Horner lab members, spring 2024
Current Team Members
Matthew Hogan
Postdoctoral Fellow
Cinzia Stigliano
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sirena Soriano
Postdoctoral Fellow
Sirena obtained her PhD from the University of Valencia, Spain, where she investigated the molecular interaction networks of frataxin in a fly model of Friedreich’s ataxia. She then pursued postdoctoral training at Baylor College of Medicine, contributing to the molecular and behavioral characterization of rodent models of autism spectrum disorders. In the laboratory of Dr. Villapol at the Houston Methodist Research Institute, Sirena conducted research on mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease with the aim to reduce neurodegeneration that occurs following a traumatic brain injury. In the Horner lab, Sirena is developing a novel rat model of Friedreich ataxia to better understand the disease pathology and to identify new therapeutic strategies, with potential application to other neurodegenerative conditions.
Usha Nekanti
Postdoctoral Fellow
Usha received her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, where she investigated regenerative therapeutic approaches for spinal cord injury in rodent models using human neural stem cells, biomaterial scaffolds, and anti-inflammatory factors. Her research demonstrated robust axonal regeneration, reconstitution of synaptic circuitry from forelimb muscles to motor cortex, and significant improvement in forelimb motor function. Usha’s research project focuses on a combinatorial approach that integrates biomaterial bridge implantation with ventral spinal stimulation to address both structural damage and functional deficits following chronic spinal cord injury. Her research aims to synergistically promote regeneration, spinal synaptic connectivity, and forelimb motor recovery compared to either treatment alone.
Julio Mejia
Graduate Student
Isis Torres Sicairos
Graduate Student
Isis obtained her B.A. in Biosciences from Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education at Monterrey, Mexico in 2023. As an undergraduate she participated in public health interventions to identify risk factors and prevent colon cancer. She also worked in a clinical laboratory performing blood typing and pre-transfusion testing on clinical samples. As part of her undergraduate preparation, she had the opportunity to work as an intern in the Horner lab, where she learned culturing techniques of brain and spinal cord neural progenitors, explored their multipotent capacity by performing differentiation assays and tested the effects of TNFa in these cell populations.
Isis is currently pursuing her PhD in Neuroscience from Weill Cornell Medical College at the Houston Methodist campus. Her research in Horner lab involves cell transplantation therapy for spinal cord injury, with a focus on strategies to enhance anatomical integration and improve functional connectivity of transplanted cells.
Aditya Dutta Gupta
Graduate Student
Allison Frazier
Research Assistant
Daisy Delgado
Research Assistant
Daisy Delgado obtained her B.A in Neuroscience from Kenyon College in May 2023. As an undergraduate, she contributed to Dr. Petersen’s research on muscle malformation in Zebrafish models. Daisy also investigated a potential neuroprotective mechanism for cancer-treatment induced peripheral neuropathy. Most recently, Daisy published a magazine article to bring awareness to the underdiagnosis of depression in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. With an unwavering commitment to scientific exploration, Daisy envisions pursuing a doctoral degree in Neuroscience, aiming to advance her research career in the upcoming years. In her leisure time, she enjoys discovering new coffee shops around the city, indulging in hiking/cycling adventures, and engaging in community service.
