Clinical Translational Sciences Alumni 

Anngela Adams
Ph.D. - Spring 2024
anngelaa@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Neoantigen-Specific T Cells in a Novel Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma Model

Mentor:  Dr. Karen Hastings

Maria Adelus
Ph.D. - Spring 2023
madelus@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Endothelial Cell Heterogeneity and Activation in Atherosclerosis

Mentor:  Dr. Casey Romanoski

Aisha Al-Khinji
Ph.D. - Summer 2022
aalkhinji@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Carcinoembryonic Antigen Cell Adhesion Molecule 6 Enhances Invasiveness and Immune Suppression in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Mentor:  Dr. Daruka Mahadevan

Neda Al Rawashdh
Ph.D. - Spring 2021
nalrawashdh@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Studies on Survival, Effectiveness, and Cost Outcomes of First Line Treatments in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Mentor:  Dr. Ivo Abraham

Neusha Barakati
Ph.D. - Spring 2022
neushabarakati@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Evaluating the Effect of Adenine Nucleotide Translocase-1 Acetylation on Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolic Inflexibility

Mentor:  Dr. Lawrence Mandarino

Vedanshi Bhargava
Ph.D. - Spring 2024
vbhargava@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Measuring White Matter Changes in Alzheimer’s Disease Using a Novel Technique

Mentors:  Dr. Yi Su and Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz

Elizabeth Borden
Ph.D. - Spring 2025
knodele@arizona.edu

Dissertation: Immune Recognition and Sculpting of Neoantigens in Human Tumors

Mentor:  Dr. Karen Hastings

Nicholas Brookhouser
Ph.D. - Spring 2020
ndbrookhouser@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Engineering Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (HIPSCS) to Investigate the Contribution of the APOE Risk Allele to the Onset and Progression of Alzheimer’s Disease

Mentors:  Dr. David Brafman and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Nancy Casanova
Ph.D. - Winter 2019
ncasanova@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Molecular Strategies to Distinguish Key Subphenotypes in Sarcoidosis

Mentor:  Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia

Benjamin Conner
Ph.D. - Spring 2022
benjaminconner@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Resistive Robotic Gait Training to Restore Neuromuscular Function in Cerebral Palsy

Mentors:  Dr. Zachary Lerner and Dr. Michael Kruer

Jonathan Credo
Ph.D. - Spring 2022
jmcredo@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Utilizing Environmental Analytical Chemistry to Establish Culturally Appropriate Community Partnerships

Mentors:  Dr. Margaret Briehl and Dr. Jani Ingram

Tala Curry-Koski
Ph.D. - Spring 2024
curryt@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Fibrillin-1 Mutation Promotes Cerebrovascular Aging, Neuropathology, and Vulnerability to Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice

Mentors:  Dr. Theresa Thomas and Dr. Mitra Esfandiarei

Alane Dy
Ph.D. - Spring 2020
abcdy@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  The Role of Surfactant Protein A in Eosinophil Apoptosis and Clearance

Mentor:  Dr. Julie Ledford

Chidiebere Peter Echieh
Ph.D. - Spring 2025
cechieh@arizona.edu

Dissertation:  Unpacking the Impact of Policy on Practice: Effect of the 2018 UNOS Policy Change on the Practice of Heart Transplantation

Mentor:  Dr. Julie Ledford

Reem Faraj
Ph.D. - Winter 2022
rfaraj@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  METTL3-METTL14 Inhibition: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Acute Lung Injury

Mentor:  Dr. Ting Wang

Katherine Giordano
Ph.D. - Summer 2023
kgiordano@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Precision Identification and Targeting of Rod Microglia in Diffuse Brain-Injured Cortex

Mentor:  Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz

Tabitha Green
Ph.D. - Summer 2022
tabithagreen@arizona.edu 

Dissertation:  Quantitative and Spatial Methods to Analyze Microglial Morphology After Inflammatory Triggers

Mentors:  Dr. Rachel Rowe and Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz

Ashley Guest
Ph.D. - Spring 2022
ashleycguest@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Microcircuit Electrophysiological Functional Relationships in the Cortico-Basal Ganglia Network with Deep Brain Stimulation in Parkinson's Disease

