Trent Bullock is a second year student in the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program under the advisement of Dr. Ramirez in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. Trent graduated with a Bachelor’s and M.A in Psychology: Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University where he was advised by Dr. Lisa Baker. While at WMU, Trent focused on characterizing the behavioral effects of synthetic cathinones such as MDPV and mephedrone. His Master’s thesis utilized a three-lever model of drug discrimination to compare and contrast the interoceptive stimuli produced by MDPV and mephedrone with those produced by other psychostimulants such as cocaine and MDMA. This work provides a foundation to determine the neurochemical components that may contribute to the interoceptive and rewarding effects of MDPV and mephedrone. Trent joined the Neuroscience cluster within the graduate program at Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University in 2019. He chose to join Dr. Ramirez’s laboratory in June 2019 to gain experience and expand his knowledge of the neuroscience of substance abuse, especially in the context of traumatic brain injury. CONTACT INFO: Email: trent.bullock@temple.edu

Brian received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Biology from Boston University in 2014 and a Master’s of Science degree in Biomedical Studies from Drexel University in 2018 (where he graduated top of his class). Brian is now a graduate student at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University’s combined MD/PhD program. After the first year of medical school, Brian joined the Ramirez Lab to help with a project looking at post-mortem brain samples of confirmed CTE cases. Specifically, the project involved looking at changes in the vasculature and determining how such changes affect the blood brain barrier after repeated traumatic brain injuries. In 2020, after completing his second year of medical school, Brian began the PhD portion of the combined MD/PhD program under the mentorship of Dr. Ramirez. Brian’s current research studies in animal models of TBI involves using newly developed novel biological conjugates to target and reduce neuroinflammation. CONTACT INFO: E-mail: Brian.Leonard@temple.edu.

Jana Kahn graduated from Saint Joseph’s University, where she received her Bachelor's of Science degree in Chemical Biology with a minor in Behavioral Neuroscience in May 2017. At Saint Joseph’s University, she was involved in research investigating the thermodynamic properties of HRP under various conditions using spectrophotometry. While an undergraduate, Jana also worked in the Behavioral Neuroscience lab, where she conducted an independent study on the relationship between brain anatomy and behavior using an animal model. Jana joined the Ramirez lab in December 2018 as a Laboratory Assistant and has recently become an Assistant Scientist. Jana is now the head Histologist in the Ramirez lab, adding to her skillset in behavioral assays in molecular and cellular techniques. She enjoys the process of discovery and the intersection of neuroscience and art. Jana is also enrolled in the MPH graduate program offered by our renowned Temple U College of Public Health. CONTACT INFO: jana.kahn@temple.edu

Dr. Tetyana Buzhdygan was a postdoctoral fellow under our T32 Institutional National Research Service Award supported by NIH/NIDA offered through the Center for Substance Abuse Research at Lewis Katz School of Medicine. She received Bachelor of Science with Honors in Biology from the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University (Ukraine). To pursue her interest in biological and social determinants of personality, Tetyana continued her education resulting in a Master degree in Molecular Biology and Psychology (Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University). In 2009, Tetyana joined the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB, Galveston, TX). Her doctorate thesis focused on the neuropsychological and neuroimmunological aspects of abnormal GABAergic neurotransmission in HIV-1 infected population (thesis advisor Dr. Benjamin Gelman). During her graduate studies Tetyana became interested in the pathology of blood brain barrier and its involvement in neuroinflammation, disruption in neurotransmission and likely importance in subsequent neurocognitive impairment. After defending she worked on the development of novel therapeutic approaches to protect endothelial barrier function during bacterial and viral infection (Department of Pathology, UTMB). From 2018-2021, Dr. Buzhdygan was a member of the Ramirez’s lab where she worked on how novel designer psychostimulants negatively affected HIV-1 infection. CONTACT: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tpbuzhdygan/

Hannah McGary attended La Salle University, where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Integrated Science, Business, and Technology in May 2018. At La Salle, she had a concentration in biotechnology and a minor in Spanish. Her undergraduate work involved research in agrobacterium-mediated tobacco plant transformation, and the commercialization of biomarkers for ovarian cancer. Hannah joined the Ramirez lab from 2018 - 2020 as a Laboratory Technician and then as an Assistant Scientist. Hanna’s expertise involved, animal models of disease, behavioral assays and laboratory management. While working as a full time scientist, Hanna’s interest in commercialization of biomedical technologies led her to complete the MBA program at Temple U, Fox School of Business. Hanna is now a Senior Content Analyst at AdMed, Inc. CONTACT INFO: LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahmcgary

Roshanak Razmpour attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2014, Roshanak joined Dr. Ramirez’s Lab as Senior Scientist and Lab manager. She was the head histologist with unmatched technical prowess. Her successes as a scientist and mentor are vast. The Ramirez lab and trainees will be eternally grateful to Roshanak’s incredible scientific brilliance and protocol development for the analysis of tissue/cellular morphology and advanced microscopy. Roshanak now works at one the world’s top Pharmaceutical companies. CONTACT INFO: LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/roshanakr/