Former Team Members
Lesley Chaboub, PhD
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2022)
Current: Scientist, EpiVario, Inc
Betsy Salazar, PhD
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2017-2021)
Current: Assistant Research Professor, Department of Urology, Houston Methodist Hospital
Bethany Kondiles, PhD
Former Graduate Student (2017-2019)
(co-mentored w/Dr. Chet Moritz)
Current: Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of British Columbia
Tatiana Wolfe, PhD
Former Research Scientist (2015-2017)
Current: Assistant Professor, Medical Physicist, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Sarah Mondello, PhD
Former Graduate Student (2012-2017)
(co-mentored w/Dr. Chet Moritz)
Current: Research Faculty at University of Washington
Samuel (Nutt) Emerson, MD PhD
Former Graduate Student (2007-2012)
Current: Neurosurgery Skull Base Fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Berit Powers, PhD
Former Graduate Student (2006-2011)
Current: Assistant Director, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA
Drew Sellers, PhD
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2002-2011)
Current: Research Associate Professor (Principal Scientist), Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
Denise Inman, PhD
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2003-2011)
Current: Associate Professor at University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Elizabeth Stoll, PhD
Former Graduate Student (2007-2010)
(co-mentored w/Dr. Robert Rostomily)
Current: Director at Western Institute for Advanced Study
Jurate Lasiene, PhD
Former Graduate Student (2004-2009)
Current: Senior Project Manager, PSI CRO AG, Vilniaus, Lithuania
Wendi Lambert, PhD
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2007-2009)
Current: Senior Staff Scientist, Vanderbilt Eye Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
Bryan White, PhD
Former Graduate Student (2004-2009)
(co-mentored w/Dr. Randall Moon)
Current: Senior Lecturer, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences, University of Washington Bothell, Bothell, WA, USA
Sutapa Ray, PhD
Former Postdoctoral Fellow (2007-2009)
(co-mentored w/Dr. Robert Rostomily)
Current: Medical Communications Manager, Medical Affairs at Impel NeuroPharma
Laura Horky, MD
Former Graduate Student (1999-2004)
Current: Nuclear Medicine Physician, Kaiser Permanente, Oakland, CA, USA
Resident Research Trainees
William Steele, MD Neurosurgical Resident, 2018, 2019
Currently: Neurosurgeon, NEUROSURGICAL GROUP OF TEXAS, LLP
Zain Boghani, MD Neurosurgical Resident
Currently: Neurosurgeon, Northeast Georgia Health System
Virendra Desai, MD Neurosurgical Resident, 2018, 2019
Currently: Assistant Professor, Director of Pediatric Surgical Epilepsy and Functional Programs at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital OU Health
Meng Huang, MD Neurosurgical Resident, 2018, 2019
Currently: Endoscopic/Minimally Invasive and Complex Spine Neurosurgeon, Houston Methodist Hospital
Sean Barber, MD Neurosurgical Resident, 2017, 2018
Currently: Neurosurgeon, Houston Methodist Hospital
Robert Scranton, MD Neurosurgical Resident, 2015, 2016
Currently: Neurosurgery Specialist, Covenant Medical Group
Research Assistants and Lab Technicians
Ana Guttierez, 2023-2025
Currently: Cell and Molecular Medicine PhD student at Johns Hopkins University and VTSI Scholar
Visiting Scholars
RaShawn Hamlette, Summer Intern 2025, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC, USA
Chinaza Ijezie, Summer Intern 2025, Texas Southern University, Houston, TX, USA
Richard Liang, Summer Intern 2025, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT, USA
Madeleine Griffith, Summer Intern 2025, DeBakey High School, Houston, TX, USA
Ananya Bhawsinka, Summer Intern 2024, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Isabella Glenn, Summer Intern 2024, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Theresa Tran, Summer Intern 2024, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Debkonya Banerjee, Summer Intern 2023, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Omar Reyes, Summer Intern 2023, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
Scotland Inia Carter, Summer Intern 2022, Scripps College, Claremont, CA, USA
Benjamin Dunning Summer Intern 2021, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Jacob Buergler Summer Intern 2021, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
Maddalena Horner Summer Intern 2020, 2021, Carnegie Vanguard High School, Houston, TX, USA
Allison Gentry Summer Intern 2020, 2021, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
Sarah Trusler Summer Intern 2020, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Alexa Graham Summer Intern 2019, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
Saad Sidiq Summer Intern 2018, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
Reniba Plavila Babu Summer Intern 2018, University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX, USA
James Hunter Long Summer Intern 2018, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
David Gustavo González Sánchez Summer Intern 2018, Tecnologico De Monterrey, Monterrey, MEX
Kendrick Lim Summer Intern 2017, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
John Boom Summer Intern 2017, St. John’s School, Houston, TX, USA
Drew Levy Undergraduate Research Fellow, Summer Intern 2017, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
Jocelyn Nikita Campa MD/PhD Rotation Student 2017, Tecnologico De Monterrey, Monterrey, MEX
Jonny Cummock MD/PhD Rotation Student 2016, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Dixita Viswanath MD/PhD Rotation Student 2016, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Roberto Alcazar Felix MD/PhD Rotation Student 2016, Tecnologico De Monterrey, Monterrey, MEX
Pranav Gadangi Summer Intern 2016, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
Amanda Altenhofen Summer Intern 2016, 2017, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
Cassandra Baker Undergraduate Research Fellow 2016-2019, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
Caio Quini, PhD Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow 2016-2018, Sao Paulo State Univeristy, Sao Paulo, BRA