Lab Members

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6303
Atlanta, GA 30322

Office: 404-727-4911
Lab: 404-712-8490

Contact Dr. Hess

Emory School of Medicine Profile

Biography:

I received a B.A. in Psychobiology from Wellesley College and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from U.C.S.D with a focus on behavioral pharmacology. I stayed in San Diego for my postdoc at The Scripps Research Institute, where I switched gears to learn molecular biology. My research is a natural extension of my training in both behavioral pharmacology and molecular biology, focusing on the generation and analysis of mouse models of movement disorders using both genetic and pharmacological approaches. Before joining the faculty at Emory University in 2008, I held academic appointments at Johns Hopkins University and Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. I am currently a Professor in the Departments of Pharmacology and Neurology. 

Research Interests:


Our research focuses on the genetic and neuropharmacologic underpinnings of complex behavioral disorders. We work on several different projects under this broad theme, including dystonia, Lesch-Nyhan disease, and channelopathies (episodic neurological disorders). The goal is to better understand and treat these neurological disorders by using a true bench to bedside approach.

Our group consists of basic science and clinical research components. We use a multi-disciplinary approach to determine the contribution of the basal ganglia and cerebellum to different disorders. We manipulate specific subpopulations of neurons using genetically engineered mice, viral vectors or drug challenges by targeting ion channels, receptors or neurotransmitters to cause or suppress dysfunction. We assess the effects of these manipulations on neuronal function and behavior to pinpoint the source of the dysfunctional signal. Our experiments have resulted in the development and characterization of several mouse models of human disease in our lab and in collaboration with others. This strategy provides a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying neurological dysfunction as well as the development of novel treatments.

Our clinical work is aimed primarily at translational research. This includes more precise characterizations of clinical phenotypes, exploring genotype-phenotype relationships, neuroimaging of the brain, biorepositories for exploring biomarkers of disease, and clinical trials of promising new treatments.

View publications on PubMed.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6300
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Dr. Jinnah

Emory School of Medicine Profile

Biography:

I began as an undergraduate at Duke University, where I got a joint B.S. in Psychology & Zoology focusing on the biological basis of behavior in 1985. With support from the Medical Scientist Training Program at the University of California in San Diego, I completed M.D. and Ph.D. degrees in 1992. After finishing my Neurology Residency at Johns Hopkins University in 1996, I joined the faculty there and focused on clinical and research questions in Movement Disorders. I joined the faculty at Emory University in 2008, where currently I am Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Human genetics. 

View publications on Pubmed.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

404-727-3381

Biography:

I received my PhD in Biochemistry/Bioinformatics (2007) from the University of Hyderabad, India. I then spent several years (2008-2013) at the University of California San Diego, where I began to work with the high-throughput lipidomic and microarray data from mouse macrophages. I worked at the University of Florida (2013-2015) to understand the immune-modulatory role of recreational marijuana use by HIV-infected young adults. Having joined Emory in 2015, my research interests center on the use of high-performance computational techniques to pursue questions in genomic biology.

View publications on PubMed.

Full biography on GitHub.

Rollins Research Center
Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology
1510 Clifton Rd. NE
5th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Dr. Fan

Research Interests:

My research is focused on the roles of neurotransmission and synaptic regulation in the pathogenesis of psychiatric diseases and motor disorders through approaches of behavior, neurochemistry and neuropharmacology.

Biography:

I was born in China where I grew up, received my education, married my wife, and had my first daughter. I joined Dr. Hess and Jinnah 's lab in 2002. I had my second daughter in 2006. 

Education:

I received my bachelor's degree in 1984 at Sichuan University, Chendu, Sichuan Province, and my PhD in 2002 at Fudan University, Shanghai.

Why Science?:

As a part of our traditional culture and education, scientists are recognized as an honorable career. My interest in science comes from its unpredictability; tomorrow could be a hopeful and surprising day.

Publications:

Neychev VK, Fan X, Mitev VI, Hess EJ, Jinnah HA. Interaction Between Basal Ganglia and Cerebellum in

Dystonia.Brain. 2008; 131(Pt 9):2499-509.

