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.
Louise McCullough, MD/PhD – Chair & Professor
Roy M. and Phyllis Gough Huffington Distinguished Chair
Founder, BRAINS Research Laboratory
Co-Director, UTHealth Neurosciences
Dr. McCullough’s laboratory focuses on the investigation of sex and age differences in inflammatory signaling in both the brain and peripheral tissues after stroke. A major area of recent work investigates the mechanisms by which social isolation increases mortality and impairs recovery after stroke, an effect also seen in humans. Social isolation alters the immune response to stroke during chronic recovery. Her lab is currently attempting to reduce age-related inflammation both in the brain and periphery to reduce brain injury using bone marrow replacement and manipulation of the microbiome.
Michael Maniskas, PhD – Research Program Manager, BRAINS Lab
Education & Training
BS Marshall University – Huntington, WV
MS University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY
PhD University of Kentucky – Lexington, KY
Areas of Interest
Research interests: Alzheimer’s Disease, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Stroke, and Aging
Research & Experience
Undergraduate Research:
Marshall University – Studying the incidence of blue and green bottle flies through the decomposition of swine in the Ohio River Valley.
Marshall University – Studying the effects of articular cartilage degeneration in the femoral condyle of seniors in rural Appalachia.
Graduate Research:
University of Kentucky – Doctorate of Philosophy
Dissertation: LOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF STROKE TREATMENT: COMBINING RECANALIZATION AND NEUROPROTECTION IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE
Hobbies & Interests
Exploring the Houston food scene. Traveling with my wife to new areas of the US and abroad. Reading books about travel and science. Needlepointing belts and key chains.
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”
Hobbies & Interests
Spending time with family & friends, fitness, cooking & baking, and her dog
Lori A Capozzi, CRA – Director of Business Management, Neurology
Certifications
Certified Research Administrator (CRA)
Phlebotomy Certification
Experience
Lori has over 20 years’ experience working in the academic research field. She has supported Dr. Louise McCullough’s clinical and basic science research since 2005 and serves as the Director of Business Development in Neurology here at UTHealth. She is a federally designated Certified Research Administrator and has extensive experience working with federal regulations regarding funding, grant submissions and Human subject research compliance. Lori manages and coordinates all aspects of the BioRepository of Neurological Disorders, which was designed to provide researchers biological samples for research studies and developing clinical trials. She assists in business process improvement both in and outside of the laboratory.
Hobbies & Interests
Her four children, travel, and spending time at the beach.
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 – Senior Administrative Assistant, 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
Jana Rosario – Senior Administrative Assistant, Neurology
Education & Training
BS Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University – College Station, TX (2019)
MS Science and Technology Journalism, Texas A&M University – College Station, TX (2022)
Areas of Interest
Medical writing, medical illustration and animation, editing
Experience
Jana has publication experience with The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association, and the Journal of Shock and Hemodynamics, specifically in biomedical and cardiogenic research. She has experience in technical and creative writing, copyediting, graphic design, and 3D and 2D animation. She also has 5 years of clinical experience as an emergency veterinary technician. She manages the BRAINS website and helps the admin team with any writing and editing needs.
Hobbies & Interests
Illustrating, playing the piano, photography, and cosplaying her favorite characters at conventions.