Mentors:  Dr. Bradley Greger and Dr. Shenfeng Qiu

Ashlee Harris
Ph.D. - Fall 2022
ashleeharris@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Exploration of Decellularized Vegetal Scaffolds as New Biomaterials for Tissue Engineering

Mentor: Dr. Frederic Zenhausern

Odunayo Susan Lawal
Ph.D. - Fall 2025
olawal@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Sex-Specific Role of Damage-Mediated Signaling in Endothelial Homeostasis

Mentors: Dr. Olga Rafikova and Dr. Christopher Banek

Lakshmi Madhavpeddi
Ph.D. - Fall 2023
lmadhav@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Glucocorticoid-Mediated Programming of Cardiovascular and Autonomic Dysregulation in Adult Male and Female Rats

Mentor: Dr. Taben Hale

Stephanie Mallahan
Ph.D. - Summer 2025
smallahan@arizona.edu

Dissertation:  A Clinical Translational Approach to Understanding Oxytocin and Maternal-Infant Bonding in Postpartum Mothers with Opioid Use Disorder

Mentor:  Dr. Alicia Allen

Manmak Mamven
Ph.D. - Fall 2021
mhmamven20@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: The Effect of Body Mass Index on Outcomes of In-Hospital Mortality, Hospital Utilization and Costs in Acute Kidney Injury Hospitalizations: An Analysis of the HCUP NIS Data

Mentors:  Dr. Elizabeth Calhoun and Dr. Akinlolu Ojo

Nirushan Narendran
Ph.D. - Fall 2025
nirushan@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Comparative Effectiveness and Molecular Profiling of Dupilumab Versus Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps (CRSWNP)

Mentor: Dr. Eugene Chang

Jorge Navarrete
Ph.D. - Fall 2021
jnavarrete@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Quantifiable Changes in Nuclear Chromatin Structure of Oral Epithelium Based on Smoking Pack-Years in the Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)

Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Calhoun

Danyelle Paine
Ph.D. - Fall 2023
drpaine413@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Molecular Determinants of Diffuse Midline Glioma of the Pons Vulnerability to the Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, Quisinostat

Mentor: Dr. Michael Berens

Melissa Lopez Pentecost
Ph.D. - Summer 2022
melissalopez7@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Informing Dietary Interventions for Obesity-Related Cancer Prevention in Mexican-Origin Hispanic Adults

Mentor:  Dr. Cynthia Thomson

Elizabeth Rasmussen
Ph.D. - Spring 2025
efr@arizona.edu

Dissertation:  Trauma, Stress, and Sleep: Pathways Linking Adversity to Health Across Populations and Generations

Mentor:  Dr. Michael Grandner

Marisela Rodriguez
Ph.D. - Summer 2025
mrodriguez767@arizona.edu

Dissertation:  Novel Mechanisms for Extracellular NAMPT Secretion

Mentors:  Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia and Dr. Christian Bime

Luisa Rojas Valencia
Ph.D. - Winter 2023
lmrojas@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: The Gut Microbiome as an Outcome Measure of Dietary Therapy Efficacy After Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Mentor:  Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz

Saad Sammani
Ph.D. - Spring 2023
ssammani@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Translational Approaches and Preclinical Modeling to Address the Unmet Needs of Ards/Vili

Mentor:  Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia

Shreya Sangam
Ph.D. - Summer 2021
shreyasangam@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Estrogen-mediated SOX17 Regulation in the Development of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Mentors: Dr. Ankit Desai and Dr. John Konhilas

Natascha Schippel
Ph.D. - Fall 2025
schippel@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Stage-Specific Multiomic Analysis of Human Erythroid Differentiation

Mentor:  Dr. Shalini Sharma

Heidi Steiner
Ph.D. - Fall 2022
heidiesteiner@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Increasing Inclusion of Participants, Leveraging Gut Microbiomes, and Optimizing Machine Learning Models to Advance Warfarin Precision Medicine

Mentor: Dr. Jason Karnes

Alexander (AJ) Summers
Ph.D. - Fall 2025
ajsummers@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Development of a High Sensitivity, Multiplex Vertical Flow Immunoassay System for the Detection of Biothreat Agents

