Welcome to the lab of Richard Daneman
UC San DiegoDEPARTMENT of Neurosciences
DEPARTMENT of Pharmacology
Richard Daneman, PhD - Assistant Professor
Eric Nudleman, PhD, MD
Roeben Munji, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
Nicole Lummis, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
I've always been fascinated by scientific research; by how we can elucidate unknown aspects of biology to better understand disease and ultimately improve human health. During my undergraduate studies in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I studied the activity of brain-derived molecular motors in response to anesthesia. I continued pursuing my interest in neuroscience by completing a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at University of California San Diego, where I researched the role of lipid signaling in the initiation of neonatal post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus under Dr. Jerold Chun. In May 2019, I was thrilled to join Dr. Richard Daneman's lab as a postdoctoral scholar to investigate the effects of disease, such as stroke and EAE, on the function of the blood-brain barrier, with a particular focus on pericytes.
In addition to my passion for science, I love any kind of game, podcasts, and trying new foods.
Catie Profaci - Graduate Student
After graduating from Georgetown University in 2012 (Hoya Saxa!), I worked for two years studying the progression of Alzheimer's pathology with Dr. Karen Duff at Columbia University. Now as a Ph.D. student in the UCSD Neurosciences program, I am excited to continue studying disease in the nervous system. In the Daneman lab, I will be working on discovering the mechanisms behind the breakdown and repair of the blood-brain barrier in diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Besides my love for the brain and all its mysteries, I enjoy (in no particular order) running, cooking, Bruce Springsteen, the beach, NPR, baseball games, cheese, outdoor activities, and writing for our program's neuroscience blog, NeuWriteSD.org!
Rob Pulido, PhD - Postdoctoral Volunteer
I graduated from Boston University in 2014 with a B.A. in Neuroscience. My research experience as an undergrad focused on the neurobiology of addiction. I started my Ph.D. in 2014 in the Biological Sciences Program here at UCSD. After exploring a diverse set of types of research during rotations in the first year, I became intrigued with the blood-brain-barrier. Here with the Daneman Lab, I study the dynamic reciprocal interaction between neural circuitry and the blood-brain-barrier. Outside of the lab I enjoy hiking, surfing, playing soccer, and seeing live music. I successfully defended my thesis in the summer of 2019 and am now volunteering in the lab to finish up projects while working as a Senior Scientist, Clinical Development, Neuroscience, at Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
Cayce Dorrier - Graduate Student
Meghan Rossi - Graduate Student
Kaja Bajc - Research Associate
I am from Slovenia and joined the Daneman lab in mid 2016 to do an internship and write my Master's thesis. After finishing my Master's in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, I returned to San Diego and started working as a Research Associate in the lab. I work closely with Marie on her project about regional differences of the BBB and have some lab manager responsibilities. During the past few years I've spent a lot of time traveling solo in New Zealand, Southeast Asia and South America. Currently I really enjoy being in San Diego and spending all of my free time surfing.
Kevin Tenerelli - MSTP Student
Sean Harvey, Graduate Student
I graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2017 with a B.S. in Microbiology. My enthusiasm for biomedical research began as an undergraduate research assistant in Craig Montell’s lab at UCSB, where we sought to identify ion channels and transmembrane receptors that regulate taste and feeding behaviors in Drosophila. After graduating, I joined Gary Steinberg’s lab at Stanford University, where my projects focused on post-stroke neural circuit dynamics and molecular mechanisms driving functional recovery in murine models of ischemic stroke. I began my PhD in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program in the Fall of 2019. Now in the Daneman lab, I aim to investigate the role of blood-brain barrier dysregulation in Alzheimer’s Disease pathogenesis. When I am not grappling with science-related problems in lab, you can find me training the “gentle art” of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, surfing, and enjoying San Diego's endless variety of burritos and beer.
Wenshuai Jiang, Research Associate
Wenshuai Jiang, Research Associate
Lucija Pintaric, Visiting Student
Hi! I'm from Croatia and I have completed my bachelors in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology in Krems an Der Donau, Austria. In 2017 I worked on a clinical study concerning the genetic analysis of an ocular disease called Retinitis pigmentosa at the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong. In 2018 I graduated and enrolled into a Master's program in Molecular Biotechnology at FH Campus Wien. I joined the Daneman lab this year and my research focuses on the role of fibrotic scar tissue formation in stroke and the mechanisms that lead to fibrotic scar formation following stroke. When I am not in the lab you can see me dancing and singing at inappropriate places, doing sports, hiking, or partying.
UCSD Undergraduates
- Alex Zhang
- Michelle Lin
- Amanda Argoncillo
Former Lab Members
Tony Zhang - Undergraduate Student, Volunteer
2017-2020Now, Medical Student at Drexel University
Joseph Miller - Master's Student, Research Associate
2016-2020Now, Medical Student at California University of Science and Medicine
Marie Blanchette, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow2015-2019Now, Scientific Evaluator at Health Canada
Mario Malfavon, Postdoctoral Fellow2016-2019
Now Scientist, Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC)
Tamara Chan - Master's Student, Research Associate2016-2019Now graduate student at Stanford University
Stephanie Liaw - Lab Manager2014-2019Now consultant at 1798
Geoffrey Weiner - MSTP StudentNow intern at Stanford
Ezekiel Haenelt- Undergraduate Student2016-2018
Jessica Gutierrez- Undergraduate StudentSummer 2018
Austin Batugal- Undergraduate Student
Austin Batugal- Undergraduate Student
Gabby Whiten- Undergraduate StudentSummer 2017Now graduate student at NYU
Anne Cabangcola - Undergraduate Student2014-2016
Yuqi Cheng - Visiting Professor
Conor Mcloughlin - Visiting StudentSummer 2016 Trinity College Dublin
Alena Bartakova, MD - Postdoctoral Fellow
Dan Peng- Undergraduate Student
Sidar Aydın - Visiting Student2016
Soumya Kurnool - Undergraduate Student2015-2016
Now medical student at UCSD
Fabien Sohet, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow
Allison Soung - Assistant Specialist2013-2015
Now graduate student at Washington University
Christina Lin - Assistant Specialist2013-2014
Now in Med School at UCSD
2013-2014
Now in Med School at UCSD