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Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience

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Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience
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Dennis R. Grayson PhD

  • Professor of Molecular Neuroscience
  • Department of Psychiatry
  • University of Illinois Chicago
Dr. Grayson is interested in epigenetic mechanisms associated with psychiatric disease. We study DNA methylation and other repressive epigenetic marks. In addition, we are currently investigating abnormal patterns of gene expression following chronic alcohol use and withdrawal. The overall goals are to identify new drug targets in each paradigm to establish new therapeutic approaches for treatment. He graduated from Michigan State University with a BS in Biochemistry and obtained the PhD in Biochemistry from Wayne State School of Medicine.

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Dennis R. Grayson

Joshua Affinati BS

  • Volunteer Research Assistant, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience

Joshua Affinati is passionate about neuroscience and mental health, with a growing focus on translational research and epigenetic mechanisms in neuropsychiatric disorders. He is particularly interested in studying how molecular changes, such as DNA methylation, contribute to psychiatric conditions and their potential as therapeutic targets.

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Joshua Affinati

Mahya Asadalizadeh

  • Research Assistant, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience

Mahya holds a bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Tehran. Currently pursuing her master's in Biological Science at the Illinois Institute of Technology, she has authored six short articles published in The Scientific Association of Biology at the University of Tehran magazine.

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Mahya Asadalizadeh

Amina Dakhlallah

  • Undergraduate Research Assistant, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience

Amina is an undergraduate student who is currently majoring in Neuroscience. She is a member of Dr Grayson’s laboratory of molecular Neuroscience and epigenetics. She is interested in researching epigenetic factors correlated to mental health disorders.

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Siddhi Hindurao

  • Undergraduate Research Volunteer, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience

Siddhi Hindurao is an undergraduate student at UIC studying neuroscience. She is a member of Dr. Dennis Grayson’s laboratory of molecular neuroscience. Siddhi is interested in studying neurological diseases/disorders and the epigenetic patterns connected with psychiatric disease using animal models.

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Siddhi Hindurao

Jessica Lian

  • Research Assistant, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience
  • Department of Psychiatry
Jessica's enthusiasm spans several biology disciplines, with a particular focus on neuroscience and neurological diseases. Her interest includes researching DNA methylation and epigenetics within these fields. In the lab, Jessica is interested in working with animal models, focusing on neurological diseases/disorders and epigenetic mechanisms associated with psychiatric disease.

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Jessica Lian

Raquel Romay-Tallon PhD

  • Research Volunteer, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience
  • Department of Psychiatry, UIC
Dr. Romay-Tallon has started her PhD in 2005, after finishing her degree in Biology, with Dr Caruncho at the University of Santiago de Compostela, in the Department of Cell Biology. During her PhD, she has studied the neurobiology of an animal model for psychiatric disorders, the heterozygous reeler mice (HRM). This animal model presents a downregulation in the expression of the protein reelin, which is known to be involved in synaptogenesis, promote neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity.

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Raquel Romay-Tallon

Hui Zhang PhD

  • Senior Research Specialist, Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience
  • Department of Psychiatry, UIC
Dr. Hui Zhang received her PhD in Cell Biology from Gunma University, Japan in 2004. She has been involved in the investigation of the roles of neurotrophins, apoptosis and neuroplasticity of HPA axis associated with depression, schizophrenia and other mental disorders using postmortem brain samples, blood from patients and animal models. Her current study is focused on the etiopathogenesis of schizophrenia and psychosis-related disorders.

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