Campana Lab Alumni

Coralie Brifault

PhD Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Brifault was a postdoctoral scholar in the Campana and Gonias Lab from 2016-2019. She developed a transgenic mouse model in which the NMDAR subunit, Glun1 was conditionally deleted in Schwann cells (SCs). She discovered that SC Glun1 was essential for proper Remak bundle development, and when deleted, uninjured animals experienced pain like behaviors. Her findings linked SC dysfunction and pain states. She is currently a Senior Scientist at the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson.

Mark Carter

M.S. Graduate Student

Mark Carter began research in the Campana Lab as an undergraduate, and then completed a Master’s degree in Biology in March, 2020. The title of his thesis is “PACSIN1, an intracellular neuronal protein, activates LRP1 dependent cell signaling in Schwann Cells.” Mark is currently in Dental School at the University of Kentucky.

Alicia Van Enoo

M.S. Graduate Student

Alicia started graduate research in the Campana Lab in 2019 after graduating and working as a research technician at Boston University. While in the Campana lab, she investigated how the NMDAR subunit, Glun1, altered Schwann cell populations in developing and adult peripheral nerves. After receiving her Master’s she joined Dr. Gene Yeo’s lab as a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience program.

Kate Fichter

M.S. Graduate Student

Kate started her research in Dr. Campana’s lab as a BISP 199 student in 2017. She was then accepted to the Biology Master’s program and graduated in 2019. Her thesis was titled “Regulation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) expression during Schwann cell differentiation”. Kate is currently a Research Associate at Singular Genomics, San Diego, CA.

Andreas Flutsch

PhD Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Flutsch was a postdoctoral scholar in the Campana Lab from 2014-2017. He identified the low-density lipoprotein receptor related protein (LRP1) and a receptor that activates elements of the SC Repair program, including c-Jun. Using a proteomics based discovery approach, he discovered and validated that PACSIN 1 is a neuron-specific LRP1 ligand in injured peripheral nerves. Dr. Flutsch is currently a Director in the Vaccines Department at Johnson and Johnson in Switzerland.

Kazumi Guo

Pre-Medical Student in Molecular and Cellular Biology

I am a second-year pre-med student at UCSD, studying molecular and cellular biology. I am aspiring to become a physician with a focus in cardiology. Some of my hobbies include trying new foods, going to the beach, and listening to chill R&B music.

Melissa Heredia

Master's Candidate in Biology

Melissa received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cell Biology, with a minor in Psychology, in Revelle College at the University of California, San Diego in June 2022. She was accepted into the master’s Biology program and works with her thesis advisor, Dr. Campana. She is scientifically interested in subjects such as genetics, molecular and cell biology along with the application of cellular processes and their importance in the maintenance and functionality of cells. She applied these interests to her project in the Campana lab, which focuses on the role of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 LRP1 and mitochondria regulation in Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system. Melissa is involved in several extracurricular activities such as being a student mentor to incoming biology students in BSSA, being an Instructional Assistant in the School of Biological Sciences, being a bassist in UCSD's Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, and The Intermission Orchestra, being an orientation leader for Revelle College, and being an undergraduate student representative for UCSD's Library Student Advisory Council. Melissa was accepted to the UCLA Biology PhD program and will start this Fall 2023!

Nao Hirosawa

MD, PhD Visiting Scholar

Dr. Hirosawa is an orthopedic spine surgeon and a Visiting Scholar in the Campana Lab from 2018-2020. He discovered that TNFR1 was sequestered on Schwann cell extracellular vesicles (EVs), and that these EVs antagonized TNF-mediated outcomes, including pain like behaviors. He published a first author paper in GLIA with Dr. Campana on this topic. He is currently an Assistant Professor at Chiba University.

John Kim

PhD Graduate Student

John Kim was a PhD candidate in Chemistry co-supervised by Drs. Jerry Yang in the Department of Chemistry and Wendy Campana in the Department of Anesthesiology. John discovered a novel peptide sequence in matrix-metalloprotease-9 that specifically bound to LRP1 and induced cell signaling in vitro and in vivo. John was an outstanding teacher, and served as a TA consistently with significant responsibilities during his PhD tenure. Dr. Kim is now an Assistant Professor at San Diego Miramar College.

