Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Carol Elias, PhD
Professor, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program
Director, Michigan Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center
MMPC-Live, NIDDK National Center
Michigan Neuroscience Institute Affiliate
Elizabeth W. Caswell Diabetes Institute
Lab Members
Cristina Sáenz de Miera, PhD
Research Investigator
My main research interest is to explore the neuronal networks integrating internal or external environmental signals to the reproductive and metabolic functions. In my current position, I am focused on characterizing the role of different cell populations of the hypothalamic ventral premammillary nucleus (PMv) on the neuroendocrine control of reproduction. For this purpose, I am using genetically modified mouse models, reproductive and metabolic phenotyping, transcriptome analysis and novel genetic and molecular tools (including viral vectors and CRISPR/Cas9).
In my independent research project, funded by MNORC and NICHD, I am exploring how environmental factors during pregnancy affect the development of hypothalamic networks involved in the control of metabolism and reproduction.
Behrokh Marzbanabbasabadi, PhD
Postdoctoral Fellow
My research is focused on identifying the neural circuitry and molecular pathways that are involved in metabolic control of puberty and reproduction. Among the populations that have a role in this pathway, my main focus is on leptin receptor neurons, calcitonin receptor neurons and Kiss1 neurons in the ventral premammillary and the arcuate nuclei of the hypothalamus.
Antoinette Danku, BS
PhD candidate
adanku@umich.edu
One challenge in the field of reproduction is parsing out the mechanism behind abnormal migration of cells that produce Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) during development. This molecule drives fertility in humans but the mechanism behind its successful migration to the hypothalamus is not well understood. In pediatric incidences of Kallmann's syndrome (KS), a disease that causes infertility, patients often express coincident mutations in GnRH and Prokineticin Receptor 2 (PROKR2). In my research, I hope to describe the fertility implications of PROKR2 inhibition during development and report any consequential changes to GnRH migration.
Samantha Doran
Undergraduate student, Neuroscience Major
samdoran@umich.edu
Cristiano Mendes, PhD
Visiting Professor, Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil
cristia@umich.edu
Research Interests: Effects of nutritional and/or pharmacological manipulation on neurodevelopment. Investigation of metabolic disorders (obesity and malnutrition, for example) and neuropsychiatric disorders (depression and anxiety) combining Neuroscience and Nutrition.
Lab Alumni
Jonah Sta-Monica, BS
Brenda Cisneros-Larios, PhD
Fellow, Public Policy, CA
Bethany Beekly, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow, University of Michigan
Emily Henson, MS
Laboratory manager, Wayne State university
Susan Allen, MS (retired)
Chelsea Fortin, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan
Ally Cara, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow, UCLA
David Garcia-Galiano, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of Córdoba, Spain
Nicole Bellefontaine, PhD
Biotech Industry, Consultant
Xingfa Han, PhD
Assistant Professor, Sichuan Agricultural University, China
Beatriz de Carvalho Borges Del Grande, PhD
Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan.
Catherine Milford, BS
Biotech Industry
William Frankel, BS
Medical student at Baylor College
Erica Bove, MD
Boston IVF Clinic - The Albany Center
Zaid Mohsen, MS
Medical Student at Wayne State University
Seokmin Sim, PhD
Biotech Industry
Sanseray da Silveira Cruz Machado, PhD
Postdoctoral fellow, University of São Paulo
Dhirender Ratra, BS
Research Assistant, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Former Visiting Scholars
Wenicios Ferreira Chaves
Ph.D. Candidate at Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Limeira, Brazil
Mariana Rosolen Tavares, BS
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
Jones Graceli, Ph.D.
Associate Professor at Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil
Márcio Torsoni
Associate Professor at Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Limeira, Brazil
Hellen Veida P. Silva
Graduate Student, University of Alberta, Canada
Larissa Oliveira, PhD
University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Honorary Lab Members