Mentor: Dr. Frederic Zenhausern

Emily Tsutsumi
Ph.D. - Summer 2023
1emilys@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Chemokine CXCL10 Signaling in ING4-Deficient Breast Cancer

Mentor: Dr. Suwon Kim

Trevor Wendt
Ph.D. - Spring 2024
trevorwendt@arizona.edu 

Dissertation: Potential Targets for Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment: The Role of S1PR1 and LOX-1 in Cerebrovascular Integrity and Inflammation

Mentor:  Dr. Rayna Gonzales

Talal Zafar
Ph.D. - Spring 2025
tzafar@arizona.edu

Dissertation:  Effects of Posterior Caudatoputamen Indirect Pathway Activity on Auditory Cortical Activation in Female Rats

Mentor:  Dr. Ron Hammer

Temidayo Abogunrin
M.S. - Spring 2025
abogunrin@arizona.edu

Thesis:  Age-Friendly Care, Banner University Medical Center-Phoenix

Mentor:  Dr. Nimit Agarwal

Samah Alshehri
M.S. - Spring 2017
samahalshehri@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Impact of Single Dose Systemic Glucocorticoids on Blood Leukocytes In Hospitalized Adults

Mentor: Dr. Michael Katz

Thandar Aung
M.S. - Summer 2020
taung003@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Polymicrogyria Related Epilepsy: Heterogeneous Epileptogenicity, 2001-2018

Mentors: Dr. Ashley Stokes and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Adrielle Barcibal
M.S. - Fall 2025
abarcibal@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Bioelectrical Impedance Assessment of Breast Density: Ex Vivo Reliability and Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening

Mentor:  Dr. Jennifer Bea

Mohan Belthur
M.S. - Summer 2021
mvbelthur@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Postoperative Urinary Retention after Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery

Mentors:  Dr. Michael Kruer and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Ikeoluwapo Kendra Bolakale-Rufai
M.S. - Spring 2023
ikerufai@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Disparity in Microvascular and Macrovascular Disease Risk in Diabetics

Mentor: Dr. Craig Weinkauf

Shoma Bommena
M.S. - Fall 2022
shoma@arizona.edu 

Thesis: The Impact of Right Atrial Pressure on Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt

Mentor: Dr. Michael Fallon

Elaine Cabrales
M.S. - Winter 2021
efcabrales@arizona.edu 

Thesis: En-Face Preparations of the Medial Hypothalamus and Cilia-Driven Flow Across its Ventricular Wall

Mentor: Dr. Zaman Mirzadeh

Napoleon Cieza Rubio
M.S. - Fall 2015
ncieza@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Mechanistic Studies in the Inflammatory Response of Pancreatitis and Pancreatric Cancer - Role of Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells

Mentor:  Dr. Ronald Heimark

Bernadette De Vault
M.S. - Spring 2023
badevault@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Hyperexcitability in Prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment: Resting Motor Threshold as a Potential Biomarker

Mentor:  Dr. Ying-Hui Chou

Khalid Eljaaly
M.S. - Spring 2017
khalideljaaly@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Benefit of Empiric Atypical Bacterial Coverage in Hospitalized Adults with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mentor: Dr. David Nix

Breanna Featherston
M.S. - Fall 2022
bfeatherston@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Clinical Implications of Community Attitudes and Beliefs about Sleep: An Examination of Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Fatigue

Mentor: Dr. Michael Grandner

Fernando Fernandez III
M.S. - Spring 2023
ffernandez3@arizona.edu 

Thesis: The Effects of CAP-1902 and CAP-1903 on Insoluble Beta-Amyloid and Neuroinflammation in the Hippocampus

Mentor: Dr. Kathleen Rodgers

Stephanie Fletcher
M.S. - Spring 2018
srfletcher@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Biochemical Recurrence Risk in Prostate Cancer Patients with Perineural Invasion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mentor: Dr. Ivo Abraham

Daniela Gomez
M.S. - Summer 2022
dgomez1@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Diagnosis of Intrauterine Inflammation/Infection in Women with Preterm Prelabor Rupture of Membranes Using Cervicovaginal Interleukin-6 Concentrations: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mentors: Dr. Curtis Cook and Dr. Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz

