Villapol Lab, 2025
TEAM
- Sonia Villapol, Ph.D. Associate Professor
- Goknur Kara, Ph.D., Research Associate
- Morgan Holcomb, B.S., Research Assistant II / Lab Manager
- Marissa Burke, Ph.D. Student
- Leo Cruz-Pineda, Ph.D. Student
- Asmaa Hijazi, Ph.D. Student
- Noah Taylor, B.S., EnMed student
- Savanna Curson, B.S., Undergraduate student
Dr. Sonia Villapol is an Associate Professor and neuroscientist at the Center for Neuroregeneration and the Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Research Institute (Houston, TX). She received her B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Santiago de Compostela (2003) and completed an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Neuroscience at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (2007). She pursued postdoctoral research at the CNRS–Université Pierre et Marie Curie (VI) and INSERM in Paris, and later at the National Institutes of Health/Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine and the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, MD. In 2014, she joined Georgetown University as a Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience, moving to HMRI in 2018.
Dr. Villapol’s work, funded by the NIH, Department of Defense, and private foundations, investigates mechanisms of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration across AD and TBI models, the brain–gut axis, and the development of neurorestorative drug-delivery systems. She has published more than 100 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.
Professional Appointments
Center for Neuroregeneration, Department of Neurosurgery
Neurological Institute, Houston Methodist Research Institute
Department of Neuroscience in Neurological Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, NY.
Adjunct Professor of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Texas A&M, TX
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6174-4113
Morgan Holcomb, B.S.
Research Assistant & Lab Manager
Morgan Holcomb has earned her bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Texas A&M University in August 2019. She accepted the invitation to work under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Sonia Villapol at Houston Methodist in February 2021. She is currently involved in a neurorestorative project that fuels her desire to gain experience in research and to further her pursuit of a career in Biomedical Engineering. Morgan appreciates a challenge and spires to make a significant contribution through her research under the mentorship of Dr. Villapol. Though a native of East Texas, Morgan has enjoyed travelling internationally and experienced living in Saudi Arabia for two years. Her desire is to have a positive, global impact in the diverse field of Biomedical Engineering.
Dr. Goknur Kara
Research Associate
Goknur Kara obtained her PhD in Chemistry from Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey in 2020. During her doctoral training, she joined the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center as a visiting PhD student. She later joined the Department of Nanomedicine at the Houston Methodist Research Institute as a postdoctoral fellow. Her research focused on developing molecularly targeted therapies to inhibit tumor growth and tumorigenesis in various types of cancer, utilizing siRNA and miRNA. She has designed several nanoparticle systems to deliver RNA therapeutics into circulation to make these therapies clinically viable. In 2024, she joined the Villapol lab to optimize the nanoparticles for applications in Alzheimer’s disease and to understand the mechanisms driving AD progression by targeting specific signaling pathways responsible for AD pathology.
Marissa Burke
Ph.D. student
Houston Methodist Research Institute / Weill Cornell Medicine
Marissa Burke earned her Bachelor of Science in Aerospace 
Physiology at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2022 where she studied spaceflight effects on E. coli and the neuroendocrine-immune axis in mice models. In 2022, Marissa was involved in a simulated galactic cosmic ray exposure experiment at Brookhaven National Lab. She is currently a PhD student at Weill Cornell Medicine within the Houston Methodist cohort. Work Marissa has completed during her time there includes telomerase therapeutics for spaceflight-induced aging, Inspiration 4 astronaut omics studies, and bioinformatics analysis of m6A modifications. As part of the Villapol lab, she has interest in the gut-brain axis and subsequent immune interactions.
Leonardo Cruz-Pineda
Ph.D. Student
Houston Methodist Research Institute / Weill Cornell Medicine
Savanna Curson
Undergraduate student
Rice University
Savanna is an undergraduate student at Rice University studying molecular and cellular neuroscience. She joined the Villapol lab to gain hands-on experience in various lab techniques and to explore her interest in interactions between the brain-gut axis and the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. At Rice, she is on the pre-med track and hopes to specialize in neurosurgery in the future. Outside of research and studying, Savanna loves spending time with her dog and getting coffee with friends.
Maddie Flowers
Medical student
Sam Houston State University
Madelyn earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health at the University of Texas at Austin in May 2023. She is currently a second-year medical student at Sam Houston State University and has an interest in neurology. As a member of this lab, she hopes to gain more experience in the field of neuroregeneration research and how it intersects with her current studies. In her free time, she enjoys reading and spending time with her family.
Debbie Vu
Program Coordinator
Debbie Vu earned her Masters of Art in Art Leadership from University of Houston in May 2022. She is currently attending University of Houston – Downtown for her Masters of Business Administration. She is currently the Program Coordinator for the Center for Neuroregeneration and Weill Cornell Graduate School – Houston campus. She assist the Center for Neuroregeneration with administrative and educational activities. She oversees the programmatic and recruitment activities for the Weill Cornell Graduate School – Houston campus. In her free time she likes to travel and cook.
