damage and aid in lung epithelial cell recovery.
Undergraduate School: University of Arizona (BS Biochemistry, BS Molecular and Cellular Biology)
Faculty Mentor: Christopher Reilly
Dissertation Project: The role of redox balance in cyanide toxicity and mitochondrial disease
Cyanide poisoning and Leigh syndrome are related conditions with major biological consequences involving mitochondrial dysfunction and redox imbalance. Because of the limitations and/or lack of treatment for both, we aim to establish the therapeutic value of restoring redox balance within both contexts. To do so, we are using zebrafish models of cyanide toxicity and Leigh syndrome.
Undergraduate School: University of Utah, BS ’19 Cell & Molecular Biology
Faculty Mentor: Randall Peterson
F31 Recipient
Undergraduate School: Utah Valley University (BS Behavioral Science)
Faculty Mentor: Marco Bortolato
Neuroscience PhD Student
Dissertation Project:
Undergraduate School:
Faculty Mentors: Kristen Keefe and Karen Wilcox
I am a postdoctoral research fellow in Dr. Karen Wilcox's lab with a background in glial biology, neuroscience, and biomedical engineering. I am currently investigating the mechanisms of microgliosis, microglial responses to damage cues and their alteration in epilepsy and health, using a mouse model of viral infection-induced epilepsy.
Florida International University, PhD Biomedical Engineering
Post-Doc: Wilcox Lab
Phone: 305-799-7102
Office: SMBB 4800
I recently graduated from a Ph.D. program at the University of Siena, Department of Molecular Medicine, where I primarily work on predictive factors of vulnerability and resilience in major depression. I previously completed my bachelor’s degree in 2017 studying novel targets for anti-angiogenic drugs. I achieved my M.S. in Health Biology in 2019. During my MS program, I worked on the neurobiology of autism spectrum disorder and examined the potential function of fenofibrate as a new possible therapeutic agent. I also had the opportunity to investigate the role of sleep deprivation in psychiatric disorders and its effects on modulating neuronal excitability. I am currently a Post Doc in the Bortolato lab where I principally research pathological aggression and the development of novel therapeutic agents for its treatment.
University of Siena, MS Health Biology, PhD Pharmacology
Post-Doc: Bortolato Lab
Phone: 801-587-3352
Office: 25/26 L. S Skaggs Sr. Hall
Post-Doc: Peterson Lab
Phone: 801-581-5775
Office: 3420 Skaggs
I am interested in using zebrafish to study neurobehavioral disorders to identify potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, I am interested in identifying the molecular mechanisms behind opioid-induced neurotoxicity.
Jordan University of Science and Technology, B.Sc Pharmacy, MS Clinical Pharmacy
Indiana University Bloomington, PhD in Intelligent Systems Engineering/ Bioengineering concentration
Post-Doc: Peterson Lab
Phone: 801-581-5175
Office: 3420 Skaggs Research Hall
Research: Bioactive natural products from plants, animals, or microbes; Natural products biosynthesis
PhD Peking Union Medical College and Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
Post-Doc: Winter Lab
Office: 3400 Skaggs Research Building
I’m a behavioral pharmacologist and I have obtained my Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 2007 from the University of Cagliari, Italy.
During my over 10 years of scientific experience in the US, I focused my research on the characterization of the biological bases of neurodevelopmental disorders through the employment of behavioral tests in animal models, and on the characterization of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of psychoactive drugs acting at the level of the basal ganglia. I did my first postdoctoral at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA/IRP) working on the mechanisms of action of addictive drugs acting at the level of the basal ganglia. I have been mainly involved in projects examining functional and pharmacological significance of receptor heteromers, particularly the adenosine A2A receptor forming heteromers with the adenosine A1 receptor and D2 receptor, in animal models of drug abuse with different in vivo approaches.
My first experience at the Bortolato lab was in 2016 when I worked on a project for the identification of biomarkers and therapeutical targets for the prevention and treatment of pramipexole-increased risk-taking behaviors in a rodent animal model of gambling. From years 2020 to 2022 I combined research and teaching activities at PNU (Precarpathian National University) in Ukraine where I focused my research on the characterization of biochemical and molecular mechanisms of phytobiotic compounds on neurodevelopmental disorders in animal models of aging.
My current projects at the Bortolato’s lab are to examine the functional and pharmacological significance of neurosteroids using a 6-Hydroxy Dopamine (6-OHDA) animal model of neurotoxicity in animal models of Parkinson’s disease and to study the effects produced by brain-selective knock-down molecular constructs (KD) using viral approaches. The goal of this research is to clarify the role played by neurosteroids in the modulation of behavioral responses in animal models of PD.
Post-Doc: Bortolato Lab
Office: 28 Skaggs
I am studying how epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity and DNA damage response signaling cooperate to drive drug resistance and metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma.
National University of Lesotho, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Honours
University of Witwatersrand, PhD Pharmacology and Toxicology
Post-Doc: Golkowski Lab
Office: 3800 Skaggs Research Building
Research: High-throughput CRISPR screening in zebrafish; CRISPR-based technology development
PhD Cornell University
Post-Doc: Peterson Lab
Phone: 801-581-6312
Office: 3420 Skaggs Research
Post-Doc: Wilcox Lab
Office: 4800 SMBB
Post-Doc: ADD Lab
Office: 0800 Skaggs Research Building
2023 Dravet Syndrome Foundation Post-doctoral Fellowship
Research: Genome Mining and development of fungal resources: searching for special functional enzymes and applying them to production and life, discovering novel active compounds and analyzing biosynthetic pathways.
PhD Capitol Normal University
Post-Doc: Winter Lab
Office: 3400 Skaggs Research Building
| Karen Acuna Pilarte | u0719082@utah.edu |
| Marysol Almestica-Roberts | m.almestica@utah.edu |
| Orlando Antelope | orlando.antelope@pharm.utah.edu |
| Carena Cornelssen | carena.cornelssen@utah.edu |
| Qwynn Landfield | qwynn.landfield@utah.edu |
| Autumn McKnite | autumn.mcknite@neuro.utah.edu |
| Jeffrey Mensah | JeffreyAmoako.Mensah@utah.edu |
| Uzoamaka Nwagbo | u.nwagbo@utah.edu |
| Simin Rahimi Aliabadi | simin.rahimialiabadi@hci.utah.edu |
| Bradley Richmond | bradley.richmond@pharm.utah.edu |
| Abby Scott | abby.scott@utah.edu |
| Samantha Serna | samantha.serna@utah.edu |
| Emily Tippetts | emily.tippetts@utah.edu |
| Easton Van Luik | easton.vanluik@utah.edu |
| Kaliana Veros | kaliana.veros@utah.edu |
| Lakshmini Balachandar, PhD | lakshmini.balachandar@utah.edu |
| Giulia Braccagni, PhD | giulia.braccagni@utah.edu |
| Zachary Brandt, PhD | zachary.brandt@pharm.utah.edu |
| Maram Muhsen, PhD | u6053316@utah.edu |
| Changshan Niu, PhD | changshan.niu@utah.edu |
| Marco Orru, PhD | marco.orru@utah.edu |
| Saba Parvez, PhD | saba.parvez@pharm.utah.edu |
| Alexandra Petrucci, PhD | |
| Thankhoe Rants'o, PhD | thankhoe.rantso@pharm.utah.edu |
| Ashwini Sri Hari, PhD | u6042122@utah.edu |
| Peng Zhang, PhD | u6024660@utah.edu |