Our team is comprised of researchers at all levels of training who bring their individual talents and expertise to the scientific mission of our laboratory.
Drusilla Jenkins, BS, MHOE
Education:
BS, Industrial & Organizational Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, 2019
MHCOE, Healthcare Operational Excellence, Washington University, McKelvey School of Engineering, St. Louis, 2022
Corina Anastasaki, PhD
Assistant Professor in Neurology
Education:
BSc, Genetics, University of York, 2006
MSc, Human Genetics, University of Edinburgh, 2007
PhD in Human Genetics, University of Edinburgh, 2011
Research Focus:
Discovering new approaches (utilizing iPSCs) to identify targets for managing NF1 neuronal dysfunction
Jit Chatterjee, PhD
Education:
BSc, Fergusson College, Pune, India, 2011
MSc, MS University Baroda, Gujarat, India, 2013
PhD in Neurobiology, Department of Applied Zoology, Mangalore University, Mangalore, India, 2018
Research Focus:
Risk factors for brain tumor formation and progression
Enquan Xu, PhD
Education:
PhD in Neuropharmacology and Immunology, University of Nebraska, 2017
Research Focus:
Advanced stem cell modeling of brain tumors
Stephanie Bozeman, BS
Education:
BS, Biochemistry, Missouri Southern State University
Research Focus:
Preventing vision loss from NF1 optic gliomas in mice
Yunqing (Clare) Gao, BA
Education:
BA, Biology, Boston University 2022
Research Focus:
Neuronal regulation of brain tumor growth
Jennifer Guyton, BS, BA
Education:
BS, Biology, BA Psychology, Webster University, St. Louis, 2012
Research Focus:
Human induced pluripotent stem modeling of brain tumors in NF1
Elvedina Subasic, BS
Education:
BS, Biology, University of Missouri-St. Louis, 2023
Research Focus:
Modeling low-grade brain tumors in mice
Rasha Barakat, PhD
Education:
MSc, Neuroscience, American University of Beirut
PhD in Neurobiology, Université De Paris
Research Focus:
T cell trafficking and stromal interactions in brain tumors
Alexander Chen, PhD
Education:
BA, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA
PhD in Cancer Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Research Focus:
Exploring the role of cell of origin in pediatric brain tumors
Lori Forster, PhD
Education:
PhD in Education, Georgia State University
Research Focus:
Defining the molecular basis for cancer-related neuronal hyperexcitability
Vaishali Mulchandani, PhD
Education:
PhD in Education, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata
Research Focus:
Molecular and Cellular Biology of NF1 Low-Grade Brain Tumor Neoplastic Transformation
Shintaro Yamada, MD, PhD
Education:
MD, PhD, in Education, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Research Focus:
Leveraging systems biology approaches for personalized medicine
Anthony Kirchner, BS
Education:
BS, Saint Louis University, 2024
Pursuing MSIBS, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Focus:
Still deciding
Desiree Zanetti-Alepuz, MS
Education:
BS, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 2019
Pursuing DBBS, Washington University in St. Louis
Research Focus:
Defining the impact of sex and genomic modifiers on neural function in neurodevelopmental disorders
Talia Eligator, BA
Education:
BA, Neuroscience & Science in Society, Wesleyan University, 2023
Research Focus:
Ecosystem modeling of pediatric brain tumors for precision therapeutics
Chloe Kernan, BS
Education:
BS, Washington University, 2023
Research Focus:
Defining the mechanisms underlying high-grade brain tumor development
Angelica Barnes
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree, Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Rasha Barakat on immune regulation of NF1 brain tumor growth
Madeline Falkov
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree, Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Corina Anastasaki
Joyce Lin
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree, Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Jit Chatterjee
Sadie Navid
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree, Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Jit Chatterjee
Megan Ouyang
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree at Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Jit Chatterjee
Maya Ryu
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree at Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Lori Forster on retinal ganglion cell hyperexcitability
Paulina Situ
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree, Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Vaishali Mulchandani on NF1 Low-Grade Brain Tumor Neoplastic Transformation
Christina Zhang
Education:
Pursuing undergraduate degree, Washington University
Research Focus:
Working with Enquan Xu on developing advance stem cell of brain tumors