Past Lab Members
Julia Savova
Undergraduate student
Texas A&M University
Dr. Austin Marshall
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hannah Flinn
Research Assistant
Dr. Paula Scalzo
Visiting Scientist
Olivia Chang
Undergraduate student, Rice University
Sirena Soriano, Ph.D.
Instructor
Nhat Tran
Rotated Ph.D. student
University of Texas at Austin
Amanda Morse
Undergraduate student
Texas A&M University
Valerie DeLeon
Medical student
University of Houston
Mariana Lozano
Master Student
Trinity Eimer
Undergraduate student, Rice University
Guillermo Hoppe-Elsholz
Ph.D. Student (PBSB)
Weill Cornell Medicine
Madda Horner
Undergraduate student
Colorado State University
Cathryn Gunawan
Undergraduate student
Texas A&M University
Alyssa Lopez
Undergraduate student
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Peter D. Park
Medical student
Texas A&M University
Donovan Butler
Undergraduate student
Rice University
Serena Wang
Undergraduate student
Neuroscience, Rice University
Lindsey Patrick
Undergraduate student
Texas A&M University
Noah Taylor
Undergraduate student
Texas A&M University
Jessica López
Medical student
Tecnológico de Monterrey, México
Saeed Sadrameli, M.D.
Neurosurgery Resident
Houston Methodist
FORMER LAB MEMBERS
Dr. Villapol has mentored over 80 students/postdocs/residents in the past 20 years.
Current and Former UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS -> Next Position
1. Eesha Surapaneni (Rice University, 2026- present).
2. Aadi Gandhi (Texas A&M University, 2026- present)
3. Julia Savova (Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2026) -> EnMed School.
4. Yaqoob Ali (HMRI, 2026) -> Medical School.
5. Savanna Curson (Rice University, 2025- present).
6. Amanda Morse (Texas A&M University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2024). -> Texas A&M University, Medical Student.
7. Olivia Chang (Rice University, Houston, 2023, 2024). -> Undergraduate student at Rice University
8. Trinity Eimer (Rice University, Houston, 2023, 2024). -> Medical Student
9. Maddalena Horner (Colorado State University, Summer Intern 2023). -> Undergraduate student at Colorado University
10. Cathryn Gunawan (Texas A&M University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2023). -> Undergraduate student at Texas A&M University
11. Alyssa Lopez (North Carolina State University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2023). -> Undergraduate student
12. Noah Taylor (Texas A&M University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2022). -> EnMed Student
13. Lindsey Patrick (Texas A&M University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2022). -> Undergraduate student
14. Donovan Butler (Rice University, Houston, 2021-2022). -> Master Student at Georgetown University.
15. Pranjal Sheth (University of Houston, 2021-2022). -> Undergraduate student
16. Serena Wang (Rice University, 2021-2022). -> Undergraduate student
17. Eric Wang (Texas A&M University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2021). -> Undergraduate student
18. Elsbeth Chow (Texas A&M University, Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2021). -> Undergraduate student
