Christine is a passionate postdoctoral researcher who completed her PhD at Emory University with a focus on Pottasium channel regulation of Microglia during Alzheimer’s Disease. Prior to her PhD, Christine completed her postbaccalaureate studies at the NIEHS with a focus in Neuroinflammation and completed her bachelor’s degree at Appalachian State Univerisity.
Research Focus
Studies how Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is altered by regulation of transcription. Parkinson’s Disease significantly alters what RNAs get translated into proteins. This alteration occurs prior to translation with the evaluation of the RNAs. The body uses methylation as a communication technique to evaluate whether RNAs should be translated or degraded.
Studying a group of proteins in the m6A pathway that decide which RNAs are methylated and the terminal outcome of those RNAs
Evaluating how the m6A pathway may be changing disease conditions of PD, using KO models and proximity labeling to determine what proteins and RNAs are interreacting with the m6A pathway and how altering those pathways affects downstream function
Jonathan is a graduate assistant in Dr. Kanthasamy’s lab, supporting research and keeping projects moving. Outside the lab, you’ll find Jonathan on the pickleball court, biking trails, or unwinding with music, watching Netflix, and playing the Nintendo Switch.
Research Focus
ELP3-mediated α-Synuclein post-translational modification reduces Protein aggregation and neurotoxicity in Parkinson’s Disease models
Amanda is a Neuroscience Ph.D. student investigating how engineered probiotics and microbial metabolites can modulate gut–brain axis signaling to prevent neuroinflammation and Parkinson’s disease progression.
Research Focus
Understanding the mechanistic links between intestinal inflammation, microbial metabolism, and neurodegenerative disease progression, with a focus on Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the gut to brain axis
Defining how engineered commensal microbes and their metabolites can modulate key neuroinflammatory signaling pathways to prevent or attenuate PD-related pathology
Experienced dental professional with over 10 years of clinical practice and a Master’s in Public Health specializing in Health Education. Chelva is currently venturing into the field of research, where consistent perseverance has led to multiple publications and a successful transition into an graduate student researcher.
Research Focus
Focused on optimizing biomarker assays for the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases using minimally invasive human bio samples, such as skin, sub mandibular gland, extra cellular vesicles, plasma and serum, to enhance diagnostic accuracy and accessibility.
Ahyoung investigates the neuroprotective mechanisms of Parkinson’s disease, focusing on mitochondrial and nuclear networks as innovative treatment strategies. Her work includes developing hiPSC-derived models and exploring protein kinase d1 (PKD1) signaling to protect against mitochondrial toxicity and neurodegeneration in dopaminergic systems.
Research Focus
Exploring neuroprotective mitochondrial and nuclear subcellular networks as a novel treatment for Parkinson’s disease
Originally from northwest GA, Drake earned his B.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with honors and a research distinction at UGA. During this time, he dedicated himself to undergraduate research with Dr. Shelley Hooks, investigating neuroimmune mechanisms in cell and animal models of Parkinson’s disease. He has now been with Dr. Kanthasamy for three years, and is a Ph.D. candidate focusing on mechanistic insights and therapeutic potential of epitranscriptomic dysregulation in neuroinflammation.
Research Focus
Elucidating mechanistic contributions of epitranscriptomic dysregulation to neuroinflammation during ADRD onset and progression in an effort to identity and develop safe and efficacious therapeutic strategies
Manikandan is an Assistant Research Scientist with a PhD from Chonnam National University and postdoctoral training at Iowa State University, studying neuroinflammation and how toxicants and misfolded proteins drive neurodegeneration.
Research Focus
Dr. Samidurai’s research focuses on how neuroinflammation disrupts cellular and molecular pathways that drive neurodegeneration, with particular interest in how environmental toxicants and misfolded proteins including α-synuclein, β-amyloid, and Tau aggregates trigger chronic inflammation, redox imbalance, and cellular senescence.
Investigating how sustained inflammatory signaling impairs nuclear pore complex integrity and nucleocytoplasmic transport, contributing to neuronal dysfunction and disease progression.
Characterizing a newly developed Alzheimer’s disease mouse model that provides a powerful platform to study pathogenic mechanisms, microglial and neuronal vulnerability, and the development of Alzheimer’s disease–related pathology.
