Lab Members

Stephanie Matt is a Research assistant professor who graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2018 with a PhD in Neuroscience. She has had extensive training in the analysis of genetic and epigenetic changes in primary microglia. She has completed several projects in the Gaskill lab, defining the role of CCR5 in dopamine mediated increases in HIV entry into macrophages and the role of dopamine and specific dopamine receptors in macrophage production of IL-1b, for which she received several awards. She recently received a Research Scientist Development Award (K01) which she is using to begin her independent research into the impact of anti-depressants on HIV infection and inflammation in macrophages.

Breana Channer is a 5th year MD/PhD student at Drexel University College of Medicine in the Pharmacology and Physiology PhD program. Breana joined the lab in May 2021 for the PhD portion of her degree. Her project focuses on defining the inflammatory impact of dopamine on myeloid cells from different organ compartments in the presence or absence of HIV. She is currently examining the impact of dopamine on activation of the NF-kB pathway using high content image analysis, as well as defining the signaling pathways driving these changes. Additionally, she is examining how changes in macrophage culture conditions can alter inflammatory activity and the response to dopamine.

Alexis Brantly is a 4th year PhD student at Drexel University College of Medicine in the Microbiology and Immunology PhD program. Alexis joined the Nonnemacher lab in 2021 and began to work with Dr. Gaskill and the Gaskill lab soon after due to her interest in high content imaging. Who is her PhD co-mentor. Alexis focuses on examining viral dynamics in different types of myeloid cells such as hMDM and Kupffer cells using high content imaging, defining infectious phenotypes and changes in the progression of infection during ART and in response to comorbid infection with hepatitis B.

Tofunmi Oteju is a 3rd year Ph.D. student PhD student at Drexel University College of Medicine in the Pharmacology and Physiology PhD program. She joined the lab in June 2022 and primarily studies the molecular mechanisms by which stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine increase HIV replication in macrophages. She is also developing the differentiation for iPSC-dervied macrophages and other iPSC-derived myeloid cells.

Marzieh Daniali is a 2nd year Ph.D. student in the Pharmacology and Physiology program. She joined the lab in the spring of 2023. Her work examines the impact of dopamine on HIV infection dynamics in macrophages, including monocyte derived macrophages and such as alveolar macrophages and Kupffer cells. She also examines how dopamine alters macrophage inflammation, specifically examining changes in inflammasome activity of inflammasomes.

Yash Agarwal is a 3rd year M.D. / Ph.D. student in the Pharmacology and Physiology program. He joined the lab in the spring of 2023, and is focused on the development of syngeneic dopamine neuron - microglia co-cultures that will be used to examine the interactive impact of stimulant evoked dopamine and HIV on neuronal health and function. He is also working on a collaborative project with the Fox lab at UNMC examining how T-cells can transfer HIV infection to microglia.

Chan-Krisna Mompho is our lab technician. He joined the lab during his junior year co-op in Fall of 2020, and has continued to work in the lab since, graduating from Drexel in March of 2022 and joining the lab full time. Krisna manages lab administrative tasks as well as working with Dr. Stephanie Matt examining the role of non-dopamine monoamines such as norepinephrine and serotonin, on changes in myeloid gene expression.

We are always looking for motivated and passionate HIV researchers and neuroimmunologists, so if you are interested in a position in the Gaskill lab, please contact me.

Gaskill Lab Alumni

Ms. Kaitlyn Runner - Lab Manager 2016 - 2021

Currently Research Associate at Fujifilm Irvine Scientific just outside Phildelphia

Ms. Gal Rappaport - Undergraduate research assistant 2016 - 2017

Currently a Masters student in architectural design at Drexel University

Dr. Rachel Nolan - M.D. / Ph.D 2017 - 2019

Thesis "Role of Dopamine in the Modulation of Macrophage-Mediated Inflammation: Implications for the Neuropathogenesis of NeuroHIV and Drug Abuse".

Currently a resident in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Washington Hospital in Seattle, Washington.

Dr. Emily Nickoloff-Bybel - Ph.D. 2017 - 2021

Thesis "The Impact of Dopamine Receptor Signaling on Myeloid Cell Function: Implications for the Pathogenesis of NeuroHIV"

Currently a scientist at Asklepios Biopharmaceutical (AskBio) in Philadelphia

Mr. Yi Rong - Drug, Discovery and Development M.S. 2017 - 2019

Thesis "High-Content Screening Analysis of Dopamine-Mediated Changes in Human Macrophages in the context of HIV infection"

Currently an account manager at Genescript in China

Ms. Sherrita McClain - Volunteer from Drexel Forensic Science Masters 2018 - 2019

Currently 4th year Medical Student at University of Michigan

Ms. Hannah Johnson - Undergraduate research assistant 2018 - 2021

Senior thesis "3D high-content imaging and analysis of dopamine mediated increases in NF-κB translocation in primary human macrophages"

Currently a consultant at Clarkston Consulting

Mr. Wenda Wu - Drug, Discovery and Development M.S. 2019 - 2021

Scholarly Document "Microglial Phagocytosis in the CNS: The Impact of Neurotransmitters and NeuroHIV"

Currently a management trainer at Johnson and Johnson in China.

Ms. Victoria Koa - Undergraduate research assistant 2019 - 2020

Currently a 3rd year Medical Student at Drexel University College of Medicine

Ms. Kimberly Bonar - Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow 2019 - 2020

Currently a research associate at Reaction Biology Corp.

Dr. Vasiliki Pappa - Visiting Post-Doctoral Fellow 2019 - 2022

Current a senior scientist at Carisma Therapeutics

Ms. Joanna Canagarajah - Masters Student from Drexel Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Program 2021 - 2022

Currently in her 2nd year at Ross Medical School

Dr. Samyuktha Manikandan - Medical Student from Drexel University College of Medicine 2020 - 2023

Currently a Resident at Temple University Hospital in Internal Medicine.

Ms. Dayna Robinson - Masters student from Pharmacology and Physiology Program 2022 - 2023

Currently job hunting

Dr. Teresa Lupone - PhD student from Microbiology and Immunology - 2022 - 2023

Thesis "Development of a High Throughput High Content Imaging Viral Titer Assay to Investigate the Effect of Substance Misuse on HIV-1 Replicative Dynamics in hMDMs"

Currently Virology Assay Scientist at Eurofins