Lawrence J. Del Papa Distinguished Chair in Neurodegenerative Disease Research

Professor and Vice Chair for Research

Director, Brain Health Institute

Director, Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Recipient of 2021 Alzheimer's Disease Award

UTMB Distinguished Teaching Award (2013, 2023)

anfracas@utmb.edu

Dr. Anna Fracassi currently is an Assistant Professor (N-T Track) at the Neurology Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. She is also a junior faculty member of the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases since 2023.  Dr. Fracassi obtained her bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences in 2009 at the University of L’Aquila (L’Aquila, Italy), disserting a thesis on the role of oxidative stress in brain aging under the mentorship of Prof. Maria Paola Cerù. Dr. Fracassi obtained an MS in Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Rome Tre (Rome, Italy) under the mentorship of Prof. Sandra Moreno in 2013 with a thesis on mitochondrial and peroxisomal alterations in a mouse model of genomic instability. Dr. Fracassi obtained her PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Environmental Biology in 2017 (University of Rome Tre) under the mentorship of Prof. Sandra Moreno and Prof. Giulio Taglialatela, disserting a thesis on the role of peroxisomes, mitochondria, and related transcription factors in Alzheimer’s disease. In 2019, Dr. Fracassi joined Dr. Taglialatela’s laboratory as a post-doctoral fellow at the Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Disease, Dept. of Neurology at UTMB with a project focused on oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive resilience. Her research currently focuses on delineating mechanisms underlying synaptic resilience in the human brain with a focus on inflammation and autophagy. In 2022, she was awarded the International Research Fellowship from Alzheimer’s Association for a 3-year project on microglia and cognitive resilience. She was recently awarded an R21 grant entitled “Role of microglia in cognitive resilience to Alzheimer’s Disease” from the National Institute of Aging for 2 years.

juguptat@utmb.edu

mimarcat@utmb.edu

batumurb@utmb.edu

Batbayar Tumurbaatar received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Technical University of Brno, Brno, Czech Republic, and his MS and PhD from Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Tokyo, Japan. His current research interests include studying synaptic Tau oligomer and amyloid β (Aβ) pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Non-Demented with Alzheimer’s Neuropathology (NDAN) individuals, isolation and structural, biochemical, and functional characterization of brain-derived Tau oligomers (BDTO) isolated from human tauopathy cases of AD and NDAN, and synaptic dysfunction and memory deficits associated with AD pathogenesis/Tau pathology in transgenic mice with human tauopathies (3xTg AD and humanTau transgenic mouse).

sasaieva@utmb.edu

Salvatore (Salvo) Saieva is a Postdoctoral Fellow at UTMB, in Dr. Giulio Taglialatela’s lab since September 2021. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of Palermo (UNIPA), Italy in 2013 with a Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology. In 2015, Salvo was included in the international PhD program between UNIPA and UTMB. This highly competitive program allowed the participants to earn 2 doctoral degrees, one from UNIPA and the other from UTMB. Salvo completed his Italian PhD in 2018 and his US PhD in 2021, both under the mentorship of Dr. Taglialatela. During his PhD(s), Salvo studied early risk factors of dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, such as obesity, focusing in particular on the neuroinflammation induced by a high-fat diet. He investigated the possibility to prevent obesity-induced neuroinflammation by delivering near-infrared light through the head (transcranial illumination) of diet-induced obese mice. He is currently studying the mechanisms underlying synaptic and neuronal protection provided by neural stem cells-exosomes via immunohistochemistry and single-nuclei RNA-sequencing, focusing on the role of microglia as possible mediators of exosomes’ action. Salvo would like to pursue an academic career either in the USA or in Europe, continuing to study neuroinflammation and developing strategies that would alleviate its impact on neurodegeneration and ultimately on dementia. Also, Salvo is actively involved in the Italian community in the Houston area: he was elected in 2021 as a member of the Houston Committee for the Italian Abroad, where he was appointed as President of the University and Research Subcommittee. In his spare time, he likes to cook, work out, run, watch soccer and Formula One, read either books or news articles, and listen to music.

piscadut@utmb.edu

Pietro Scaduto holds a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Palermo, a master’s degree in Bio-molecular and Cellular Sciences from the University of Ferrara, and two Ph.D. degrees from the University of Palermo (Bio-Medicine and Neuroscience program), and UT Medical Branch (Neuroscience program). Pietro's research spans diverse techniques, including big data analysis, electrophysiology, and molecular biology. 

ktaraya@utmb.edu

Katherine Araya received her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a concentration in Cellular and Molecular Biology from West Chester University of PA in May 2022. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology at UTMB's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Katherine’s primary research interests revolve around identifying novel targets and developing treatments for neurodegenerative disorders. Her true passion lies in exploring cellular pathways and mechanisms that contribute to the progression of neurodegeneration. Through her work, she aspires to make significant contributions to our understanding of these diseases and discover innovative approaches to combat them. In her free time, Katherine likes to draw, paint, watch movies, travel, and hike.

dajamiso@utmb.edu

Danielle Jamison received her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry from Trinity University in May 2021. Currently, she is pursuing her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology at UTMB's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Danielle’s research focuses on synaptic mechanisms that result in vulnerability to Alzheimer’s neuropathology in Alzheimer’s patients but facilitate resilience in non-demented with Alzheimer’s neuropathology individuals. Ultimately, she hopes to aid in the development of neurotherapeutics to slow or halt this devastating disease and be actively involved in the clinical trials process. When not in the laboratory, Danielle enjoys being active, traveling with her boyfriend, and spending time with her family.

shkadama@utmb.edu

Shrinath Kadamangudi received his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2014 and his Master of Philosophy in Neuroscience from the University of Queensland in Australia in 2018. Shrinath is pursuing his Ph.D. in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at UTMB’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences as part of his MD-PhD dual degree. His PhD research efforts have been focused on better understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying trans-synaptic pathological tau spreading in Alzheimer’s disease and related tauopathies since the spreading of pathological tau from allocortical to neocortical brain regions remains a strong predictor of cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. His long-term goal as a physician-scientist is to implement such research efforts to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. When not overthinking experiments, Shrinath likes to spend time with his fiance and dog as well as remain active by working out and playing racquetball. 

jacsilva@utmb.edu

Jacqueline Silva is a Ph.D. candidate in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of New Orleans in 2016 and advanced to the NIH Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program at the University of Washington in 2018. Her research focuses on analyzing clinical data, developing localized drug delivery methods, and conducting toxicity screening to advance treatments for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) into clinical trials. She aims to repurpose an FDA-approved drug for the prevention and treatment of ADRD through her comprehensive research approach. When she is not immersed in research or community service, Jacqueline enjoys exploring new cultures and traveling the world with her husband.