Kendra Gray
M.S. - Fall 2020
kendragray@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Simultaneous Measurement of Electrical Activity of Uterine, Abdominal and Pelvic Floor Muscles during the Second and Third Stages of Labor

Mentors: Dr. Robert Garfield and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Brikena Gusek
M.S. - Spring 2025
bri15@email.arizona.edu

Thesis:  Unraveling the Relationship Between Central, Peripheral and Cerebral Arteries Function in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome: Benefits of Exercise Training on Vascular Function and Blood Flow

Mentors:  Dr. Rayna Gonzales and Dr. Mitra Esfandiarei

Jeffery Hanna
M.S. - Summer 2019
jefferyhanna@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Sensory Hypersensitivities in Patients with Persistent Post-Traumatic Headache vs. Migraine

Mentors: Dr. Todd Schewedt and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Kyle Hendrie
M.S. - Summer 2023
kyleangushendrie@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Screening for Delirium Using the Electronic Medical Record

Mentor: Dr. Nimit Agarwal

Sara Herman
M.S. - Winter 2022
saraspasmodic@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Secreted Frizzled Related Protein 4 (SFRP4) Modulates Cell Proliferation by Promoting Migration in Colon Cancer Tumorigenesis In Vitro

Mentor: Dr. Valentine Nfonsam

Mehreen Kisat
M.S. - Summer 2016
mehreenkisat@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Circulating Mitochondrial and Bacterial DNA as Biomarkers of Sepsis

Mentor: Dr. Peter Rhee

Justin Lara
M.S. - Spring 2025
lara7@arizona.edu

Thesis:  Evaluating Commercial Cervical Immobilization Devices for Prehospital Use: Identifying the Most Comfortable Model for Adults

Mentor:  Dr. Amber Rice

Blake Leeper
M.S. - Fall 2022
blakeleeper@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Electrocardiographic Characteristics That Predict Acute Coronary Occlusions in Out-of-Hospital-Cardiac-Arrest Without ST-Segment Elevation

Mentor: Dr. Karl Kern

Anne Macy
M.S. - Winter 2021
amacy@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Role of GILT in Melanoma Cells on Regulating in Vivo Tumor Growth

Mentor: Dr. Karen Hastings

Helen Magee
M.S. - Fall 2020
mageeh@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Neurodegeneration and Failure of Autophagy in an Atp13a2 Knockout Mouse of Juvenile Parkinsonism

Mentors: Dr. Michael Kruer and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Justin Montoya
M.S. - Fall 2020
justinjmontoya@arizona.edu 

Thesis: In Vitro Activity of a G-Quadruplex-Stabilizing Small Molecule that Synergizes with Navitoclax to Induce Cytotoxicity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Mentors: Dr. Cynthia Wetmore and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Lena Naser
M.S. - Fall 2021
lnaser@arizona.edu 

Thesis: The Evaluation of FAK-FAT Domain Inhibition in Melanoma Subtypes

Mentor: Dr. Timothy Marlowe

Catherine Nelson
M.S. - Summer 2021
cnelson820@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Pediatric Germline Predispositions to Myelodisplastic Syndrome, Expert Guidance for the Initial Evaluation and Management of SAMD9 and SAMD9L Variants, and the Importance of Database Development for these Rare Syndromes

Mentors: Dr. Marcin Wlodarski and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Alexander Ngwube
M.S. - Spring 2021
angwube@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Single High Dose Oral Vitamin D3 (Stoss Therapy) in Pediatric Patients Undergoing HSCT: A Proposed Solution to Vitamin D Deficiency During Transplant

Mentor: Dr. Thalachallour Mohanakumar

Sarah Ogle
M.S. - Spring 2016
sogle@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Re-Expression of Thrombospondin-1 in the Thalamocortical Whisker Circuit after Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury: Potential Role in Mediating Synaptogenesis?

