Annelisse El-Khoury
B.S. | Junior Specialist
anelkhou@hs.uci.edu
In March of 2023, I graduated from UC Irvine with a B.S. in Neurobiology and Behavior and a minor in Medical Anthropology. I originally joined the Sajjadi Lab in 2021 as an undergraduate research assistant in the Bio 199 program and have recently become a junior specialist assisting with the Hippocampal Sclerosis project. I’ve also been actively involved in the speech and language project aiming to analyze and identify linguistic deficits as potential markers for dementia and cognitive status. These projects have not only deepened my appreciation for the profound impact and transformative potential that interdisciplinary approaches can have in advancing medical frontiers, but have also reinforced my commitment to pursuing a medical career in the future.
Anne-Marie Leiby
B.A. & B.S. | Junior Specialist
aleiby@hs.uci.edu
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.
Aanan Ramanathan
B.S. | Junior Specialist
aananr@hs.uci.edu
I originally joined the Sajjadi Lab in 2021 as an undergraduate research assistant. I worked on various serology projects and assisted in many presentations, but most notably a poster regarding Autoantibody Positivity and Neuropathology. I graduated cum laude with a degree in Neurobiology and minor in Economics from UC Irvine in the Spring of 2023, and just recently became a new Junior Specialist in the lab. I am currently working on the postmortem MRI project, where the goal is to identify certain biomarkers of various pathologies associated with dementia. I will be attending medical school this Fall and plan to specialize in either psychiatry or sports medicine.
Janice Li
MS1 | Clinical Research Volunteer
janiceli730@gmail.com
I joined the Sajjadi lab in 2019 as an undergraduate research assistant due to my interest in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. I became a junior specialist after graduating from UCI with degrees in Human Biology and Psychology in 2021. As an undergraduate, I worked on a project studying the longitudinal effects of hippocampal sclerosis on hippocampal atrophy. I am currently working on a project studying the effects of having multiple neurodegenerative pathologies on cognition.
Kiana Scambray
PhD candidate | Clinical Research Volunteer
kscambra@hs.uci.edu
I joined Dr. Sajjadi’s lab in August 2019 as the study coordinator for the Hippocampal Sclerosis project. I graduated from UC Irvine in June 2018 with a BA in psychology. During my undergraduate studies, I worked on a thesis project looking at motor learning and decision making within the stroke population utilizing EEG. Upon graduating I wanted to further pursue my research career and became a study coordinator and MRI operator for a project on risky behaviors in adolescents. Wanting to return to research in neurology, I joined Dr. Sajjadi’s lab to further my understanding and interests in neurodegenerative diseases. I plan to attend graduate school within the next few years to pursue a career as a clinical neuropsychologist.