Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellows  | The ALS Association

The ALS Association is proud to support the development of bright, early career scientists through the Milton Safenowitz Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Many of our fellows have gone on to establish their own laboratories and mentor more ALS researchers along the way, while others have gone on to careers in industry, nonprofits or medical writing.

2024 Fellows

Zoé Butti, Ph.D., New York Genome Center
Genomic and Proteomic Mapping of ALS Postmortem Tissue in a High-Resolution Atlas

Graciana de Azambuja, Ph.D., Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie
Investigation of the Therapeutic Potential of the Extracellular Matrix to Combat NMJ Loss

Marjorie Metzger, Ph.D., Trinity College Dublin
Dynamic Analysis of ALS Impact on Resting-State Networks: A Novel EEG Approach

Avijite Kumer Sarkar, Ph.D., Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
A New iPSC Model Unraveling Protective Traits in ALS

Shuxian Zhang, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Identifying Modifiers of TDP-43 Loss-of-Function Mediated Toxicity in ALS

Learn More About Our 2024 Fellows

2023 Fellows

Suleyman Can Akerman, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Inhibiting Dipeptide Repeat Propagation in C9-ALS
RESEARCHER SPOTLIGHT

Annie Collins, B.M. B.Ch., UMass Chan Medical School
Novel Therapeutic Oligonucleotides for the Treatment of Sporadic ALS
RESEARCHER SPOTLIGHT

Mario Flores, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health
Diabetes and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
RESEARCHER SPOTLIGHT

Alexander Lin-Moore, Ph.D., Brown University
Novel Suppressors of Neurodegeneration in SOD-1 G85R Models
RESEARCHER SPOTLIGHT

Sitao Zhang, Ph.D., University of California San Diego
Age-Dependent Loss of Proteasome Activity as a Driver of TDP-43 Mislocalization
RESEARCHER SPOTLIGHT

2022 Fellows 

Caiwei Guo, Ph.D., Stanford University 
Unraveling the Mechanism of Cryptic RNA Splicing Induced by TDP-43 Pathology 
Researcher SpotligHT

Miriam Linsenmeier, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Potentiation of a Nuclear-Import Receptor to Counteract Aberrant TDP-43 Assembly 
Researcher Spotlight

Anuradhika Puri, Ph.D., Washington University in St. Louis 
Applying the Human Disaggregase, HtrA1, to Counter ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

Kevin Rhine, Ph.D., University of California San Diego 
Determining Changes in RNA and Protein Metabolism in ALS iMNs 
Research Spotlight

Jayakrishna Shenoy, Ph.D., Brown University 
Structural Studies of TDP-43 Self-Assembly as a Therapeutic Target for ALS 
Research Spotlight

2021 Fellows 

Ahmad Al Khleifat, Ph.D., King’s College London, UK 
An Integrated Genome-Based Approach to Individualised Treatment in ALS
and FTD 
Researcher Spotlight

Stephen Johnson, M.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Smartphone-Based Digital Phenotyping in People with ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

John Kalambogias, Ph.D., Columbia University 
Dysfunction and Degeneration of Corticospinal Tract Neurons
in ALS Mouse Models
Researcher Spotlight  

Devesh Pant, Ph.D., Emory University 
Pathomechanisms of ALS Caused by SPTLC1 Mutations 
Researcher Spotlight

2020 Fellows 

Yuka Koike, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville 
The Mechanism by which Loss of Stathmin-2 Induces Neurodegeneration in ALS 
Researcher Spotlight  

Sonia Vazquez-Sanchez, Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego 
Determining Mechanisms of TDP-43 Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation and Aggregation 
Researcher Spotlight  

Lauren Gittings, Ph.D., Barrow Neurological Institute 
Molecular Mechanisms Influencing Cognitive Impairment in C9orf72 ALS/FTD 
Researcher Spotlight

Janani Parameswaran, Ph.D., Emory University 
Pathogenic Mechanisms of ALS Caused by KIF5A Mutations 
Researcher Spotlight

