our Research team
Jeffrey Iliff, Principal Investigator
Jeff is the Associate Director for Research at the VISN 20 NW Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC) at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System. He is a Professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and in Neurology at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he is the Arthur J. and Marcella McCaffray Professor in Alzheimer’s Disease. He serves as the Lead for the UW Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Research Education Component (ADRC REC).
Starting as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Washington studying cerebral blood flow regulation, Jeff’s research has always focused on the brain vasculature as the crossroads of the CNS. He completed his PhD in Physiology and Pharmacology at Oregon Health & Science University focusing on mechanisms governing the release of neuropeptides from perivascular trigeminal afferents at the brain surface. As a postdoc in the lab of Maiken Nedergaard at the University of Rochester Medical Center, he led the team that initially characterized the glymphatic system, the network of perivascular pathways the supports the clearance of wastes from brain tissue during sleep. Since starting up his own lab in 2013, Jeff’s work has focused on defining the glial and vascular changes in the aging and post-traumatic brain that underlie impairment of glymphatic function and the vulnerability to the development of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
Email: jiliff[at]uw.edu and jeffrey.iliff[at]va.gov
Twitter: @jeffreyiliff
Profiles: Google Scholar, ResearchGate
Katie Suchland, Lab Manager
Katie started in research as an undergrad at the University of Washington in the lab of Dr. Cecilia Giachelli in the Bioengineering Department. Beginning in 2000, she joined the lab of Dr. David Grandy in the OHSU Department of Physiology and Pharmacology as lab manager working in animal behavior in the dopamine and trace amine fields. In 2009, she joined Dr. Mike Morgan’s lab in the Department of Psychology at Washington State University, Vancouver, were she worked in pain and opioid tolerance in a rat behavior model. Between 2011-2019, she worked with Dr. Susan Ingram in the Department of Neurosurgery, continuing to work on projects related to her interest in pain modulation, studying opioid and cannabinoid-sensitive circuits in the midbrain. Now with our lab back in Seattle, she is the ringleader of the research circus in the Iliff lab. Katie manages the day-to-day administrative, regulatory, and logistical matters of the lab, while also helping to coordinate research projects. She works with the other MIRECC lab managers and administrators to keep the center running smoothly. Katie currently serves on the VA Puget Sound IACUC committee, as well.
Email: ksuchl[at]uw.edu
Profiles: ResearchGate
Deidre Jansson, Acting instructor
Deidre obtained her Masters degree at the University of Ottawa, Canada, then pursued a PhD at the University of Auckland, New Zealand in the Centre for Brain Research. Deidre is an expert in cerebrovascular biology, choroid plexus function and inflammation in the context of neurodegenerative disease. With interests in the effects of sleep and CSF dynamics on brain function, she is using transcriptomic, physiological and biomarker data from rodent models and human samples to understand the early changes that occur in the development of dementia-related diseases.
Email: djj24[at]uw.edu
Twitter: @deijosaurus3
Profiles: Google Scholar, Research Gate
Yeilim Cho, Sleep Physician and MIRECC Fellow
Yeilim is a physician trained in sleep medicine. Her interest is in defining the role of sleep in acute and chronic rehabilitation, and in learning how sleep improves cognition. She has a particular interest in improving sleep quality in patients with disabilities. Before her fellowship, she was an Assistant Professor at University of Virginia working as an attending physician at a rehab hospital. She is also board certified family physician and graduated from the University of Minnesota Residency Program. Her goal is to become a physician-scientist in the field of sleep and rehabilitation. In her free time, she loves traveling abroad with family and learning about history and new cultures. She also loves spending time volunteering at local non-profit organizations to improve sleep awareness.
Email: Yeilim.Cho[at]va.gov
Joshua Cho, Postdoctoral Fellow
Josh received his BS in molecular biology at the University of Washington where he volunteered in the labs of Richard Gardner and David Baker. After his undergraduate schooling, he worked in the Gerald R. Smith lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, studying and creating synthetic hotspots of meiotic recombination. He next went on to obtain his Ph.D at Columbia University under the mentorship of Ismael Santa-Maria and Abid Hussaini. His doctoral work focused on the influence of microRNAs on tau-related protein regulation, phosphorylation, and pathology in mouse models of Alzheimer’s Disease and tauopathy. As a member of the Iliff lab, Josh hopes to examine the role of locus coeruleus-mediated noradrenergic signaling in the glymphatic system, specifically its regulation/coordination of neurovascular dynamics and astrocytic endfoot-localization of AQP4.
Email: jdcho[at]uw.edu
Profile: Google Scholar
MATHEW SEVAO, Research Assistant
Mathew earned his BS in Neuroscience at the University of Washington. After being intrigued by the aftereffects of traumatic brain injury in sports, he engaged in research to further investigate the mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases in the post-traumatic brain, as well as to contribute to the development of treatments. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, surfing, volunteering, and playing basketball.
Email: sevaom[at]uw.edu
SANJANA AGARWAL, BIOLOGY MAJOR
Sanjana is a third year student at the University of Washington and a Mary Gates Research Scholar. She enjoys research because it allows her to understand more about neurodegeneration, practice what she has learned in class, and contribute to the understanding and intervention of neurological disorders. In her free time, she enjoys exploring Seattle, going on hikes, and cooking.
Email: sanjanaa[at]uw.edu
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCHERS
Jay Jang, Pre-Major
Jay is a second year student at the University of Washington. He is pursuing research in hopes of furthering his abilities as a scientist and contributing to research about the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In his free time, Jay enjoys reading and spending time with friends and family.
Email: jayjang[at]uw.edu
Paige Monsod, Biology Major
Paige is a senior studying MCD biology at the University of Washington. By pursuing research, she hopes to further her understanding of the underlying mechanisms and consequences of neurodegenerative diseases. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and playing piano.
Sarah Pei, Biology and Public Health Major
Sarah is a second-year student at the University of Washington studying MCD biology and public health. By pursuing research, she hopes to foster a more nuanced understanding of underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and gain more perspective on disease origin, progression, and intervention. In her free time, Sarah enjoys dancing, hiking, skiing, baking, and spending time with friends.
Email: sarahpei[at]uw.edu
Keith Sanderson, Biology Major
Keith is a Senior at the University of Washington. He is pursuing research to understand and help contribute towards improving treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, specifically Alzheimer's, and recovering from traumatic brain injuries. Outside of research and school, he spends his time outdoors, hiking and playing sports, and enjoying time with family and friends.
Email: ksande3[at]uw.edu
Bella Shafizadeh, Psychology major
Bella is a second-year student at the University of Washington. She hopes that research will help her better understand the development of neurodegenerative diseases, the mechanisms behind potential treatments, and the relationship between sleep and memory. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends, hiking, and going to concerts.
Email: ids8943[at]uw.edu
Justyna Swierz, Biochemistry Major
Justyna is a fourth year student at the University of Washington and a Mary Gates Research Scholar. She began pursuing research to explore the field of advancing medical treatment of neurodegenerative diseases from an experimental approach. Research has become one of her favorite learning opportunities outside of the classroom. In her free time, Justyna enjoys horseback riding, urban hiking, and drinking coffee.
Email: swierzju[at]uw.edu