Dr. Allison M. Andrews received her Bachelors of Science in Agricultural & Biological Engineering from the University of Florida where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She then attended Drexel University and received her doctorate in 2012 from the Biomedical Engineering department. Following her Ph.D., she did a Post-Doc under the advisement of Dr. Victor Rizzo in Temple University’s Cardiovascular Department. She then joined Dr. Ramirez’s lab as a postdoctoral fellow from 2014 -2018 where she was appointed to a T32, received an F32 and a K01 award. Following her work with Dr. Ramirez, Dr. Andrews secured her first faculty appointment as Assistant Professor at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. For information on Dr. Andrews’ laboratory please visit her website at https://www.andrewslaboratory.com/

Evan Lutton was accepted into the entering class of 2012 under the MD/PhD program offered by the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Prior to the start of the PhD portion of the combined program, Evan completed years 1 and 2 (with Honors) of medical school. Evan then began his PhD training under the mentorship of Dr. Servio H. Ramirez in 2014. Evan developed his research expertise while evaluating the therapeutic potential of antibody targeted antioxidant conjugate therapy. This novel therapeutic approach designed to attenuate neuroinflammation also involved the close collaboration of Dr. Muzykantov at the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics located at UPENN. Evan’s thesis was entitled “Antioxidant Enzyme Targeting to ICAM-1 Improves outcomes following experimental TBI” which he defended successful on May 3rd, of 2017. Evan’s studies have been published in Scientific Reports (a Nature Publishing Group journal) and highlights for the first time how conjugate approaches of this type could be use in the setting of neuroinflammation. During the course of his training Evan submitted an F30 NIH application, attended 9 scientific meetings, received multiple awards and authored seven publications. Evan is now a Surgical resident at Cornell Medicine. CONTACT INFO: luttonem@temple.edu

Lee Anne Cannella graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and later she received her M.S. in Cognitive Neuroscience from Radboud University in the Netherlands. Under the advisement of Dr. Mark Gluck, her master’s thesis work focused on learning, memory, and plasticity in the context of behavioral assays of procedural and declarative memory, and how these cognitive processes can be affected by individual trait-like differences in long-term sleep patterns. Lee Anne joined the Neuroscience cluster in the Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Lee Anne Cannella did her Ph.D. training under the mentorship of Dr. Ramirez in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. She successfully defended her thesis on April 4th of 2019. Her thesis project was titled: “Characterization of the role and underlying mechanisms of traumatic brain injury on reward seeking behavior using preclinical models”. Dr. Cannella is currently a Medical Director at AdMed, Inc. CONTACT: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeannecannella/

Steve Merkel did his Ph.D. training in the laboratory of Dr. Servio H. Ramirez’s and successfully defended his thesis work on February 24th, 2017 (Thesis entitled “Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on Addiction-like Behavior and Their Neuropathological Correlates”).  Since beginning his research career, Steve has published on diverse neuroscience-related topics including: HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), gene therapy for the treatment of CNS disorders, and neurogenesis.  In 2013, Steve was awarded a position in the NIH/NIDA-supported training program (T32 DA007237) offered through the Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR).  Supporting, Steve’s doctoral thesis research focused on substance abuse and neuroinflammation in the context of traumatic brain injury (TBI).  Steve’s pioneering studies lead to demonstrating that clinical observations related to the link between TBI and substance use disorders could be investigated by combining two specific preclinical models.  Important for both, as a scientific contribution and for Temple University, Steve’s studies also paved the way for ongoing clinical neuroimaging studies funded via the Pennsylvania’s Department of Health.  Steve has had many accolades, including, presenting at various scientific conferences (12), multiple awards and authorship in eleven papers in premier journals, including authorship in a book chapter. Steve is currently a Senior Consultant, at Oxford PharmaGenesis Inc. CONTACT: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-f-merkel-phd/

Fionya Tran received her bachelors of Science in Neuroscience from Temple University where she graduated with distinctions in 2017. Under the supervision of Dr. John W. Muschamp, her undergraduate senior thesis work focused on Hypocretin/Orexin cell population and its role towards the affective circuitry in mood and addiction. Prior to joining the Ramirez lab, she was involved in behavioral pharmacology research at Temple’s Center of Substance Abuse Research assessing the rewarding and reinforcing effects of various psychostimulants. Fionya joined the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and became a member of Ramirez lab in the summer of 2017. She worked as our Laboratory Technician and utilized various molecular and cellular techniques to elucidate potential underlying mechanisms of animal models of traumatic brain injury and drug-seeking behavior. She has recently moved to the Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). CONTACT INFO: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionya-tran-707001120/