Ratner Lab

Bethany Bresnen

My responsibility is to support Dr. Ratner and her lab, taking care of the behind the scenes administrative details so they can do what they do and each work in his/her genius.  I also every once in a while get to dabble in Photoshop and editorial work…  It’s a privilege and inspiration to work with such kind, intelligent, passionate people every day.  Dr. Ratner sets high personal and professional standards by example.

Meghan Brundage

Project examines the regulatory pathways downstream of Ras involved in tumorigenesis leading to neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). In particular, she is focused on those pathways involving SOX9, a biomarker of neurofibromas and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. 

Kwangmin Choi

Li Guo, PhD

Research fellow studying the role of Rho GTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 in Schwann cell growth and tumorigenesis. 

Robert Hennigan

Edwin Jousma, MS

Visiting research scientist working in the framework of the NF1 preclinical therapeutic trial. Screening candidate drugs that may prevent neurofibromas from growing.

Debra Mayes, PhD

Research fellow focusing on the role and mechanism of the Nf1 protein in regulating oligodendrocyte progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation within the brain.

Shyra Miller

Chandra Moon, BS

Research assistant II studying Rac1 and Cdc42 function in conjunction with Li Guo. Responsibilities are managing the lab and maintaining mouse colonies.

Ami Patel

Goal is to identify and study novel genes that play a key role in tumorigenesis in NF1 and / or MPNSTs. Project will focus on the 138 genes that are upregulated more than threefold in human neurofibroma tumors and MPNSTs.

Deanna Patmore, BS

UC graduate student studying the effects of neurofibromin mutation, unrelated to Ras-GTP, and whether it can be explained by the activation of the Ras protein of R-Ras2 / TC21.

Carlos Prada, MD

Pediatrics and genetics combined resident (PG-5) working with novel mast cell inhibitors to prevent plexiform neurofibroma formation in preclinical models of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Our goal is to identify novel potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers that can modify or prevent tumorigenesis to improve the lives of children with NF1.

Nancy Ratner, PhD

Working to define the interactions between glial cells and axons during nervous system development and how those interactions go awry in disease. Her goal is to develop novel therapies for patients with nervous system diseases.

Tilat Rizvi, PhD

Assistant Professor researching oligodendrocytes in relation to demyelination and remyelination using a mouse model system for human disease neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).

Haley Titus

Research project involves studying the molecular pathways of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating glia of the central nervous system, in the brain and spinal cord.  Interested in studying demyelination and remyelination for potential therapies for neurological disease, specifically NF1 and multiple sclerosis.

Jianqiang Wu, MD, MS

Research instructor working on neurofibroma origin in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and a preclinical therapeutic trial on neurofibromas.