Marion Sommers-Spijkerman, Ph.D., University Medical Center Utrecht-Translational Neuroscience, The Netherlands 
Family-Based Self-Compassion Intervention for Reducing Self-Stigma in ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

Caroline McHutchison, Ph.D., University of Edinburgh, Scotland 
Longitudinal Cognition and Behavior in Presymptomatic ALS Gene Mutation Carriers 
Researcher Spotlight

Yichen Li, Ph.D., University of Southern California 
Validating SYF2 Suppression as a Therapeutic Strategy for Diverse Forms of ALS 
Researcher Spotlight  

Nishal Shah, Ph.D., Stanford Neural Prosthetics Translational Laboratory
Ten-Finger Typing Using an Intra-Cortical Implant for Fast Communication in ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

2019 Fellows 

Christine Marques, Ph.D., Harvard Medical School 
Unravelling Shared Molecular Mechanisms in Familial ALS 

Zhe Zhang, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 
Understanding Repeat RNA Transport and RAN Translation in C9ORF72-ALS/FTD 
Researcher Spotlight  

Thomas Westergard, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University (Initial PI)
Emily Thompson, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University 
Loss of Cortical Astroglia Subpopulation Exacerbates Dendritic and Synaptic Defects of Upper Motor Neurons in ALS 
Researcher Spotlight   

Lauren Laboissonniere, Ph.D., University of Florida (Initial PI)
Lisa Romano, Ph.D., University of Florida
Endobody Vaccine for the Treatment of C9 ALS/FTD 
Researcher Spotlight

Paul McKeever, Ph.D., Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Canada 
Linking Brain Cell Subtype-Specific Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Mosaicism in C9orf72-ALS/FTD 
Researcher Spotlight

Valeria Gerbino, Ph.D., Columbia University 
The Cell Autonomous and Non-Cell Autonomous Role of TBK1 in Disease Progression in a Mouse Model of ALS 
Researcher Spotlight  

2018 Fellows  

Edward Barbieri, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania 
Programming Human Chaperone Systems Against Neurodegenerative Disease 
Researcher Spotlight

Alyssa Coyne, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University 
Mechanistic Insights into C9orf72-Mediated Disruptions in the Nuclear Pore Complex 
Researcher Spotlight

Jorge Gomez-Deza, Ph.D., Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development / National Institutes of Health 
Identification of Novel Therapeutic Targets for ALS Using a Photoinducible DLK (Dual Leucine Zipper Kinase) in Human Neurons 
Researcher Spotlight

Ananya Ray-Soni, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital (Initial PI)
Xin Jiang, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Targeting TDP-43 Pathology in C9ORF72-Mediated ALS 

Andrei Ursu, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute – Florida 
Alleviation of Pathological Mechanisms of Genetically Defined ALS by Small Molecules Targeting RNA G4C2 Repeat Expansions 
Researcher Spotlight

2017 Fellows  

Sarah Ackerman, Ph.D., University of Oregon 
Contributions of Astrocyte Function and Dysfunction to ALS 

Meredith Corley, Ph.D., University of California San Diego  
Accurate RNA Structural Studies of Transcripts Targeted by RNA Binding Protein hnRNP A2/B1
Researcher Spotlight

Anthony Giampetruzzi, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School 
Identifying Therapeutics for ALS Using ALS-Linked Mutant Profilin-1 
Researcher Spotlight

Yue Li, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute – Florida 
Development of RNA-Templated Small Molecules to Treat C9 ALS/FTD 
Researcher Spotlight

Nibha Mishra, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Identifying Determinants of FUS Nucleocytoplasmic Localization by CRISPR/Cas9 Genetic Screen in ALS Patient Cells 
Researcher Spotlight

Maria Purice, Ph.D., St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 
Linking TDP-43 Pathology with Stress Granule Dynamics 
Researcher Spotlight

2016 Fellows  

Amanda Gleixner, Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh 
Linking Impaired Nucleocytoplasmic Trafficking in C9ORF72 ALS to Altered Nuclear Pore Complex O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) 
Researcher Spotlight

