Previous Lab Members

 

Angela Gomez Arboledas Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher
agomezar@uci.edu
In the Tenner lab, Angela studied the effect of C5a-C5aR1 signaling on excessive synaptic pruning mediated by microglial cells in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. She also studie the effects of a C5aR1 antagonist not only in the pathogenesis of AD, but specifically, in the activation of astroglial and microglial cells, with the latest objective of trying to better understand the role of these glial cells in Alzheimer’s disease and identify therapeutic targets for the human disorder. Angela is now a Project Scientist with Model AD.

 

 


Megan Garcia
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-2023)
Megan was a transfer student and majored in in Microbiology and Immunology. She joined the Tenner lab in the spring of 2021″ because I one of my main interests is immunology. I deeply enjoy studying how inflammation is one of the driving forces behind Alzheimer’s Disease. My future goals are to obtain my PhD in Microbiology or Infectious Diseases and work for government agency like the CDC. Outside my studies, I love the ocean and regularly go snorkeling and scuba diving”. Megan will be attending Harvard University in the Fall for her PhD studies.

Karina Chavez
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-2023)
I was a Human Biology major at UCI. I am proud to be a first-generation student for my family, along with my older brother. Karina will be taking a gap year while applying to medical school.
Eduardo Lopez

Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-2023)
I am a first-generation, undergraduate student and earned my B.S. in Human Biology and worked with Dr. Suzie Bohlson.  Eduardo will be taking a gap year while applying to PA school.
Jose LaraUndergraduate Research Assistant (2022-)

I am a 1st generation college student majoring in Neurobiology. Some of my goals after graduating this Spring 2023 quarter is to take a gap year and study for the MCAT in hopes to apply and attend Medical School. I have aspirations in pursuing a career as a neurosurgeon and I am willing to dedicate and commit another 10 years of education and learning to achieve my dream career. Outside of academics, I love playing sports in particular basketball and volleyball. I also like listening to music, going for walks, playing video games, and assembling legos!
Brooke Juarez
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2021-2022)
I was a first-generation, undergraduate student at UCI pursuing a B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Before I joined the Tenner lab, I was conducting research in a microbiology lab remotely and then transitioned here in Spring 2021. Outside of studying and research, I enjoy baking, listening to music, going to concerts and traveling with friends and family!

Adrian Mendoza Arvilla
Undergraduate Research Assistant (2020-2021)
I was transfer student from Riverside City College. My interests include video games, politics, music, and most of all Science! I earned my B.S. in microbiology and immunology at UCI before joining Model AD for a year while applying to nursing school.
Nicole Schartz Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher (2022)
Using a combination of pharmacologic and genetic approaches, Nicole’s research focused on elucidating the role of C5a-C5aR1 signaling in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease to identify its neuroprotective mechanisms. Nicole identified that C5a-C5aR1 signaling in the Arctic AD mouse model results in enhancement of microglial activation pathways resulting in accelerated disease progression and that inhibition of C5a-C5aR1 signaling prevents enhanced microglial activation. Nicole is continuing her work in AD as a postdoctoral scholar at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Marisa Fonseca Ph.D.
Research Associate Specialist (2022)
Marisa studied the role of complement and inflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Using a mouse model of AD that is deficient in complement C1q, she have demonstrated a detrimental effect of complement activation on the neuropathology of the disease. She also demonstrated cell specific deletion of C1q, that  microglia are the main source of C1q synthesis in mouse brain. Marisa also studied the role of C1q, C5a and other complement proteins in synapse pruning that is exacerbated in AD models and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Michael Hernandez Ph.D.
Graduate Student- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (2017)
Michael investigated the role of distinct activation states of microglia in the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease in mouse models like Tg2576, 3XTg, and Arctic. He also investigated the influence of complement on microglial activation states in ageing murine brain and AD mouse models. Michael is currently a technical sales specialist at Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Elizabeth ClarkeElizabeth Clarke Ph.D.
Graduate Student- Mol. Bio. & Biochemistry (2014)
 Elizabeth studied the immuno-regulatory role of complement protein C1q on inflammatory signaling and gene expression during the phagocytosis and degradation of dying cells and how these C1q-mediated changes in macrophage polarization may modulate T-cell activation under these conditions. Since the C1q-polarized state appears similar to that in tumor associated macrophages (TAM), she also investigated the potential for reversal/inhibition of these pathways that may be useful in reprogramming TAM to provide more anti-tumor activity. Elizabeth is now a medical writer at Aroga Biosciences.