Fan X and Hess EJ. D2-like dopamine receptors mediate the response to amphetamine in a mouse model of ADHD.

Neurobiology of Disease. 2007; 26(1):201-11.

Kasim S, Blake BL,Fan X, Chartoff E, Egami K, Breese GR, Hess EJ, Jinnah HA. The role of dopamine receptors in the neurobehavioral syndrome provoked by activation of L-type calcium channels in rodents.  Developmental Neuroscience. 2006; 28(6):505-17.

Fan XL, Zhang JS, Zhang XQ, Ma L. Chronic morphine treatment and withdrawal induce up-regulation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 gene expression in rat brain.Neuroscience. 2003; 122(4): 997-1002.

Fan XL, Zhang JS, Zhang XQ, Yue W, Ma L. Differential regulation of beta-arrestin 1 and beta-arrestin 2 gene expression in rat brain by morphine.Neuroscience. 2003; 117(2): 383-9.

Fan X, Zhang J, Zhang X, Yue W, Ma L. Acute and chronic morphine treatments and morphine withdrawal

differentially regulate GRK2 and GRK5 gene expression in rat brain.

Neuropharmacology. 2002 Oct; 43(5): 809-16.

 Lu L, Bao G, Chen H, Xia P,Fan X, Zhang J, Pei G, Ma L. Modification of hippocampal neurogenesis and neuroplasticity by social environments. Experimental Neurology. 2003 Oct; 183(2): 600-9.

Rollins Research Center
Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology
1510 Clifton Rd. NE
5th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30322

Phone: 404-727-4771
Fax: 404-712-8576

Contact Dr. Fu

Biography

My research interests encompass many areas in the field of biological sciences, from fundamental biochemistry focusing on biochemical characterization and mechanism of enzymes to the clinical science studying genotype-phenotype correlation of neurological disorder with enzyme deficiency. I am fascinated by the process of discovering fundamental principles and methods for elucidating the biological functions. I obtained my PhD at Georgia State University majored in Biochemistry in 2009. My current research is focused on HPLC method development and analysis in neuroscience.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

404-727-3381

Contact Dr. Berkmen 

Biography:

I received a BS in Biology from Istanbul University School of Science, an MS from Istanbul University School of Medicine, and a PhD from Erasmus University School of Medicine, Rotterdam, Netherlands. I conducted my PhD studies at St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN. I worked at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL as a doctoral fellow between 2008-2012, and at Emory University School of Medicine as a postdoctoral fellow between 2014-2016. I involved in clinical research in 2016 at Emory University School of Medicine, and joined Hess-Jinnah Lab in 2017. More details can be found on my CV (Kilic Berkmen CV).

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6302
Atlanta, GA 30322

Phone: 404-727-1678
Fax: 404-712-8576

Contact Diane 

Research Focus:

Currently I am studying the genetic modifications of two rare neurological diseases with the use of induced pluripotent stem cells as models of disease.  Cell models of disease allow researchers to better understand the mechanisms of disease through the use of patient specific neuron derivation from iPS cells, immunocytochemistry, gene editing, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics.

Rollins Research Center
Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology
1510 Clifton Rd. NE
5th Floor
Atlanta, GA 30322

404-727-4771

Contact Christine

Biography:

I decided to become a career researcher when I learned that one could do something as fun as laboratory research full time and not just for a few hours a week as an undergraduate. I have worked in various fields of research ever since I obtained my degree in Molecular Genetics. In the Hess Lab, we utilize different methods, including genetic, pharmacological, and live imaging of neurons, to study mouse models of movement disorders, such as dystonia and PD. We are currently also investigating biological sex differences in dystonia. By understanding the disease mechanisms, in concert with data collected from our Drug Discovery Program, we hope to find a cure and/or treatment for patients with these debilitating illnesses.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

404-727-9107

Contact Dr. Ozel

Biography:

I graduated from Koc University School of Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. During medical school I worked at Stem Cell Laboratory on iPSCs derived from patients with urea cycle disorder Citrullinemia type 1. I became interested in disease modelling and research in genetic and cell-based approaches to treat rare diseases. I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Hess-Jinnah lab. I investigate how development is disrupted in a monogenic neurodevelopmental disease during differentiation from iPSCs to mature neurons. My clinical interests include exploring the role of genomic medicine in improving health outcomes and I focus on understanding how genetic testing can be better utilized for the diagnosis of rare movement disorders. I am also a University Senate Representative for the Emory Postdoc Association and a member of Postdoctoral Council for Diversity. I enjoy swimming, hiking, and spending time in nature in my free time.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Cameron

Biography:

I graduated from the University of Georgia in 2019 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Public Health. While at UGA, I assisted with research related to the gene contributions and pathogenesis of HIV-related neurocognitive disorders. After graduation, I worked briefly in an orthopedic practice before deciding that I wanted to focus more on my public health and research interests. I joined Emory and the Hess-Jinnah lab in 2020, where I coordinate the clinical trials and studies that focus primarily on various dystonias. 

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Simone

Biography:

I earned my BA in Biology at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM), and completed my MS at Virginia Tech. I started out in scientific research at summer internship with a scientific computing section at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. At SMCM, I worked in a behavioral neuroscience laboratory studying impacts of elevated dopaminergic activity on learning and memory in rodents. At Virginia Tech, I worked in the lab of Dr. Kendra Sewall, where I studied the impacts of early-life stress on the brain using songbirds as a model system. My current interests involve investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurological diseases.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Fatemeh

I am a medical doctor (MD) graduated from Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2018. I discovered my interest in science during basic science courses in medical school!  During my time as a medical student I worked on multiple research projects. I studied effects of mitochondrial coenzymes on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and then pursued a year-long thesis project in collaboration with University of Southern Denmark. There I worked on a quantification method to study age dependency of human brain metabolism using brain PET/CT.   I also participated in two other multicenter epidemiologic studies aimed to discover serum biomarkers to predict stroke severity and outcome.  To continue my interest in science, I am pursuing a PhD in neuroscience at Emory University and joined the Hess-Jinnah lab in 2019.

Under Dr. Jinnah’s supervision, I work with a novel model of induced pluripotent stem cells to study molecular pathogenesis of different neurological diseases including Lesch Nyhan disease, Parkinson’s disease, and dystonia. We have developed an in vitro model of midbrain dopaminergic neurons to discover the link between biochemistry of purine metabolism and neuronal development abnormalities. My daily work in lab starts with taking care of baby neurons developing in a dish!   

Outside of work you can find me social dancing, playing tennis, practicing my favorite pieces in piano, and taking photos of the beautiful nature around Atlanta!  I also love to discover US and travel around the world!

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Sanjana

Sanjana is a junior at Emory College majoring in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology with a minor in Quantitative Sciences. She currently helps out in clinical research under Cameron Yeo.

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Trisha

Trisha Sengupta (24C) is an undergraduate student at Emory College, majoring in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology on the pre-med track. She is interested in the biochemical factors which affect behavior in different neurological disorders. Trisha joined the Hess-Jinnah Lab in Fall 2021. As a part of this lab, she has worked on using tissue immunohistochemistry to understand differentially expressed neurons modulated by cell type-specific chemogenetics (DREADDs). Her current project will focus on discovering and understanding the neuronal mechanisms underlying sex differences in dystonia.  

In her free time, Trisha enjoys cooking, reading, and grocery shopping!

Woodruff Memorial Research Building
101 Woodruff Circle
Room 6000
Atlanta, GA 30322

Contact Lauren

I am a third-year undergraduate at Emory University pursuing a major in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology and a minor in Spanish. I’ve worked as a biology lab prep assistant for two years, and my favorite courses have been the lab sciences. In the Jinnah-Hess laboratory, I’m working as a research assistant for Dr. Jinnah to help explore the biochemical underpinnings of Lesch-Nyhan disease through neuronal cell culture, western blotting, biomolecular extraction, and more. My college experiences so far have helped solidify my aspiration to become a physician-scientist. In the future, I aim to be a positive force in patients’ lives by helping them cope with and recover from diseases while also undertaking research projects to uncover the biochemical mechanisms of neurological disorders and find effective treatments. In my free time, I love to play golf, watch movies, and spend time with friends and family.