Vicente Valenzuela, Ph.D., University of Chile  
Gene Therapy to Attenuate ER Stress Alterations in ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

Bruno Miguel da Cruz Godinho, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School 
Silencing Mutant SOD1 and C9orf72 in vivo Using Innovative Hydrophobic siRNA Scaffolds: A Novel Therapeutic Path for the Treatment of ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

Sergey Stavisky, Ph.D., Stanford University 
Clinically-Useful Brain-Machine Interface Control of a Robotic Prosthetic Arm by People with ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

Tiffany Todd, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville 
Modeling Selective Vulnerability and Disease-Specific Functions in Mice by the Comparison of C9orf72 Repeat Models to a Novel Disease Control 
Researcher Spotlight  

Jeanne McKeon, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School 
Disruption of Actin Dynamics as a Pathogenic Mechanism in ALS 
Researcher Spotlight

2015 Fellows  

Antonia Dominguez, Ph.D., Stanford University
Functional Analysis of C9orf72 Mutations in ALS via Targeted Genome Engineering

Fernande Freyermuth, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital 
Targeting FUS Misfolding to Mitigate RNA Processing Alterations Linked to ALS 

Marian Hruska-Plochan, Ph.D., University of Zurich, Switzerland  
Deciphering the Pathogenic Mechanisms of C9ORF72 Dipeptide Proteins 

Jone Lopez-Erauskin, Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego 
Identifying Key Molecular Targets to Counteract Muscle Denervation in ALS 

David Medina, Ph.D., Barrow Neurological Institute 
Modulating Retinoid Signaling as a Therapeutic Approach for ALS 

Kasper Roet, Ph.D., Boston Children’s Hospital 
Which Potassium Channel Drives ALS Motor Neuron Hyperexcitability? 

Tao Sun, Ph.D., Stanford University 
Genome-Wide Identification of RNA Editing Dysregulation and Upstream Regulators in ALS 

Dejun Yang, M.D., Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School 
Determining the Mechanisms of ALS-Associated Poly (GR) Toxicity and Screening for Therapeutic Drugs

2014 Fellows  

Veronique Belzil, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville 
Characterizing the Contributions of Epigenetic Changes in C9 FTD/ALS 
Researcher Spotlight  

Claudia Fallini, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School   
Characterizing the Pathogenic Role of TDP-43 in PFN1-Linked ALS 

Florent Laferriere, Ph.D., University of Zurich, Switzerland 
Contribution of Protein Aggregation in the Pathogenesis of ALS: Seeding, Spreading and Toxicity 

Philip McGoldrick, Ph.D., University of Toronto, Canada 
Pathomechanisms of C9orf72 Repeat Expansions in Real Time 

Ke Zhang, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 
The Role of Nuclear Transport Defects in the Pathogenesis of ALS/FTD 

2013 Fellows 

Jennifer Gass, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville 
Understanding the Relationship between Progranulin, Sortilin-1 and TDP-43  

Jonathan Labbadia, Ph.D., Northwestern University 
Programmed Remodeling of Heat Shock Response Underlies Onset of ALS 

Yang Li, Ph.D., Barrow Neurological Institute 
Structure and Function of a New Candidate ALS Biomarker – RBM45 (RNA Binding Protein 45)  

Russell McLaughlin, Ph.D., Trinity College Dublin, Republic of Ireland  
Molecular Rapprochement of Neurology and Psychiatry: Are ALS and Schizophrenia Biologically Convergent? 