Marie Benoit Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher (2012)
Marie investigated the role of C1q in the activation profile of phagocytic cells upon ingestion of apoptotic cells. She used whole genome microarray to study gene expression and thus identify molecular pathways and signaling cascade stimulated by C1q in monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells. She also studied the role of complement and inflammation in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). We showed that C1q enhances neuronal survival and prevents neuronal cell death induced by amyloid-beta, a pathologic peptide that accumulates in the brain during AD. She used microarray approach to identify the C1q neuroprotective pathways and investigating the role of C1q-modulated genes that are associated with survival in rat and mouse neurons. Marie is now associate director at PPD Laboratories.

Tracy Cole Ph.D.
Graduate Student- Neurobiology and Behavior (2013)
Tracy Cole was a graduate student in the lab from 2008 – 2013. She investigated the role of C5a in Alzheimer’s Disease by evaluating the behavior and levels of inflammation in both C5a knockout mice and C5a overproducing mice. She is went directly to Isis (now Ionis) Pharmaceuticals in Carlsbad, CA, where she is continuing her research on therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. Tracy is currently associate director at Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Rahasson Ager Ph.D.
Graduate Student (2009)
Rahasson was a graduate student in the lab from 2003 – 2009, looking at the role of C5a in Alzheimer’s disease, and testing a novel C5a antagonist in models of disease. He is currently working at UCI as communications officer for the School of Biological Sciences.
Deborah Fraser Ph.D.
Postdoc ->Assistant Researcher (2011)
Deb is currently an associate professor at California State University, Long Beach. For more information, please visit the Fraser Lab website here.
Rong Fan Ph.D.
Graduate Student (2005)
Rong Fan was a graduate student in the lab 2000-2005, working on the induction of C1q synthesis in neurons upon amyloid induced injury in hippocampal slice cultures.  She continued her work in Alzheimer’s Disease as  a Postdoctoral Fellow at SUNY, Stonybrook and then at Boston University. She is currently exploring the scientific opportunities in China.
Amanda Laust Ph.D.
Graduate Student (2010)
Amanda was a graduate student in the lab from 2007-2008. She worked on dendritic cell uptake of apoptotic cells. After her PhD, Amanda continued her work on inflammation as a Project Scientist at UCI. Currently, she is a Project Manager with Epic Sciences in San Diego, where she is responsible for analyzing clinical trial data that is generated for multiple pharmaceutical companies partnering with Epic, putting together analysis packets, and presenting the data to the pharmaceutical companies.
Suzanne Bohlson Ph.D.
Postdoc ->Assistant Researcher
Suzie is currently a Professor of Teaching at UCI.  For more information, please visit https://www.faculty.uci.edu/profile.cfm?faculty_id=6646
Ming Li Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Researcher (2005)
Ming Li was a postdoctoral fellow in the lab from 2001-2005. She worked on microglia mediated amyloid neurotoxicity, and created a knock in mouse with a humanized C1q. She worked as a Senior Scientist, at Millipore Corp., in Temecula, CA, and Principal Scientist at Nitto Avecia Pharma Scientist, in Irvine, CA. At present, she is a Director Bioassay at Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc, in San Diego, California.
Karntipa Pisalyaput Ph.D.
Graduate Student (2007)
Karntipa Pisalyaput was a graduate student in the lab 2001-2007. She was looking at the role of C1q in the brain, specifically at the mechanism of C1q inhibition of Abeta and SAP-induced neurotoxicity, and the interaction of C1q and microglia. After obtaining her MBA at UCI, she was Project Manager for a research consulting firm in Orange, CA. At present, she is a Senior Manager at Life Science Strategy and Analytics, Deloitte, in New York.
Sol Ruiz Ph.D.
Visiting Graduate Student
Sol Ruiz was a visiting graduate student from Madrid, Spain 1994-1996. Upon obtaining her PhD, she became Biotechnology Section Head, Div. of Biology and Biotechnology, Spanish Medicines Agency, and thus lives in Madrid with a considerable and interesting travel schedule.
Scott Webster Ph.D.
Postdoc -> Assistant Researcher (2001)
Scott Webster was a post doc and then Assistant Researcher in the lab from 1997-2001. His project was Complement and Inflammatory Factors in AD Pathogenesis. He was a Scientific Director, at Carl Zeiss, Inc. in Aliso Viejo, CA., Scientific Manager at Dako, in Ventura, CA. At present, he is a Director of Bioscience at Sakura Finetek USA, Inc, in Torrance, CA.