Davis Woodworth

Ph.D.  |  Postdoctoral Scholar  |  dwoodwor@hs.uci.edu

I earned my Ph.D. in Biomedical Physics from UCLA, where my dissertation focused on multimodal MRI of the brain and spinal cord in patients with chronic spinal cord compression. During my doctoral work, I also performed neuroimaging research in a variety of neurological conditions, including brain tumors and chronic pain conditions, that spanned a wide array of MRI techniques, including structural, diffusion, and functional MRI. My current research interests relate to developing MRI and PET biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease-related dementias through multiple avenues, including exploration of retrospective databases (NACC and ADNI), management and analysis of ongoing aging and dementia neuroimaging studies (Hippocampal Sclerosis R01, The 90+ Study, PPA Neuroimaging Study), and high-resolution postmortem MRI for imaging-pathological correlation.

 

Lorena  Sordo

Ph.D., MSc., DVM |  Postdoctoral Scholar |  lsordo@hs.uci.edu

I obtained my PhD in 2021 at The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, where I studied feline cognitive dysfunction syndrome (aka feline dementia), with a particular focus on age-related neuropathological changes and their similarities to Alzheimer disease. During this time, I also investigated new ways to diagnose feline dementia through imaging techniques, such as MRI, and potential interventions to reduce the clinical signs in the affected cats. My current research interests include characterizing age-related neuropathologic changes, identifying biomarkers that could aid in the diagnosis of early stages of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as recognizing novel natural models for the translational study of Alzheimer disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.

 

 

Pooyan Mobtahej

Eng.D.  |  Postdoctoral Scholar  |  pmobtahe@hs.uci.edu

I have Science and Engineering background from Gothenburg University and Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden for my undergraduate studies. I have moved to Texas to follow my doctorate studies in IE and data science field within Lamar University. During my studies time I have been awarded as QSR best paper finalist in Informs 2020. I had also an internship in which I employed the deep learning-based methods for ASD early detection in kids. That was the time that my passion for neuroscience started and joining Dr. Sajjadi’s Lab as Postdoc Scholar would give the opportunity to explore different deep learning-based anomaly detection methods for early detection and classification of dementia more accurately. We are also exploring the associated language markers and biomarkers as well as exploring the role of TDP-43 in development of dementia is also an area of interest for me to find out how we can improve the detection of development of that by employing ML, ANN and data science skills.

 

 

Seyed Ghasem Farahmand

MD  |  Postdoctoral Scholar  |  farahmas@hs.uci.edu