Naiara Akizu, PhD

Naiara Akizu is a faculty member of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is member of the Neurosciences Graduate Group (NGG) and Cell and Molecular Biology (CAMB) graduate groups. 

In 2010, she received her PhD by the University of Barcelona for her studies on the role of epigenetic chromatin modifications in the nervous system development, a project that she developed in Dr. Marian Martinez-Balbas's laboratory under the comentorship of Dr. Elisa Marti. Motivated by her interest in neural development and neurological diseases, in December 2010 she joined Dr. Joseph Gleeson’s laboratory at the Univeristy of California, San Diego where she gained expertise in neurogenetics of pediatric diseases and modeling with pluripotent stem cells. She complemented her training by working with mouse models of neurological diseases under the co-mentorship of Dr. Ulrich Müller at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla. 

Garrett Otrimski

I am interested in learning more about genetic determinants of disease through investigation of animal and cell models. Specifically, I am interested in finding connections between multiple diseases and genes to draw broader conclusions which will enhance our general understanding of genetic determination of neurological development. 

Fun: I enjoy reading, rock climbing, and corny jokes. 

Contact: OTRIMSKIG [at] EMAIL.CHOP.EDU

Marco Flores-Mendez

I am interested in protein synthesis, purine nucleotide metabolism and protein aggregations. My interest in these topics is determine if presence of aggregates called rods and rings are related with neurodegeneration. For this purpose, I am using neural progenitor cells (NPC) and mutant mice. Since protein aggregation is the centerpiece of many neurodegenerative diseases we consider that this approach has the potential for wide-ranging therapeutic impact.

Fun: Besides science, I enjoy dancing, exercising, traveling and cooking!

Contact: floresm1 [at] email.chop.edu

Yijing Zhou

I was trained as a developmental neuroscientist. My passion lies in using animal models to investigate the etiological mechanisms of human neuropsychiatric diseases. My current project focuses on understanding how SNX14 mutation leads to spinocerebellar ataxia. My longterm goal is to identify druggable targets of the diseases and contribute to the development of therapeutics.

Fun: I enjoy reading, watching movies and exploring different cultures.

Contact: zhouy3 [at] email.chop.edu

Laura Ohl

I am a graduate student in the Cell and Molecular Biology Program at the University of Pennsylvania. I am interested in genetically caused neurodegenerative diseases, and how we can use this knowledge to develop appropriate therapies for these diseases. During my PhD I intend to work on understanding how partial and complete LOF of AMPD2 can lead to two different neurodegenerative diseases: PCH9 and HSP63. In addition, we hope to better understand what these findings may infer about other neurodegenerative disorders.

Fun: When I'm not in the lab I enjoy running, biking, hiking, cooking, gardening, reading, and doing pottery.

Carolina Garcia-Diaz

I am a graduate student in the G&E program interested in how chromatin dysregulation is related to neurological diseases.

Fun: I enjoy reading, watching movies and exploring new places!

Vanessa Sanchez

I am a PhD student in the Neuroscience Graduate Group. I received my B.A. from California State University, Fullerton in Psychology with a minor in Cell and Molecular Biology. In the Akizu lab, my work looks at how loss of SNX14 in the brain affects everything from cells to behavior and I am interested in neuron-glia metabolic coupling.

Fun: Outside of lab, I am a plant mom who loves going to concerts and enjoys all things outdoors like camping and hiking.

Kelsey Walsh

I’m interested in learning more about genetically caused neurodegenerative disorders and applying this knowledge to neurodegenerative disorders with unknown causes. After I graduate, I would like to attend medical school and become a physician.

Fun: I enjoy singing and playing music, watching movies and TV shows, and drinking coffee.

Contact: kelseyaw [at] sas.upenn.edu