Jasmine Le

M.S. Graduate Student

Jasmine started research in the Campana Lab during her undergraduate studies at UCSD as a BISP student in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. She was accepted into the Master’s Biology program at UCSD and completed her Master’s project titled “Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 on Schwann Cell-derived Exosomes Serve as an Alternative Binding Site for Tumor Necrosis Factor”. After graduating, Jasmine obtained a position as an Associate Scientist at Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals in San Diego where she continues to excel in her scientific endeavors.

Stefano Martellucci

PhD Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Martellucci obtained his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine at “Sapienza” University of Rome in Italy. After a first postdoc in Italy, he joined the Campana Lab in 2021 to enter the field of glial biology.

Dr. Martellucci’s research project focuses on identifying novel LRP1 ligands in the injured peripheral nerve that activate the Schwann cell Repair program. His goal is to better understand the function of receptor systems in the PNS, that are associated with chronic pain. His research focuses on targeted therapeutics (molecular and cellular) to eventually better treat human diseases including small fiber neuropathy, fibromyalgia, and chronic inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy.

During his leisure time, he enjoys playing the piano and cooking dinner with a glass of red wine. "Omnia summa consecutus es, virtute duce, comite fortuna" (Marcus Tullius Cicero). "You got the best results, led by virtue accompanied by fortune".

Maskai Norimoto

MD, PhD Visiting Scholar, Chiba University, Japan

Dr. Masaki Norimoto graduated from Chiba University, School of Medicine in Japan and gained his M.D., and became an orthopaedic doctor. He gained his Ph.D. in Medical Science at Chiba University in Japan. Then he specialized in spine surgery. After working as a spine surgeon, he began to be interested in pain research and joined the Campana Lab.

Dr. Norimoto’s research theme in Japan was pain visualization using medical imaging. After joining the Campana Lab, his goal is to acquire knowledge for molecular biology of pain transmission and control in order to further research the treatment of severe peripheral neuropathy and create new therapeutic seeds.

During his leisure time, he loves to play with his children and work out.

Mahrou Sadri

PhD Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Mahrou Sadri received her Ph.D. in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her research focused on the role of bovine milk extracellular vesicles during development and postnatal growth in mice.

Dr. Sadri joined Dr. Campana’s lab as a post-doctoral fellow in 2020 to study how Schwann cells (SCs) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are involved in pain processing during peripheral nerve injury (PNI) and in the development and maintenance of chronic neuropathic pain. After publishing a first author paper on this topic in the journal GLIA, Dr. Sadri took a position as a Senior Scientist at Capricor Therapeutics in Los Angeles.

Marghi Shah

TRELS Scholar, UCSD

Marghi Shah received a B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC San Diego in 2022. “I am fascinated by the human body's interconnectedness and wish to further my understanding of molecular biology and human physiology, specifically pain mechanisms” As a UCSD TRELS scholar in 2022, Marghi studied the interactions between macrophages and inflammatory cytokines. Her current focus is on studying the interactions between Schwann Cell Extracellular vesicles and macrophages, influenced by inflammatory cytokines. Outside the lab, Marghi works as a project leader and student educator for Homeless HEAL and works with the UCSD student affairs team to enhance the transfer student experience. In my free time, I enjoy reading books, cooking, and exploring the outdoors.

Yasu Shiga & Akina Shiga

MD, PhD Visiting Scholars

Dr. Yasu Shiga is a spine surgeon in the Department of Orthopedics at Chiba University and Dr. Akina Shiga is a physician scientist in Internal Medicine. They were Visiting Scholars in the Campana Lab from 2017-2018. While at UCSD, they grafted iPSC cells from the Dr. Muotri’s lab treated with an LRP1/NMDAR agonist, EI-tPA, into the site of spinal cord injury in rats. Treatment with tPA revealed significant improvements with nerve regeneration and functional motor recovery. Dr. Shiga published a first author paper in Scientific Reports on this topic while in the Campana lab. Currently, they are both Professors at Chiba University, Japan.

Aaron Tran

Pre-medical Student in Psychology

Aaron Tran is a 4th year undergraduate student at UCSD majoring in Psychology with a specialization in human health. With a big interest in holistic medicine, he is mainly interested in Schwann cells and the peripheral nervous system in their role in chronic neuropathic pain. After graduating, Aaron hopes to attend medical school and pursue his lifelong goal as an anesthesiologist. During his free time, he enjoys street photography, cooking, and playing electric bass.