19. Kiana Banafshay (Summer Intern, HMRI, Houston, 2019). -> Undergraduate student
20. Lucas Djavaherian (Georgetown University, 2017-2018). -> Medical student
21. William Mualem (Georgetown University, 2016-2018). -> Medical student
22. Jeevan Nijhar (Georgetown University, 2015-2016). -> Medical student
23. Kyle Jenkins (Georgetown University, 2015-2016). -> Undergraduate student
24. France Prioul (Paris Diderot University, Paris, France, 2009-2010). -> Research Assistant
25. Isabel Beltran (Pierre and Marie Curie University, Paris, France, 2008-2009). -> Medical student
Current and Former MEDICAL STUDENTS-> Next Position
26. Maddely Flores (San Houston University, Houston, 2025-present).
27. Noah Taylor (EnMed Texas A&M University and HM, Houston, 2025-present).
28. Peter Park (Texas A&M University, Houston, 2022-2024). -> Medical Resident
29. Valerie DeLeon (University of Houston, 2022-2024) -> Medical Resident
30. Leonardo Cruz-Pineda (Tecnológico University, HMRI, Houston, 2022). -> Medical student
31. Jessica López (Tecnológico University, HMRI, Houston, 2022). -> Master Student
32. Addison Jacobs (Georgetown University, 2016-2017). -> Medical student
33. Maria Spiegler (Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France, 2008-2009). -> Medical student
Current and Former MEDICAL RESIDENTS -> Next Position
34. Will Tanigaki, M.D. (Neurology Resident PGY-3, HMRI, 2024). -> Medical Resident
35. Riya Bhavsar, M.D. (Neurology Resident, HMRI, 2022). -> Medical Resident
36. Saeed Sadrameli, M.D. (Neurosurgery Resident, HMRI, Houston, 2019-2020). -> Neurosurgeon
37. Hina Aslam, M.D. (Neurology Resident, HMRI, Houston, 2019-2020). -> Medical Resident
Current and Former PH.D. STUDENTS -> Next Position
38. Jeswin James (Rotated Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, Neuroscience, 2026). -> PhD Student
39. Catalina Valdes (Rotated Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, Neuroscience, 2026). -> PhD Student
40. Asmaa Hijazi (Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, Neuroscience, 2026-present).
41. Jungbin Lee (Rotated Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, Neuroscience, 2025). -> PhD Student
42. Nhat Tran (Rotated Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, Neuroscience, 2024). -> PhD Student
43. Leonardo Cruz-Pineda (Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, 2024-present).
44. Marissa Burke (Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, 2023-present).
45. Guillermo Hoppe-Elsholz (Rotated Ph.D. student, WCMC&HMRI, PBSB, 2023). -> PhD Student
46. Natalie Kokroko (Ph.D. student, Rice University, Houston, 2023-present).
47. Kristen Curry (Ph.D. student, Rice University, Houston, 2019). -> Postdoctoral Fellow
48. Maria Qi Wang (Ph.D. student, Rice University, Houston, 2018-2020). -> Job in industry
49. Kwame Affram (Ph.D. student, Uniformed Services University, 2010-2014). -> Medical Student
50. Trevor Logan (Ph.D. student, Uniformed Services University, 2010-2014). -> Medical Student
51. Seham Alaiyed (Rotated Ph.D. student, Georgetown University, 2016/2017). -> PhD Student
52. Evan Wicker (Rotated Ph.D. student, Georgetown University, 2016-2018). -> Job in industry
53. Laya Rajan (Rotated Ph.D/M.D. student, Georgetown University, 2017). -> Medical Student
54. Holly Korthas (Rotated Ph.D. student, Georgetown University, 2017). -> PhD Student
Current and Former VISITING SCIENTISTS -> Next Position
55. Paula Scalzo, Ph.D. (Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, MG, Brazil, 2024). -> Associate Professor
Current and Former POST-DOCTORAL / RESEARCH ASSOCIATE TRAINEES -> Next Position
56. Goknur Kara Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow to Research Associate, HMRI, 2024-present).
57. Austin Marshall Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow, HMRI, 2024-present). -> Research Assistant Professor at the University of Florida.
58. Gherardo Baudo, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow, HMRI, 2024-2026). -> Instructor
59. Assaf Zinger Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow, HMRI, 2020-2022). -> Assistant Professor
60. Sirena Soriano, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow/Research Associate, HMRI, 2019-present). -> Instructor
61. Manoj Dandekar, Ph.D. (Research Associate I, Villapol Lab at HMRI,2019-2020). -> Assistant Professor
62. Bevan Main, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow, Georgetown University, 2016-2017). -> Assistant Professor
63. Maha Moussa, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow, Georgetown University, 2016-2017). -> Instructor
64. MariaFe LanFranco, Ph.D. (Post-doctoral fellow, Georgetown University, 2016-2017). -> NIH-NIA
Current and Former LABORATORY RESEARCH ASSISTANTS -> Next Position
65. Hannah Flinn (Research Assistant I, Villapol Lab at HMRI, 2021-present).
66. Morgan Holcomb (Research Assistant II, Villapol Lab at HMRI, 2021-present).
67. Xiu Feng Tang (Hanna) (Research Associate, Villapol Lab at HMRI, 2021-2022).
68. Sid Gunamalai (Senior Research Assistant III, HMRI, 2018-2019). -> Clinical Coordinator at University of Toronto *Canada)
69. Jane Fitzgerald (Research Assistant I, Villapol Lab at HMRI, 2019).
70. Shashi Krishnamurthy (Senior Research Assistant III, Villapol Lab at HMRI, 2018-present).
71. Maria Balarezo (Research Assistant, Uniformed Services University, 2012-2014).
72. Alexandra Yaszemski (Research Assistant, Uniformed Services University, 2010-2012)
Current and Former MASTER STUDENTS -> Next Position
73. Mariana Lozano Cavazos (Microbiota, Probiotics and Prebiotics at Universidad Europea, and diplomat in Neurodegeneration at Escuela de Salud Integrativa (ESI), 2023-2024). -> PhD student at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.
74. Eduardo Flores (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2018). -> Research Assistant.
75. Alex Harvey (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2018). -> Research Assistant at Georgetown University.
76. Aishu Nambiar (Physiology and Biophysics, Georgetown University, 2018). -> Job in industry
77. Bridge Moffet (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2017). -> Job in industry
78. Leah Benton (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2017). -> Medical Student
79. William Furlow (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2017). -> Law Student
80. Kershina George (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2017). -> Job in industry
81. Stephen Pupkin (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Georgetown University, 2015). -> Job in industry
Current and Former HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS -> Next Position
82. Omkar Borikar (HMRI, 2019-2020). -> Undergraduate student at the University of Houston
83. Ashwika Reddy (Summer Intern, HMRI, 2024). -> Undergraduate student at Texas A&M University
84. Shayla Villapol-Treangen (HMRI, 2025 – present). -> HS student, Dawson HS, Pearland, TX.