Manju a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Georgia. Manju’s research explores neuroinflammatory pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases to identify potential therapeutic targets.
Meigeng received his Master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Analysis from Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, China, and Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy at Peking Union Medical College.
Research Focus
He joined the lab as a postdoctoral researcher to study functional operation of the olfactory and related systems using electrophysiological, optogenetic, chemogenetic, fiber photometry, immunohistochemical, and behavioral techniques. The overall goal of his projects is to investigate the mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction in neurological diseases.
Zhimei received her Ph.D. in Physiology from Peking University Health Science Center in 2006 followed by a postdoctoral training at Tsinghua University. Before coming to the United States, she worked at East China Normal University and focused on the central mechanisms underlying pain and itch sensation. Zhimei worked at Morehouse School of Medicine as a researcher before joining Liu lab at UGA in June, 2025. Her primary expertise is in vivo electrophysiology and optogenetics on freely moving mouse.
Research Focus
Her work at Liu lab is focusing on the study of mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease, especially at the neuronal circuits level
Cosar received his M.Sc. in Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics in 2014 at Mersin University, Turkey, and earned his Ph.D. in Medical Faculty, Department of Biophysics, in 2022 at Mersin University, Turkey, under the supervision of Prof. Nurten Erdal.
Research Focus
Cosar joined the Liu lab at the Center for Neurological Disease Research, Department of Physiology & Pharmacology to study the Mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and Neurobiological bases of olfactory processing using in vivo electrophysiological, optogenetic, and behavioral techniques.
The overall goal of his projects is to identify the relationship between olfactory dysfunction processing and Alzheimer’s disease. Based on the outcomes obtained, a novel approach to improving AD diagnosis in APOE4-carrying populations may be determined.
Shamaila is a trained pharmacist and neuroscientist with a focus on understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration and exploring novel therapeutic strategies. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) in Pharmacology, and Ph.D. in Physiology (Neuroscience) in Pakistan. Her doctoral work focused on the neuroregenerative potential of medicinal plants in a peripheral nerve injury model. Her recent postdoctoral research at Thomas Jefferson University, PA, investigated how environmental factors such as early-life lead exposure affect brain development, aggressive behavior, and cognition, with a focus on the protective roles of maternal care and enriched environments. She is also exploring how the GM1 ganglioside provides protection in Parkinson’s disease.
Research Focus
Dr. Zafar’s research focuses on understanding the anatomical and functional organization of the olfactory and related systems in both health and neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease, by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, electrophysiology, and behavioral approaches.
Dan received her M.Sc. in Pharmacognosy in 2015 from Jilin Agricultural University, China, and her Ph.D. in Pharmacognosy from Peking Union Medical College. As a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the lab, she specializes in neurophysiology including in vitro electrophysiology in addition to leveraging optogenetic, immunohistochemical, and behavioral techniques to answering fundamental questions.
Research Focus
Dan’s research is dedicated to investigating the mechanisms underlying olfactory dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease and the olfactory deficits induced by traumatic brain injury. Dr. Zhao’s overall goal is to elucidate the neurobiological foundations of olfactory processing.
Indrani holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Sri Ramachandra University in India. Presently, she is pursuing a Master’s in Toxicology at the University of Georgia, where she is a Research Assistant in Dr. Shaolin Liu’s lab. She joined Dr. Liu’s lab in Spring 2024.
Research Focus
The impact of cadmium toxicity on the olfactory bulb in Alzheimer’s disease: This project aims to understand the mechanisms through which cadmium exposure contributes to the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, particularly in the olfactory bulb. The goal is to understand the toxicity pathways of cadmium which could provide insights into potential therapeutic interventions.
Marie received her B.S. in Psychology, with an emphasis in Neuroscience at the University of Houston- Clear Lake in 2022. In 2023, she joined the Neuroscience program at the University of Georgia (UGA) through the Integrated Life Sciences program. After completing three lab rotations, Marie joined the Shaolin Liu Lab in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology of the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Research Focus
Under the mentorship of Dr. Liu, she studies tau pathological progression patterns, noradrenergic degeneration, projection pathways from the locus coeruleus to the olfactory bulb, and neuronal and circuit susceptibility affecting olfaction in Alzheimer’s Disease.
