Leadership and Administration
Sean P Marrelli, PhD – Professor
Director, BRAINS Research Laboratory
Director, MicroCT Imaging Facility
Education & Training
PhD: Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, TX
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Regulation of cerebral blood flow in healthy conditions and in disease states (e.g. following ischemic stroke, in conditions of amyloidosis, etc.); Role of endothelial Piezo1 mechanosensitive ion channel in cerebral blood flow regulation; Brain vascular remodeling in aging and pathology; Novel methods of promoting therapeutic hypothermia following stroke.
Research
A longstanding central theme of research in the Marrelli Lab involves the mechanisms of cerebrovascular function, in both healthy and pathological conditions.
Hung Wen (Kevin) Lin, PhD – Professor
Associate Director, BRAINS Research Laboratory
Education & Training
BS: Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison – Madison, WI
PhD: Pharmacology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine – Springfield, IL
Postdoc: Neurology, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine – Miami, FL
Areas of Interest
Clinical interests: stroke, brain ischemia, fatty acid metabolism, and Alzheimer’s Disease
Research interests: neurovascular coupling, blood-brain barrier, and protein arginine methyltransferase
Research & Experience
My expertise is in the field of neurovascular coupling and the blood-brain barrier in the field of ischemia/stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. We are currently heavily vested in protein arginine methyltransferases in the central nervous system. I have dedicated over 20 years to investigate the cerebral vasculature with the focus on stroke, brain ischemia, and fatty acid metabolism to examine the connections between the heart and brain.
Jessica Lee, MPH – Research Program Manager, BRAINS Lab
Education & Training
BS: Biology with minor in Chemistry, Sam Houston State University – Huntsville, TX (2016)
MPH: Epidemiology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston – Houston, TX (2019)
Research & Experience
Jessica has over 5 years of combined experience in research and research administration. With a strong academic background and extensive experience in managing complex research projects, she is dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration within the research community. Having worked in various capacities within research institutions, Jessica has honed skills in project management, grant management, and regulatory compliance.
Undergraduate Research: Sam Houston State University – Differential Effect of Plasticizers on Primary Fibroblast Cultures
Graduate Research: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health – MPH
“ Pesticides Decrease Bacterial Diversity and Abundance of Irrigated Rice Fields (external link)”
Hobbies & Interests
Spending time with family & friends, fitness, cooking & baking, and her dog.
Ashley Fordyce – Administrative Coordinator, BRAINS Lab
Education & Training
BA: Mass Communications and Public Relations, Sam Houston State University – Huntsville, TX (2014)
Areas of Interest
Administration, public relations and communications
Experience
Ashley joined the BRAINS Research Laboratory in 2022 as an Administrative Assistant with over 10 years of experience. She assists in the day-to-day operations of the research group, purchasing equipment and products for the production of the lab. She also provides administrative assistance to both Lori & Michael ensuring daily operations of the lab are met.
Hobbies & Interests
Spending time with her daughter, working out, dancing, creating art, hiking and watching movies
Catalina Herrera – Program Manager, BRAINS Lab
Education & Training
Catalina is pursuing her Bachelor’s in Public Health at the University of Houston.
Areas of Interest
Health Science, Public Service and Administration
Hobbies & Interests
Cooking, napping, collecting vinyl records, scary movies, Lacrosse