Email: mbenson4@kumc.edu

Heather Wilkins lab

Investigating the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer’s Disease in various models.

Email: schoudhury@kumc.edu

Erin Young lab

The primary focus of my research is on neurogenic bowel (NB) and abdominal pain following spinal cord injury (SCI). Using an established mouse model of SCI, I plan to investigate the underlying mechanisms that cause NB. Symptoms of NB include slow colonic transit, constipation, and chronic abdominal pain, which significantly impact the quality of life of SCI patients. The current treatments are symptom-focused and often ineffective. My research aims to identify the mechanisms of NB to pave the way for developing evidence-based, novel therapeutic treatments.

Email: vcsikos@kumc.edu

Heather Wilkins and John Thyfault labs

I investigate how exercise can modulate brain health in the aspect of mitochondrial quality control in Alzheimer's disease. My study also aims to explore how the nutritional state influences the effectiveness of exercise and how different exercise modalities, like resistance and aerobic training, can potentially alleviate symptoms or delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Email: mewald@kumc.edu

Olivia Veatch and Erin Young labs

I am interested in using bioinformatics to look at pharmacogenomic targets for chronic pain and sleep disorders.

Email: ggriese@kumc.edu

Doug Wright lab

Understanding the impact of methylglyoxal (MGO) on axon degeneration and metabolism dysregulation, and utilizing ketones as a potential therapeutic to combat MGO toxicity.

Email: whauser2@kumc.edu

Doug Wright lab

Understanding the connection between neurodegenerative disease in the CNS and peripheral axon loss. Studying the role of both the Central and Peripheral immune systems in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as mechanisms of neuroinflammation with specific focus on the TLR4 signaling pathway.

Email: lheslop2@kumc.edu

Doug Wright lab

My research focuses on restoring peripheral nerve health in a model of bortezomib-specific chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy by using a ketogenic diet as a therapeutic mechanism. I am interested in understanding the interplay between these factors and their effects on metabolism within neuronal cells.

Email: lkader@kumc.edu

Erin Young lab

I am a Ph.D. Candidate at University of Kansas Medical Center, where I use multi-omics approaches to investigate host-genome and host-microbiome interactions in patients with disorders of gut-brain interactions [(DGBIs; specifically irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)]. For my project, I am trying to identify underlying mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity, which is a predominant peripheral factor that drives chronic abdominal pain in these patients.

Email: rkemna@kumc.edu

Jill Morris lab

My research is focused on the role of mitochondrial metabolism in Alzheimer’s Disease, and how mitochondrial function affects expression of hallmark AD biomarkers. Using cytoplasmic hybrid cell lines generated from clinical research participants in the KU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, I am interested in understanding how mitochondrial function differs between individuals with and without AD.

Email: clysaker@kumc.edu

Heather Wilkins lab

My research focuses on apolipoprotein E (APOE), a significant genetic risk determinate for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. I'm specifically interested in how it influences metabolic and mitochondrial function across the liver and brain, which serve as the primary sources of APOE in the body.

Email: tmadden3@kumc.edu

Doug Wright lab

I am interested in the effects of innate immune signaling on peripheral axon degeneration. I hope to relate these mechanisms to clinical applications, such as autoimmune disease and opioid use.

Email: cmansel@kumc.edu

Olivia Veatch lab

One possible reason for the failure of clinical trials in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is that they generally treat all AD patients the same. My project uses unsupervised machine learning to describe sub-types of AD using clinical databases and the electronic health record (EHR). Because family history is known to confer increased risk for AD, my project also seeks to use data-driven approaches to uncover possible AD sub-types that are associated with specific genetic risk measures.

Email: tmcquillan2@kumc.edu

Julie Christianson lab

The Christianson lab is interested in understanding how early life stress contributes to the development of disease across the lifespan. My dissertation work investigates both the role of the hippocampus in early life stress-induced chronic pain and cognitive impairment and the ability of exercise to attenuate these outcomes.

Email: aroberts20@kumc.edu

Russell Swerdlow lab

We are working to create a mitochondria dysfunction model using iPSC derived Neurons. This model will allow us to better understand how mitochondria dysfunction influences Alzheimer's disease. Unraveling this mechanism could aid in the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. 

Email: arodriguez18@kumc.edu

Erin Young lab

I am part of Dr. Erin Young's lab, which uses a multi-omics approach to research Disorders of the Gut-Brain Interaction (DGBI's) including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). We aim to investigate host-microbiome interactions to develop a therapeutic approach to alleviate visceral hypersensitivity and chronic abdominal pain observed in patients. 

Email: sthomas23@kumc.edu

Doug Wright lab

I am currently a Ph.D. student in Dr. Doug Wright’s sensory nerve disorder lab. My project is focused on the effects of inflammation on the development of peripheral nerve fiber loss and pain, especially in diabetes. I am interested in the connection between chronic inflammation, pain, the gut microbiome, and mental health outcomes such as anxiety and depression.  

Email: svarghese3@kumc.edu

Kyle Baumbauer lab

At the GAPP laboratory, our research explores the intricate relationship between genetics, physiology, and pain. Within this context, my project delves into neuroinflammation in Spinal Cord Injury and investigates the underlying mechanisms responsible for the development of chronic pain.