Jeannie Chin, PhD Principal Investigator Professor, Department of Neuroscience Jeannie.Chin@bcm.edu
BS Biology, BA Zoology, University of Texas Austin PhD Neuroscience, University of Texas Houston Health Science Center Postdoc, Gladstone Institute of Neurological Disease and UCSF
Jeannie’s longstanding interests have been in mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and memory, and diseases that affect them. She joined Wyeth Research (later Pfizer) to work on therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases before returning to academia. She started her lab at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, prior to moving to Baylor College of Medicine in 2015. She loves being back home in Texas, particularly because of the vibrant and collaborative atmosphere of the Texas Medical Center!
Joseph campbell, MS graduate student, Neuroscience program joseph.campbell@bcm.edu
BS Psychology, University of Houston Clear-Lake MS Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Houston Clear-Lake
Joseph is investigating the contributions that glial cells have in generating thalamocortical network dysfunctions associated with sleep disturbances observed in preclinical manifestations of Alzheimer’s disease. Outside of the lab he enjoys cooking for friends, a good beer (or cocktail), dabbling in music and watching cheesy horror flicks.
PEI-yun chuang, MS Graduate student, Neuroscience program Pei-Yun.Chuang@bcm.edu
BS Biology, National Taiwan University MS Cell and Molecular Biology, National Taiwan University
Pei-Yun is interested in the underlying mechanisms of disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). She is recently working on investigating the genetic differences that lead to differential susceptibility using an AD mouse model. When she’s not in the lab, Pei-Yun loves playing volleyball, trying out nice food, and binge-watching drama series and movies.
Chia-hsuan (Annie) Fu, PhD Postdoctoral fellow ChiaHsuan.Fu@bcm.edu
BA Biological Basis of Behavior, University of Pennsylvania PhD Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine
Annie’s research focuses on understanding how and why neurogenesis becomes dysregulated in AD and in epilepsy, from both the molecular and circuit level perspectives. She’s also interested in understanding the basis for why some individuals (mice or human) have higher susceptibility to developing disease or developing more severe disease. When she’s not in the lab, she likes to try new restaurants around town!
Yoshitaka Furuta graduate student, Development, disease models, and therapeutics graduate program yfuruta@bcm.edu
PharmD, Kanazawa University, Japan
Yoshi studied neuron death in C. elegans during undergrad, and now he is very interested in neurogenesis. In our laboratory, he investigates how neural stem cells behave in disease contexts, using Alzheimer’s disease mouse models. He likes writing. Outside of the lab, he writes Japanese web articles and electronic books about his PhD program!
Minjung Lee, PhD Senior research associate minjung.lee@bcm.edu
MS Neuroscience, College of Korean Medicine, University of Daegu Haany, Korea PhD Molecular Neurobiology, College of Korean Medicine, University of Kyounghee, Korea
Minjung studied neuroimmunology (multiple sclerosis) and neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. She conducted research to develop treatments for brain diseases using oriental medicine and drugs discovered from natural herbs. She likes research to find new mechanisms and develop treatments for neurological diseases that are difficult to treat. Although she is a working mom and doesn’t have much time to enjoy hobbies, she enjoys taking care of her adorable young boy and traveling with her family.
Marina Rodriguez Alonso Graduate student, Neuroscience program Marina.RodriguezAlonso@bcm.edu
BA Neuroscience, Boston University BA Psychology, Boston University
Marina is interested in environmental factors that may influence disease progression in Alzheimer's disease, particularly diet and its relationship to the brain–gut axis. She is also curious about the mechanisms that confer resilience to Alzheimer's in some individuals but not others. Outside the lab, she enjoys reading, playing tennis, and trying new foods.
Manuel Silva-Perez, PhD Postdoctoral Associate Msilva7@us.es
BS Biology, University of Seville, Spain MS Physiology and Neuroscience, University of Seville, Spain PhD Neuroscience, University of Seville, Spain
Manu’s research has focused on sleep and its relationship with brain activity and motor systems. He believes that understanding sleep (which remains a mystery in many ways) is key to a better comprehension of animal life, both in health and in disease. Manu is experienced in the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of electroencephalographic and electromyographic signals in rodents, and in the recording of eye movements. Manu likes plants and butterflies, and enjoys cooking, reading and getting in touch with nature.
corey St. Romain MD/PHD student, Neuroscience program Corey.St.Romain@bcm.edu
BS Biological Sciences, BS Chemistry, Louisiana State University
Corey's research currently focuses on the similarities and differences in epigenetic regulation between epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease. He primarily uses bioinformatics and bench-top confirmation in this research. Corey hopes to practice medicine and perform research throughout his career!
WAngjie Yu, MD, PhD Staff Scientist Wangjie.yu@bcm.edu
MD, Fourth Military Medical University, China PhD, Saitama Medical School, Japan
Wangjie is interested in molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Outside work, Wangjie likes gardening in his backyard and watching Chinese comedy shows, dramas, and Go games on Youtube.
LAB ALUMNI
former postdoctoral fellows
anupam hazra, PhD
2012-2014
(Scientist, NCBS India)
Current position: Global Med/Sci Advisor, NovoNordisk
Rohan Jagirdar, PhD
2015-2024
(Field Application Scientist, Transcend Vivoscope)
former graduate students
Brian Corbett, PhD
2010-2015
(Postdoctoral fellow at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia/UPenn)
Current position: Assistant Professor, Rutgers University-Camden
Jason you, MD/PhD
2012-2017
(Medical student at Thomas Jefferson University)
Current position: Instructor in Neurology, Harvard/MGH
Gabe Stephens, PhD
2016-2022
(Postdoctoral fellow at Nathan Kline Institute/NYU)
Annie Fu, PhD
2017-2023
(Postdoctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine)
former undergraduate students
annie ashok (UPenn)
2011
(MD student at Thomas Jefferson University)
dan iascone (UPenn)
2011-2014
(PhD student, Columbia University)
umberto tosi (UPenn)
2012-2015
(MD student, Cornell Medical College)
mark pyfer (UPenn)
2012-2015
(MD student, University of Pennsylvania)
Annie fu (UPenn)
2013-2015
(PhD student, Baylor College of Medicine)
kavitha Muralidharan (UPenn)
2014-2015
(MD student, University of Pennsylvania)
Jason Lee (Rice university)
2018-2019
Sumin choi (rice university)
2020-3023
Tom PunneN (Rice university)
2021-2024
FORMER scientific STAFF
SUZAN ASCHMIES
LIJUAN ZHAO, RN
XIAOHONG ZHANG, PHD
IRAKLIS PETROF, PHD
JESSIE YUAN, PHD
Yi Zheng, PHD
jin park, ms
former summer/other students
Chris Washington
STEMPREP
Sarah Sackeyfio
STEMPREP
Anita Modi
MD student research
Sneha Padidam
MD student research
kia lechleitner
BCM SMART program
Azaria anderson
BCM PREP program