Postdoctoral Scholars

Giovanna Bubbico
Ph.D.  | Assistant Professor
giovannabubbico@gmail.com

I obtained my Ph.D. In Neurosciences, Imaging, and Clinical Sciences at the University of G. d’Annunzio, Italy, in joint supervision with the University of Lille, France, studying visual cognition in Alzheimer’s disease.I believe that psychophysical well-being is the result of complex interactions among lifestyle, social, environmental, genetic, and biological factors.The challenge of my postdoctoral research is to understand the interactions between these multiple factors for people’s well-being throughout life. I aim at investigating factors that can stimulate brain plasticity and reduce the risk of dementia by employing an array of preventive measures such as cognitive stimulations, sleep hygiene, and exercise.

I wish to understand how these factors contribute to brain maintenance or reserve. My investigation method is a combination of neurophysiological, neuroimaging, and behavioral techniques. Last, but not least I believe that language is a window into our brain, therefore it is essential to investigate how our aging brain processes linguistic aspects and how these can provide information on the state of brain health.

Happy to be part of the vibrant and stimulating environment offered by Sajjadi’s Lab and UCI Community.

Leisure: dogs, art,world cookbooks, wanderlust

 

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.

In 2019, I graduated cum laude in Biological Sciences and Dance from UCI. My research journey began as an undergraduate student in Dr. Kelli Sharp’s lab, focusing on movement rehabilitation for individuals with cerebral palsy and spinal cord injury. This foundational experience sparked my interest in the mechanisms underlying neurological disorders and their therapeutic modalities.

In 2020, I joined the Sajjadi Lab as a Junior Specialist and currently lead projects that examine serological markers in adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), fronto-temporal dementia (FTD), and in oldest-old (age 90+) individuals with dementia related neuropathologies, such as hippocampal sclerosis (HS) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). These projects have deepened my fascination with the intricate roles of the autonomic nervous system and immune processes in neurodegenerative diseases.

Preparing for a PhD in Neuroscience, my focus narrows on immune and autonomic processes involved in neurodegenerative conditions, with a specific interest in exploring how meditative practices may influence this interplay. This interest stems from a desire to explore innovative therapeutic strategies that leverage the neuroprotective potential of non-pharmacological interventions, such as meditation, to modulate disease progression and improve patient outcomes.

 

In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places and socialize with my friends. I also love cooking and making Persian food for my friends. All the fun experiences I’ve had since coming into the country started at UCI, and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunities they gave me.

 

Kathleen Lo
M.D  |Family Medicine Resident, PGY-1
kwlo@hs.uci.edu

My name is Kathleen and I was born in Hong Kong and moved to Los Angeles, California when I was a teenager. My family and I lived on the east suburban side of Los Angeles, also known as the “626” or “The Boba Town.” We were confronted with temptation from a large variety of boba shops when growing up!

I majored in Biochemistry at UCLA and took one gap year to further pursue research with UCLA Department of Geriatrics as a study coordinator while working as a MA/ scribe in a primary care clinic in Alhambra. In 2017, I began medical school at UC Irvine School of Medicine. My interest in Geriatrics led me to a summer internship opportunity with UCI MIND, one of the NIH-funded Alzheimer’s disease research centers in the nation, to begin graduate research with Dr. Sajjadi and increase clinical exposure to dementia care. My projects in the Sajjadi lab had been about Alzheimer’s Disease by analyzing biomarker results. I am currently working on a project analyzing the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center (NACC) dataset to predict the transition of cognitive statuses using longitudinal neuropsychological tests. During my medical school education, I was also actively involved in community health and served as a graduate board member for An Lanh Free Clinic, a student-run free clinic to provide quality healthcare to underserved populations in the Garden Grove area. Currently, I am working with y fellow medical students and undergraduates to initiate a UC Irvine chapter of National Alzheimer’s Buddies, to connect undergraduate volunteers with residents with Alzheimer’s Disease as a response against the social isolation experienced by ones with Alzheimer’s.

In my free time, I love being outdoors with my four-year-old corgi, named Mickey. We are weekly visitors to the Huntington Dog Beach and various hiking trails in Orange County! I also enjoy traveling and immersing myself in the local culture, create new friendships with the locals, and step out of my comfort zone to try new activities. Before graduating from medical school, I really hope to get certified for scuba diving and open a whole new world to the deep sea.

 

Sarah Al Najjar
DDS  |General Dentist  

 

Dai Phuong Nguyen
M.D.  |  Neurologist
dain1@hs.uci.edu

Hello! I was born in Vietnam and raised in Hayward, California. As a hoodie-wearing Bay Arean, I was confronted by 360 days-of-sunshine after relocating to Southern California for college. I majored in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology (MCDB) at UCLA, and minored in Biomedical Research and Asian Languages. During my time here, I volunteered with the mobile clinic, traveled on a medical mission trip to Nicaragua, and served as a Care Extender at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center. These experiences allowed me to gain diverse exposures to patient care and drove my interest in pursuing medicine. I am currently a second-year medical student at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.

Research has also been an integral part of my academic life. During my years at UCLA, I studied the contribution of the cytoskeleton to the heterotypic properties of endothelial barriers. I then spent two years at the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute at the NIH researching the vascular manifestation of the primary immunodeficiency disorder Autosomal Dominant Hyper-IgE Syndrome (AD-HIES). I joined the Sajjadi lab in February 2019 to learn about imaging research. My current project looks at the relationship between cerebral blood flow and dementia in the oldest-old population using ASL MRI.

In my spare time, I enjoy coffee-shops hopping, chewing on boba drinks, and watching K-dramas.