Professor
John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Parkinson’s Research

rakayed@utmb.edu

M.D.-Ph.D. Student

aeaday@utmb.edu

Research interest:
I am a third year MD/PhD student starting my PhD in Dr. Kayed’s and Dr. Montalbano’s labs. I am studying protein aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease, characterizing the interplay between tau and RNA-binding proteins in disease progression. I am interesting in neurodegeneration, neuro-oncology, immunology, and translational research and hope to pursue a career in neurosurgery and/or neuro-oncology.

Postdoctoral Fellow

faalshae@utmb.edu

Research interest:
My research focuses on senescence, immunotherapy, and the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. I investigate senescence in glial cells and its correlation with neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Additionally, I explore the impact of different ApoE allelic genetic backgrounds on tau oligomers in AD pathogenesis and study immunotherapeutic approaches for halting AD-related pathological changes. I utilize molecular techniques and advanced microscopy in both primary neuronal cultures and transgenic mouse models.

Postdoctoral Fellow

nebhatt@utmb.edu

Research interest:
As protein aggregation is one of the driving factors of neurogenerative diseases, my interest lies in understanding the various aggregation mechanisms of disease-relevant proteins using biochemical assays, biophysical analyses, cell culture, animal models and human tissue.

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow

mdhaque@utmb.edu

Research interest:
My project focus is on the investigation of protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions, as well as the development of potential therapeutics against polymorphic tau oligomers. We use isothermal titration calorimetry, immunoblotting, and Bio-SAXS to develop specific small molecules drug/antibodies against pathogenic forms of tau.

Laboratory Supervisor

cyjerez@utmb.edu

Research interest:

Research Scientist

sheekhan@utmb.edu

Research interest:
My research focuses on identifying strategies to modulate the aggregation behavior of toxic tau species, amyloid beta, synuclein, TDP43, and p53 using small molecules and understanding the mechanisms underlying protein misfolding and aggregation leading to neurodegenerative disease and its progression. Protein aggregation; protein biochemistry; protein structure; protein biophysics; molecular biology

Postdoctoral Fellow

Research Associate

jiliew@utmb.edu

Research interest:

Postdoctoral Fellow

dalynch@utmb.edu

Research interest:
Dr. Lynch’s primary research focus is on the aggregation of the p53 protein in neurodegenerative diseases. He is interested in determining the role that p53 has in the development of Alzheimer’s disease, how p53 interacts with tau protein, and the effect that p53 aggregates have on neural cells.

Assistant Professor

mamontal@utmb.edu

Research interest:
My focus is on the pathogenesis RNA-Binding Proteins (RBPs) like Musashi and TDP-43 and their progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. I use molecular approaches and advanced microscopies in cellular models, transgenic mice, and post-mortem brain tissues.

PhD Candidate

PhD Candidate

nmmoreno@utmb.edu

Research interest:
Neurodegenerative disease pathology and mechanisms; molecular mechanisms underlying tau oligomer toxicity and propagation; molecular mechanisms underlying memory impairments observed in neurodegeneration; synaptic plasticity.

Postdoctoral Fellow

sujpark@utmb.edu

Research interest:
My project focuses on the distinction of tau oligomeric polymorphs using antibodies or small molecules. This work aims to modulate the toxic aggregates of tau in an early stage for potential diagnosis or therapeutic intervention. I use biochemical and structural approaches as well as a lot of novel imaging tools.

Postdoctoral Fellow

nipuangm@utmb.edu

Research interest:
My research of interest is to understand the role of post-translational modifications on tau oligomer pathogenesis and to identify the internalization mechanisms of brain-derived tau oligomers from various neurodegenerative diseases using primary neuronal cultures, human and mouse brain tissues.

Research Associate

masample@utmb.edu

Research interest:

Postdoctoral Fellow

alsciort@utmb.edu

Research interest:
Understanding misfolding and aggregation of proteins in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, with a focus on tau and TDP-43, using in vitro and in vivo (mouse models) approaches.

Postdoctoral Fellow

susenapa@utmb.edu

Research interest:
Numerous studies have highlighted the co-occurrence of -synuclein and tau pathology in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). My research aims to understand the role of tau proteins in the progression of these conditions. Using a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including transgenic mice, alongside biochemical assays, cell cultures, human tissue, and animal studies. I am investigating the interaction between tau and other pathological proteins like -synuclein. The goal is to unravel the mechanisms driving neurodegeneration, ultimately developing new strategies for early diagnosis and treatment of these debilitating diseases.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Research Associate

nishchan@utmb.edu

Research interest:

Research Associate

rjxavier@utmb.edu

Research interest: