

Verónica Martínez Cerdeño
ProfessorInstitute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine
MIND Institute
Medical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of California - Davis
My goal is to determine the etiology and the pathology of some forms of autism. I am also interested in the role of stem cells in the development, evolution, and pathogenesis of the cerebral cortex.

Carmen Falcone
Postdoctoral ResearcherUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in the study of cerebral cortex evolution, with particular attention to astrocyte complexity across different species.

Brett Dufour
Postdoctoral ResearcherUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in characterizing the pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie clinical symptomology and disease progression in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Fragile X Syndrome, and Fragile X associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS). My ultimate goal is to identify disease biomarkers that can be utilized to develop novel therapeutic approaches that reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for patients.

Galareh "Gloria" Vakilzadeh
Postdoctoral ResearcherPathology Department
University of California - Davis
My interest is to work on malignant brain tumors and new therapeutic agents for thier treatment. In addition, finding new ways for early diagnosis that can help for controlling thier further metastasis.

Tiffany Hong
Graduate StudentBiochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology Graduate Group
University of California - Davis
I am interested in studying alterations of the cerebral cortex that characterize neurological pathologies like autism spectrum disorder.

Pablo Juarez
Graduate StudentIntegrative Pathobiology Graduate Group
University of California - Davis
I am interested in studying the molecular pathology underlying autism with a special focus on elucidating how neural cell development and migration in the pre-frontal cortex contributes to the development of the autism phenotype.

Marisol Wendy Wolf-Ochoa
Junior SpecialistUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in neurological pathology and the evolution of the cerebral cortex.

Erin McBride
Junior SpecialistUniversity of California - Davis
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Desiree Sanchez
Junior SpecialistUniversity of California - Davis
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Trevor Bartley
Junior SpecialistUniversity of California - Davis
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Jun Yi Wang
Research ScientistUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in deciphering the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases including fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) by linking genes, brain, and behavioral data.

Maria Jimena Salcedo-Arellano, MD
Associate SpecialistMedical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute
University of California - Davis
I am interested in understanding the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. I’m currently focused on describing the pathological changes in the Fragile X associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) brain with the aim to correlate those findings with parkinsonism and cognitive decline commonly seen in the clinical presentation of the disease.

Y. Bella McLennan
Volunteer Research AssistantMedical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (MIND) Institute
University of California - Davis

Ammara Rehman
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in understanding the molecular pathology of Autism Spectrum Disorder and related neurological diseases.

Nathan Kushner
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
FORMER LAB MEMBERS

Jeanelle Ariza
Former Lab Manager / Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
My specialties are histological and immunohistochemical techniques in animal and human tissue. My goal is to explore and develop novel techniques to study the histology and anatomy of the brain.

Angela Monterrubio
Former Graduate StudentUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in discovering and implementing novel gene-based therapeutics for use in ameliorating degenerative diseases.

Bride (Rob) Hammerstad (Nadereh)
Former Graduate (Master) StudentUniversity of California - Davis
Environmental Scientist at CalRecycle
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Jasmin Camacho
Former Lab Manager/ Research AssistantCurrent position: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow
Current affiliation: Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University
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Ashley McDonough
Former Graduate StudentCurrent position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Current affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Washington
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Elaine Miller
Former Research AssistantCurrent position: Graduate Student
Current Affiliation: The George Washington University
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Raymond Ikeda
Former Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
My interests include Neurodevelopment and Clinical Laboratory Science.

Hailee Rogers
Former Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
My main research interest is on neurodegenerative and neurodevelopment disorders.

Ezzat Hashemi (Nadereh)
Former Graduate StudentCurrent position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Current affiliation: Stanford University
I am interested in the microanatomy and cell architecture of the prefrontal cortex in neurodegeneration and neurodevelopment with an emphasis in autism.
Jaqueline Silva
Former Graduate StudentCurrent Position: Research Scientist,
California Department of Public Health
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Vanessa L. Hull
Former Graduate StudentCurrent Position: Doctoral Student, Neuroscience Graduate Group
University of California - Davis
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Busisiwe Maseko
Fulbright Visiting ScholarSenior Lecturer, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
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Sarwat Amina
Postdoctoral ResearcherUniversity of California - Davis
My goal is to study the cellular pathophysiology that contribute to the alterations in function of GABAergic system in autistic brain.

Lorena Molina
Visiting Research AssistantUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) Graduate
I'm interested in studying the neurobiological basis of atypical cognitive and behavioral development in Autism Spectrum Disorder, with particular attention to social behavior and language.

Laura E. Baquedano Santana
Visiting Graduate Student ResearcherUniversidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
I am interested in the role of stem cells in animal models in neurological diseases as a novel therapy, and the pathology in Autism Spectrum Disorders and Fragile X associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS). My specialties are histological, animal management, and treatment in Neurocysticercosis.

Natalie-Ya Mevises
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis Graduate
I am interested in researching the pathology and pathogenesis of diseases, with a special emphasis on autism spectrum disorder and neurodegenerative diseases.

Edith Munene
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of Nevada, Reno
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Erik Allen
Undergraduate Research AssistantBrigham Young University- Idaho Graduate
I am interested in researching the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases and those associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS), and to participate in ongoing neurological research endeavors.

Rosalia Perez Castro
Previous Lab Manager/Scientist, Assistant SpecialistPathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of California - Davis
My goal is to help in the search of histological signs and cellular pathology in diseases of the central nervous system that affect both neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration.
I am from Colombia where small populations have been found to have these neurological problems. Understanding the underlying etiology is crucial in order to offer hope through both scientific and human tools.

Mai Doan
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
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Sara Jimenez
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
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Johanna Bedoy
Undergraduate Research AssistantUniversity of California - Davis
I am interested in studying the pathology of neurological diseases, specifically in Autism Spectrum Disorder.