Stephen J. Crocker, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
Previous Education: University of King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia (B.S.); University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario (Ph.D.)
Anirudhya Lahiri, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Previous Education: University of Calcutta, Calcutta, India (B.S. & M.S.); University of West Virginia, Morgantown, WV (Ph.D.)
Email: lahiri@uchc.edu
Zaenab Dhari, M.D.
Multiple Sclerosis Fellow
Previous Education: University of Jordan School of Medicine, Amman, Jordan (M.D.)
Email: zdhari@uchc.edu
Lucille E. Papile, B.S.
Ph.D. Candidate
Previous Education: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA (B.S.)
Email: papile@uchc.edu
Jake T. Lustig, B.S., M.S.
Ph.D. Candidate
Previous Education: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (B.S.); New York University, New York, NY (M.S.)
Email: lustig@uchc.edu
Evan T. Lombardo, B.S.
Research Assistant
Previous Education: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (B.S.)
Future Education: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (Ph.D.)
Email: elombardo@uchc.edu
Erica R. Lavoie, B.S.
Research Assistant
Previous Education: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (B.S.)
Future Education: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH (Ph.D.)
Undergraduate Honors Thesis Title: "The Epigenetic Regulator, Dot1L, Contributes to Neuropathology in Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy"
Email: erlavoie@uchc.edu
Pearl A. Sutter, B.A.
Previous Education: Drew University, Madison, NJ (B.A.)
Completed Ph.D. in 2024
Thesis Title: "Role of T cell-mediated neuropathology in a mouse model of Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy"
Current Position: M.D./Ph.D. Candidate, UConn Health, Farmington, CT
Email: psutter@uchc.edu
Megan Rouillard, MPH, Ph.D.
Previous Education: Worcester State University, Worcester, MA (B.S.)
Graduated with Ph.D. and MPH in 2023
Thesis Title: "Pathological and Clinical Correlates of Remyelination Failure in Multiple Sclerosis"
Current Position: Environmental Analyst, CT Department of Public Health
Ramalakshmi Ramasamy, Ph.D.
Previous Education: P.S.G. College of Technology, Coimbatore, India (B.Tech. & M.Tech.)
Graduated with Ph.D. in 2022
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine (Dr. Paul Robson)
Email: ramalakshmi.ramasamy@jax.org
Robert Pijewski, Ph.D.
Previous Education: Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA (B.S.)
Graduated with Ph.D. in 2021
Thesis Title: "Analyzing the Senescence Landscape in Normal Brain Aging and Neurological Diseases"
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Anna Maria College, Paxton, MA
Alexandra Nicaise, Ph.D.
Previous Education: Trinity College, Hartford, CT (B.S.)
Graduated with Ph.D. in 2018
Thesis Title: "Characterization and Analysis of Neural Progenitor Cells from Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Patients"
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Cambridge (Dr. Stefano Pluchino)
Cory Willis, Ph.D.
Previous Education: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (B.S.)
Graduated with Ph.D. in 2018
Thesis Title: "Role of Extracellular Vesicles on Immune Regulation in an Animal Model of Multiple Sclerosis"
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Cambridge (Dr. Stefano Pluchino)
Kasey Johnson, Ph.D.
Previous Education: Villanova University, Villanova, PA (B.S.)
Graduated with Ph.D. in 2015
Thesis Title: "Extracellular Regulation of Glial Cell Functions"
Postdoc: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA (Dori Schafer)
Current Position: Medical Science Liaison
Kumiko (Ijichi) Claycomb, Ph.D.
Previous Education: University of Hartford, Hartford, CT (B.S.)
Graduated with Ph.D. in 2013
Thesis Title: "Glial Pathology in Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy"
Postdoc: Yale University, New Haven, CT (Gordon Buchanan)
Current Position: Biomedical Scientist (San Diego Area)
Craig Moore, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral fellow from 2008-2011
Previous Education: Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia (Ph.D.)
Current Position: Associate Professor, Tier 2 Canada Research Chair, Memorial University of Newfoundland
Email: craig.moore@mun.ca
Anthony Sacino, M.S.
Previous Education: Assumption University, Worcester, MA (B.A.)
Graduated with M.S. from University of Hartford in 2021
Thesis Title: "TIMP-1 Regulation of Astrocytic Fibronectin and Its Implications for Remyelination Failure in Multiple Sclerosis Lesions"
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Assumption University, Worcester, MA
Sangita Karki
Research Technician
Previous Education: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT (B.S.)