CNEN

Olga is a Ph. D candidate in the UCSD Biomedical Sciences program. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Neuroscience from UCLA. In 2013, Olga joined the Wagner and Rissman labs to test the efficacy of a novel combination therapy on behavioral and pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease.  Her skills include animal handling, behavioral testing, data analysis, cell culture, western blots, ELISA and immunohistochemistry. She hopes to contribute to the field of neurodegenerative disease research and provide novel approaches to thus far untreatable and devastating disorders.

Olga's passions include running, reading, painting, playing video games and consuming incredible amounts of tea.

My name is Kevin Nguyen, a 4th year Biochemistry and Cell Biology major. The project that I am working on focuses on Alzheimer's disease (AD), utilizing an AD mice model. Together with my research team, we will target the Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) signaling pathway to provide a potential preventative and disease-modifying therapy for AD patients. With the critical thinking and scientific skills developed in the Rissman lab, I plan to pursue a career as a physician.

Maya Ellisman is a PhD student in Robert Rissman's lab who is interested in understanding the neurobiological mechanisms and exploring the potential therapeutic targets for neuropsychiatric disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, she focuses on attempting to create a more inclusive and accessible scientific community.

Specifically, individuals with stress related disorders (such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression) have a higher risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Corticotrophin Releasing-Factor (CRF) increases AD neuropathology through the CRF receptor 1 (CRFR1). To better understand AD and how stress increases neurobiological dysregulation, she wishes to further detail the mechanism of action that CRF works on to increase in AD neuropathology and explore potential translational targets.

Jasmine Patanapirom is a master student working on the relationship between Alzheimer’s and stress (long term and short term). She is focusing on pathology changes in the brain of stressed induced transgenic and wild type mice. Her research may contribute to understanding the association between Alzheimer’s and PTSD in veterans.  Besides lab, Jasmine is an avid photographer and is a first aid volunteer with National Ski Patrol.

I’m a graduating senior majoring in biochemistry/cell biology. I joined the Rissman lab in the summer of 2017 and so far, it has been a very rewarding experience! My interests are binge watching Netflix, cooking, and playing basketball. My future goals include going to medical school and becoming a physician.

As a UCSD undergrad with a double major in Biochemistry/Cell Biology and Cognitive Science, Rachel has been active with multiple CNEN Cores and is trained in histology, ELISAs, mouse behavior studies, and animal colony maintenance. After graduating in June of 2018, Adams intends to pursue a career in biomedical research or genomics.

Jennifer is currently a senior at UCSD, majoring in Physiology and Neuroscience, who is interested in neuroscience, public health, and health policy. At the lab, she works with Dr. Ngolab on studies related to neurodegenerative diseases and the formation of plaques in the retina. Outside the lab, she can often be found doing the things she likes best: reading, cooking, listening to classical music, and hanging out with her favorite four-legged friends.

I am an undergraduate student right now. I transferred to UCSD from Santa Monica College and am majoring in Molecular Biology. This quarter is my second quarter at UCSD. I am in Sixth College and love researching because I have the opportunity to learn from graduate students who have a lot of experience.

As a student employee, I get the opportunity to help out in a variety of ways in the lab. I’ve been a part of helping out in animal husbandry, and the ADCS Biomarker core. Primarily, I help the most in the ADCS Biomarker with aliquoting plasma, processing whole blood, and Freezer inventory. At the Rissman lab I get to learn new things all the time, all while working alongside some of the best people.