Jesse received his DVM at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, completed a Small Animal Rotating Internship at Virginia-Maryland’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and completed a Veterinary Anatomic Pathology Residency at the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
Research Focus
Jesse joined Drs Tai Guo’s and Shaolin Liu’s lab in the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology to study the pathomechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, primarily Alzheimer’s disease.
Yaping had a Bachelor degree in Philosophy from Anhui University in China. She gained significant research experience in biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and confocal imaging at UGA before joining our lab, where she currently plays a leading role in carrying out the immunohistochemical work, neuronal and circuit reconstruction in addition to her dedication to animal care and colony maintenance.
Maria graduated from UGA in the Summer of 2025, with a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Physiology and Psychology with emphasis in neuroscience. She gained some experience in stereotaxic neurosurgeries, viral microinjection, and in vivo electrophysiological recordings in the Liu lab before joining in July 2025. Her roles include neural circuit tracing and reconstruction with viral vectors and confocal and light-sheet microscopy, in vivo electrophysiological recordings of neuronal activities in the brain of anesthetic animals, behavioral phenotyping, in addition to assisting others to achieve their goals.
Xinrui received her Bachelor degree in Medicine from Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University in China. In the US, she has had over five years of experience in lab animal technology on rodents and obtained the Lab Animal Technician license. Xinrui joined the lab as a technician with responsibilities for animal colony management and will also assist others in behavioral studies as well as in immunohistochemical work et al.
Isha’s research explores the impact of environmental exposures and their interactions with genetic risk to drive Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. This work focuses on biomarker discovery using multi-omic approaches and ultrasensitive assays, with cross-species validation in human cohorts, non-human primates, and transgenic mice to reveal conserved mechanisms of pathology. The primary goal is to translate these findings into precision medicine strategies for early detection, prevention, and intervention in Alzheimer’s disease.
Research Focus
Novel preclinical biomarker discovery in Alzheimer’s Disease
Cross-species comparative neuropathology and cognition
Sex differences to understand risk and resilience in Alzheimer’s disease
Chunki is studying Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, neuroinflammation, and neurotoxicity using neuronal cells, microglia, astrocytes, and mouse models exposed to herbicides, insecticides, and neurotoxins.
Temporary Research Assistant and Ph.D Student at the University of Washington
Kyle’s graduate research investigates the potential effects of microplastics within the gut-brain axis of mice. Utilizing humanized Alzheimer’s (AD) mice models with oral exposure to microplastics, Kyle’s goal is to elucidate the potential mechanistic influence microplastics may have on the development of pre-clinical AD pathology.
Yoonhee Han serves as Laboratory Manager in Dr. Richardson’s team, where she oversees daily laboratory operations and supports multiple research projects.
Shiquan Cui earned his M.D. degree from Henan University of Chinese Medicine.
Research Focus
His current research focuses on mechanism of mitochondrial trafficking deficits in Parkinson’s disease using LRRK2 mouse models.
Huaixing Wang
Postdoctoral Fellow
With over 28 years of research experience specializing in neurotransmission and patch-clamp electrophysiology, Huaixing’s work is centered on understanding the synaptic and circuit dysfunctions associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Research Focus
His research delves into the mechanisms underlying these disruptions, focusing on the roles of specific ion channels and receptors. By exploring these molecular and cellular processes, he aims to uncover novel insights into the pathophysiology of PD and identify potential therapeutic targets to address the disease’s debilitating effects on neural communication.
With a background in immunology, Subhan’s current research focuses on immunology-driven mechanisms in Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis, aiming to uncover how immune responses contribute to PD progression and explore potential therapeutic strategies to mitigate neuronal vulnerability and degeneration.
Dr. Chen joined the lab in Oct 2023, bringing extensive expertise in understanding the fundamental mechanisms of neurological disorders including vascular dementia. His current research focuses on unraveling the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease (PD) utilizing state-of-the-art tools like in vivo and in vitro two-photon laser scanning microscopy (2PLSM), optogenetics, and spatial transcriptomics analysis. His ultimate goal is to develop novel metabolic immunotherapy strategies to combat neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
