PEOPLE
Jacqueline Sagen, PhD., MBA
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sagen's research aims to discover novel therapeutic strategies for chronic pain management on a long-term or permanent basis. Gene therapy or cell transplantation can provide a continually renewable source of pain-reducing substances. Recent work has focused on developing novel analgesic peptides engineered for direct delivery or via cellular transplantation.
Stanislava Jergova, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Creative neuroscientist with 15 years of experience in academia and research. Highly skilled and knowledgeable in chronic pain models, neuronal cell culture, cell transplant, molecular biology, histochemistry. Excellent in small rodent neurosurgery techniques.
LAB PERSONNEL
Behnaz Rahimi, Ph.D.
Post-Doc
Behnaz Rahimi received her Ph.D. in Physiology from Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2022. Behnaz's research interests include neuropathic pain, spinal cord injury, and cell transplantation. Her dissertation focused on "The effect of Sertoli cell transplantation on pain threshold, axonal regeneration, and apoptosis in a rat model of spinal cord injury".
Anji Eeswara, MS
Research Associate
Anji joined the lab after receiving her MS in Microbiology and Immunology from Georgetown University and her BS in Biotechnology from Syracuse University. She is currently leading a project that explores the use of cannabis constituents for the management of chronic neuropathic pain.
Danielle Abdennour, BA, MS
Research Associate
Danielle joined the lab after receiving her MS in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Miami. After completing her program, she joined the lab to gain additional research experience while applying to medical school.
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Amanda Zint
Neuroscience Ph.D. Candidate
Amanda received her B.S.in Psychology from Florida State University in 2020. Her project focuses on the alleviation of spinal cord injury (SCI) pain via swimming exercises combined with transplantation of chromaffin hiPSCs.
Greta Servadei
M.S. Biotechnology for Translational Medicine
Greta is an international student from the University of Ferrara in Italy. She is completing an internship with our lab and her project focuses on how the transplantation of hiPSC-derived GABAergic neural progenitor cells combined with intensive treadmill exercise effects neuropathic pain arising from SCI.
Olivia Gookin
MiBS Rotation Student
Olivia received her B.S. in Neuroscience with a minor in Leadership Studies from Christopher Newport University. After she completes the MiBS program she hopes to pursue her MD.
Roger Joseph
MiBS Rotation Student
Roger received his B.S. from Florida International University. He double majored in Biological Sciences and Natural & Applied Science with a minor in Chemistry. After he completes the MiBS program he hopes to continue doing research while pursuing his MD.
Liam Whalen
MiBS Rotation Student
Liam received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Biology from Millsaps College. After he completes the MiBS program he hopes to pursue his MD.
UNDERGRADUATES
Lauren Tierney
Neuroscience major
C/O 2024
Vama Shah
Biology major, Theatre and Chemistry minor
C/O 2025
RECENT
LAB
ALUMNI
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​Kristin Perrucci, Research Associate - Currently pursuing her MD at the University of Miami
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Amanda Pacheco-Spiewak, Research Associate - Currently pursuing her Ph.D at the University of Maryland
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Kevin Liebmann, MiBS Rotation Student - Currently pursing his MD at the University of Miami
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Suzanne Gross, Research Associate - Currently pursuing her MD at Albert Einstein College of Medicine
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Melissa Hernandez, MiBS Rotation Student - Currently pursing her MD at the University of Miami
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Benjamin Schachner, MiBS Rotation Student - Currently pursuing his MD at the University of Miami
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Elizabeth A. Dugan, Post-doc fellow - Currently working as an Associate Director at PsychoGenics