Research Staff
 Seiko Ikezu, MD – Senior Scientist
Research: Seiko’s research is focused on genetic and pharmacological modulation of protein kinases, namely tau-tubulin kinases(TTBK), which are involved in aggregation of neuropathogenic protein, such as microtubule-associated protein tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43. Phosphorylation of the amyloidgenic proteins are found in the Ubiquitin-positive inclusion bodies of Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. TTBK1 and 2 are potential therapeutic target of the proteinopathy-related neurodegeneration. |
 Hirohide Asai, MD/PhD, Postdoctoral Fellow
Research: Hiro is studying the molecular mechanism of axonal degeneration and tauopathy development in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease. |
 Robert W. Freilich (MD/PhD student)
Research: Rob’s research is aimed at understanding how microRNAs influence the neuroimmune response in the CNS, focused specifically on microglia and on identifying therapeutic that modulate the neurotoxic effects of microglia in Alzheimer’s Disease. |
 Megan Varnum (PhD student)
Research: Megan’s research focuses on the role of CD200 in Alzheimer’s disease. |
 Maya Woodbury (PhD student, Graduate Program for Neuroscience/Program in Biomolecular Pharmacology)
Research: Maya is studying the molecular characterization of growth factors and glia-derived cytokines and their effect on neuroregeneration. |
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Alumni
 Kaitlin Ingraham, BA Kaitlin was accepted into the UCLA Graduate ACCESS Program. |
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