Kevin Lin Lab
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.
Recently, we have uncovered various roles of protein arginine methyltransferases in the brain. These can have direct consequences affecting mitochondrial function, inflammation regulation, and functional/behavioral deficits. With my expertise in neurovascular coupling and protein arginine methyltransferases in the brain, I am confident that we will uncover other novel aspects of these enzymes (i.e. arginine methylators, lipid mediators), which are still largely unknown and may extend beyond pathologies related to cancer with direct implications in brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Mariana S Berto Udo, PhD – Assistant Professor, Non-Tenure Research
Education & Training
BS Pharmaceutical Science with specialty in Toxicology, State University of Campinas – Brazil
MS Neurotoxicology, University of Sao Paulo – Brazil
PhD Neurotoxicology, University of Sao Paulo – Brazil
Areas of Interest
Research interests: brain vasculature and neurodegenerative disease
Research & Experience
I have experience with animal behavior with developmental toxicology due to pesticide exposure/sub-acute intoxication; neuronal injuries and degeneration due to drug abuse; development of biomarkers and drug delivery system (DDS) for treatment of age-related macular degeneration; and biochemical basic research on neurodegeneration related to vascular dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Hobbies & Interests
DIY, crafts, and electronics
Cristiane Citadin, PhD – Senior Program Manager
Education & Training
PhD Molecular Biology, University of Brasilia – Brazil
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Alzheimer’s Disease, stroke, traumatic brain injury, and cerebral blood flow
Research & Experience
I have around 6 years of experience in brain blood flow that includes stroke and the ACA model, AD, and TBI.
Hobbies & Interests
Music, dance, and theatre
Peter Rodriguez, PhD – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Education & Training
BS General Biology, Barry University- Miami Shores, Florida
PhD Integrative Biology, Florida Atlantic University – Jupiter, Florida
Areas of Interest
Mural cell regulation of cerebral vasculature, neural circuits, neurodegenerative disease
Research & Experience
My research background primarily utilized C. elegans and mice to discover conserved genetic pathways that support health and function of neurons. The primary focus of my previous work is on metabolic support of neurons by glial cells and the mechanisms enabling cell-cell communication. My interests in the Lin lab are aimed at characterizing the cellular mechanisms governing the dynamics of cerebral blood flow.
Hobbies & Interests
Hiking, Cooking, Studying Vietnamese
Julia Zaccarelli Magalhaes, PhD – Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Education & Training
BS Biological Science, Mackenzie Presbyterian University – Brazil
MS Neuropharmacology, University of Sao Paulo – Brazil
PhD Neuropharmacology, University of Sao Paulo – Brazil
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Alzheimer’s Disease, neurodegenerative diseases, memory and cognition impairment, and neuropharmacology
Research & Experience
Previous works with behavioral and neurochemical alterations of GABAergic, cholinergic, and serotoninergic drugs, as well with the effects of postpartum depression on both mother and offspring in a rodent model. Currently work with cerebral vasculature and its association with Alzheimer’s disease and other diseases of the central nervous system.
Hobbies & Interests
Traveling, music, and cinema
Drew Smith – GSBS Graduate Research Student Assistant
Education & Training
BS Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University – Fort Lauderdale, FL (2021-2024)
MS Biotechnology, Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, MD (2024-2025)
PhD Therapeutics and Pharmacology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences – Houston, TX (2025-Present)
Areas of Interest
Gasotransmitters, neuropharmacology, cerebral vasculature, post-translational modifications
Research & Experience
Undergraduate Research Assistant, investigating forced exercise and traumatic brain injury – Nova Southeastern University (2021-2024)
Summer Neuroscience Internship Program, investigating cognition and vagus nerve stimulation – University of Florida (2023)
Research Assistant, investigating arginine methylation in cerebral vasculature – UTHealth Houston (2024-2025)
Hobbies & Interests
High performance cars, trap & skeet, computers/video games
Julia Langman – GSBS Graduate Research Student Assistant
Education & Training
BS Behavioral Neuroscience, Nova Southeastern University – Fort Lauderdale, FL (2024)
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Neurodegenerative diseases, neurovascular couple; neurotransmission
Research & Experience
Summer Neuroscience Internship Program – University of Florida (2023)
Blazer BRAIN Summer Internship – University of Alabama at Birmingham (2022)
Hobbies & Interests
Traveling, Trying new restaurants, listening to house music, reading