Zhaoming Su, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute – California 
Rational Design of Small Molecules Targeting GGGGCC Expanded Repeat in C9ORF72 Gene Implicated in ALS-FTD 

Marka Van Blitterswijk, M.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville 
Predicting the Phenotype in C9orf72 Expansion Carriers Using Machine Learning 

Qiang Zhu, Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego  
Gain of Toxicity from C9orf72 ALS/FTD Mutation is Therapeutically Alleviated with Antisense Oligonucleotides 

2012 Fellows 

Jacob Ayers, Ph.D., University of Florida 
Pathogenic Role of Wild-Type Superoxide Dismutase in ALS 

Brandi Davis-Dusenbery, Ph.D., Harvard University 
Disrupted microRNA Biogenesis in ALS Patient-Derived Motor Neurons 

Regina Kolaitis, Ph.D., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 
The Role of VCP in Regulating the Assembly and Disassembly of Stress Granules 

Helene Tran, Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Medical School 
A Drosophila Model of the Hexanucleotide Repeats-Induced Toxicity in ALS 

Dmitry Yudin, Ph.D., Columbia University Medical Center 
Contribution of Neurotensin to Degeneration of Vulnerable Motor Neurons in ALS

2011 Fellows 

Ying Li, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine 
The Role of Human IPSC-Derived NG2 Glia on Human Motor Neuron Survival: Strong Implication of NG2 Glia in Pathogenesis 

Amanda Phillips, Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University 
Focal Transplantation of Human Neural Progenitor Cell-Derived Astrocytes Isolated from ALS Patients into the Rat Spinal Cord 

Mercedes Prudencio, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville 
Identification of Pathogenic TDP-43 Targets In Vivo 

Shuying Sun, Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego 
Determining Damage within Specific Cell Types caused by SOD1, TDP-43 and FUS/TLS Mutations 

Ole Wiskow, Ph.D., Harvard University 
Phenotypic Characterization of Purified Motor Neurons from ALS Patient-Specific Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells 

2010 Fellows 

Hussein Daoud, Ph.D., Center of Excellence in Neuromics, Canada 
Whole Exome Capture and Parallel DNA Resequencing of Familial ALS Cases 

Javier Jara, Ph.D., Northwestern University 
Understanding the Landscape of Neuroinflammation and Identification of Key Players Using MCP1-CCR2-SOD1G93A Triple Transgenic Mice In Vivo 
Researcher Spotlight

Dara Ditsworth, Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego 
Determining Non-Cell Autonomous Contributions of TDP-43 and FUS Mutations in ALS Using Embryonic Stem Cells 

2009 Fellows 

Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne, M.D., Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego 

Tania Gendron, Ph.D., Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

Soledad Matus, Ph.D. University of Chile 

2008 Fellows 

Taiji Tsunemi, M.D., Ph.D., University of Washington 
Role of Autophagy in ALS 

Marin Manuel, Ph.D., Northwestern University  
Motor Unit Properties in a Mouse Model of ALS 

Teresa Sanelli, Ph.D., University of Toronto, Canada  
Role of TDP-43 in ALS 

2007 Fellows 

Sandrine Da Cruz, Ph.D., Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of California San Diego
Determining the Contribution of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in ALS Pathogenesis  

Gurudutt Pendyala, Ph.D., The Scripps Research Institute 
The Metabolome of the Cerebrospinal Fluid: Signature for ALS 

Caroline Rouaux, Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital
Molecular Controls Over Early Specification and Differentiation of Corticospinal Neurons (Upper Motor Neurons) 

Marcelo Vargas, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin 
Effect of Astrocytic Nrf2 Activation on the Onset and Progression of Motor Neuron Degeneration in an ALS Animal Model 

2006 Fellows 

Monica Carrasco, Ph.D., Harvard University 

Jinseol Rhee, Ph.D., University of California San Francisco
Investigation into the Function of p190RhoGEF in the Formation of New Nerve Cells during Development 

2005 Fellows

Jonathan Lin, M.D., Ph.D., University of California San Francisco 

Agnes Lukaszewicz, Ph.D., California Institute of Technology
Molecular Specification of Motor Neuron Progenitor Cell Fate Specification in the CNS 

Eran Perlson, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
Proteomic Analysis of Retrograde Signaling in ALS 

2004 Fellows 

Christine Haenggeli, M.D., Johns Hopkins University 
Therapeutic Delivery of Excitatory Amino Acid Transporter for ALS