Richa Pande

Richa is a post-doctoral researcher in the Ajit lab. She received a PhD in Microbiology & Immunology from Drexel (Ajit lab) in 2023 where she investigated the role of macrophage derived small extracellular vesicles in T cell mediated resolution of inflammatory pain.

Xuan Luo

Xuan is a 5^th year PhD student in the Pharmacology & Physiology program. Her project investigates how small extracellular vesicles resolve pain and impart epigenetic immune memory in recipient mice spinal microglia. She received a MS degree in drug discovery & development from Drexel University College of Medicine and is currently pursuing a minor in bioinformatics.

Jason Wickman

Jason is a 5^th year PhD student in the Pharmacology & Physiology program. His project investigates immune contributions to chronic pain diseases including complex regional pain syndrome. He is also studying the role of long noncoding RNA Xist. He received a MS in pharmaceutical science from Northeastern University.

Deepa Reddy

Deepa is a 3^rd year PhD student in the Pharmacology & Physiology program. Her research focuses on small extracellular vesicles as a therapeutic for post-operative pain and inflammation, and their underlying epigenetic and immune mechanisms. She received a BS in neuroscience from The George Washington University in 2021 and a MS in pharmacology & physiology from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2023.

Jason DaCunza

Jason is a master's student in the Molecular & Cell Biology & Genetics program. His project primarily involves understanding and characterizing small extracellular vesicles released by bone-marrow-derived macrophages during pain. He received a BS in biochemistry from Rowan University in 2021 and started his master’s work at Drexel University in the fall of 2022.

Ezgi Kasimoglu

Ezgi is a research assistant and our lab manager. She is currently studying the role of long noncoding RNA Xist in rodent models of pain. She graduated from Temple University in 2020 with a MS in neuroscience.

Yuzhen Tian

Tian is a research associate in the Pharmacology & Physiology department. She specializes in various animal models and assists several PIs in the department to generate rodent models, perform surgical procedures and support behavioral testing.

Katherine Quintero

Katherine is an undergraduate student at Drexel University. She is studying the role of long noncoding RNAs in pain and inflammation.

Past PhD Students

Richa Pande, PhD

Microbiology & Immunology, 2018-2023
Thesis title: Role of macrophage derived small extracellular vesicles in T cell mediated resolution of inflammatory pain

Melissa Manners, PhD

Pharmacology & Physiology, 2011-2016
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Neuroscience, Saint Joseph’s University (former University of the Sciences), Philadelphia
Thesis title: The role of MeCP2 in pain and its regulation by miRNAs

Botros Shenoda, MD, PhD

Pharmacology & Physiology, 2012-2017
Current Position: Clinical Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine Physician, Abington Jefferson Health
Thesis title: A role for Xist in the regulation of inflammatory response by female cells

Renee Jean-Toussaint, PhD

Pharmacology & Physiology, 2014-2019
Current Position: Scientist, Eisai Inc, Exton, PA
Thesis title: Exosome-mediated neuro-immune communication in chronic pain

Zhucheng Lin, PhD

Pharmacology & Physiology, 2017-2022
Current Position: Scientist, Hangzhou Jiayin Biotechnology, China
Thesis title: The role of serum-derived small extracellular vesicles in pain

Past Postdoctoral Fellows

Richa Gupta, 2019-2021

Sujay Ramanathan, 2015-2019

Marguerite McDonald, 2012-2014

Past Masters Students

Deepa Reddy, MS, Pharmacology & Physiology 2021-2023

Xuan Luo, MS, Drug Discovery and Development, 2017-2019

Christian Czmielewski, MMS, 2012-2013

Kathryn Capasso, MMS, 2011-2012

Past Undergraduate Students

Ayush Parikh, STAR (Students Tackling Advanced Research) Scholar, Drexel University, 2016-2019

Joyce Zhang, MD/BS Program, STAR Scholar, Drexel University, 2015

Andrew Touati, MD Student, Summer Research, Drexel University College of Medicine, 2014

Rushi Thanawalla, STAR Scholar, Drexel University, 2014

Andrew Touati, MD/BS Program, Drexel University, 2012-2013

Sabrina Douglas, STAR Scholar, Drexel University, 2012-2016

 
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