Mentors: Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Eneji (De Andre) Onyi
M.S. - Fall 2023
onyieneji@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Environmentally Relevant Effects of Benzyl Butyl Phthalate (Bbp) on Folliculogenesis, Follicular Growth, and Embryo Development

Mentor: Dr. Zelieann Craig

Annika Ozols
M.S. - Summer 2023
annikaozols@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Activity of 5-HT2ARs in the Prefrontal Cortex is Not Sufficient, but May Be Necessary to Regulate the Head-Twitch Response of Mice to the Agonist DOI

Mentor: Dr. Amelia Gallitano

Rozabel Peterson
M.S. - Summer 2023
rozipeterson@arizona.edu 

Thesis: The Diagnostic Value of FGF-21 and GDF-15 as Biomarkers for Rare Childhood Mitochondrial Disorder Using Cerebral Organoids

Mentor: Dr. Matthew Huentelman

Madeline Pressman
M.S. - Summer 2025
pressman@arizona.edu

Thesis:  Verified Novel Diffusion MRI Signatures of Neuroinflammation in Experimental Diffuse Traumatic Brain Injury

Mentor:  Dr. Jonathan Lifshitz

Nicole Quintus
M.S. - Fall 2021
nicolequintus@arizona.edu 

Thesis: The Role of CHRM3 Overexpression in D1-MSNS in Promoting Anxiety- and Depressive-Like Behaviors

Mentor: Dr. Deveroux Ferguson

Inad Rabadi
M.S. - Spring 2022
irabadi@arizona.edu 

Thesis: A New Way of Fabricating High-Porosity Parylene Membranes for High-Throughput Capturing of Viable Circulating and Exfoliated Tumor Cells from Large-Volume Bodily Fluids

Mentor: Dr. Jian Gu

Marisela Rodriguez
M.S. - Summer 2020
mrodriguez767@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Calcium Homeostasis Modulator (CALHM1/2) in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Mentors: Dr. Jason Yuan and Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia

Saad Sammani
M.S. - Fall 2019
ssammani@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Evaluation of the Therapeutic Potential of eNAMPT Monoclonal Antibodies (mAbs) in Preclinical Models of Acute Lung Injury and ARDS

Mentor: Dr. Joe G.N. "Skip" Garcia

Alexander Satinsky
M.S. - Spring 2022
asatinsky@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) and Neuropathology in the Amygdala: Linking the Potential Roles of GR in Chronic Outcomes Post-Traumatic Brain Injury

Mentor: Dr. Theresa Thomas

Malvi Savani
M.S. - Fall 2022
mbsavani@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Phase II Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial of Broccoli Seed and Sprout Extract To Evaluate Detoxification of Carcinogens in Firefighters

Mentors: Dr. Julie Bauman and Dr. H-H. Sherry Chow

Madison Schultz
M.S. - Spring 2023
madisonschultz@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Factors and Pathways that Regulate CC16 in the Lungs

Mentor: Dr. Julie Ledford

Nicole Sherwood
M.S. - Spring 2024
nicolesherwood@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Development of a Novel Uveal Melanoma Model System for Testing a Nanoparticle-delivered Gene Therapy

Mentors: Dr. Jerome Lacombe and Dr. Frederic Zenhausern

Samuel Shi
M.S. - Fall 2018
sshi@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Role for Selective Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Modulation During Acute Ischemic Injury in an Experimental Male and Female Mouse Stroke Model

Mentor: Dr. Rayna Gonzales

Anne Smith
M.S. - Summer 2024
asmith23@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Applicability of an Adnexal Torsion Prediction Score in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients

Mentors: Dr. Amy Williamson and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Bryan Torres
M.S. - Spring 2020
bryantorres@arizona.edu 

Thesis: A Translational 3D Assay Mimicking the Bone Marrow Microenvironment for Drug Screening and Mechanistic Studies of Hypoxia Induced Resistance in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Mentors: Dr. Eiman Aleem and Dr. Ronald Hammer

Stephanie Tribble
M.S. - Spring 2021
tribbles@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Modulation of Intestinal Epithelial Tuft Cells by the Innate Immune Sensor, AIM2

Mentor: Dr. Justin Wilson

Stephanie Vargas
M.S. - Fall 2023
svargas2@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Mutations Enhance Replication of a Neurotropic Virus

Mentor: Dr. Kurt Gustin

Zachary Yellowman
M.S. - Winter 2019
zyellowman@arizona.edu 

Thesis: Optogenetic Manipulation of Posterior Caudatoputamen Indirect Pathway Neurons Causes Auditory Cortical Activation in Rats

Mentor: Dr. Ronald Hammer