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Current Team
Current Team
Dr. Sravya Nimmala joined the Washington Lab in August 2024 as a Ph.D. candidate. She earned her medical degree from Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine, and transitioned into research to address critical gaps she encountered in clinical practice. Her goal is to become a physician-scientist to make a positive impact on the field of medicine.
Contact Dr. Nimmala at snimmala@oakland.edu
Sophie Toya is a physician-scientist. She joined the Washington Lab in 2024 as a Ph.D. candidate. Her research interests center on the immune system’s response to sepsis, particularly the crosstalk among its various cellular components. Her current work investigates the interaction between platelets and neutrophils in mouse models of sepsis.
Chloe Caringi is a graduate biology student. She joined the Washington Lab in 2021 while pursuing her undergraduate degree. Her project in the Washington Lab focuses on drug discovery; specifically, implementing the screening of a small molecule library in search of a compound that inhibits the interaction between TLT-1 and fibrinogen.
Contact Chloe at chloecaringi@oakland.edu
Laith Issa joined the Washington Lab in 2023. He is a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology. His current project focuses on studying the interaction between TLT-1 and CD3ε in Jurkat T-cells and how this relationship may affect T-cell activation and cancer progression. After graduation, he plans to attend medical school and continue doing research related to immunology and cancer biology.
Sithara Nanjappa is a senior majoring in Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences with a specialization in Pre-Clinical Professions. She joined the Washington Lab in 2024. Her work focuses on cell culture and related experimental techniques.
Tristan Mosher is a senior majoring in biology. He joined the Washington Lab in 2025. Tristan's current project is centered around the histopathology of the aortic sinuses of mouse hearts. He is evaluating the effects of ant-TLT-1 treatment on the levels of atherosclerosis found in this region. Tristan's career goal is to work as a histopathologist in a hospital lab. He is planning to attend graduate school to work towards a research-oriented profession later in life.
Myles Ellis is a senior majoring in Biomedical Sciences. He joined the Washington Lab in 2025. He plans to enroll in a Physician Assistant (PA) program in the coming years, with the goal of excelling in the profession. In the meantime, he continues to explore his passions and interests, ranging from art and content creation to the diverse opportunities within the medical field. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing basketball, painting and customizing shoes, watching anime, and spending time with friends and family.
Omar Neiroukh is a junior majoring in Biomedical Sciences. He joined the Washington Lab in 2025. His research focuses on using intravital imaging of murine models to study how the protein TLT-1 affects the lungs. He is particularly interested in understanding how this protein influences pulmonary function and contributes to disease processes. Through his work, he aims to connect imaging and molecular approaches to gain new insights into immune and vascular interactions in the lung. Beyond the lab, he is passionate about medicine and hopes to continue integrating research and clinical practice in his career.
Desiree McCullough joined the Washington Lab in 2025 as a work study student. She is a freshman majoring in Health Sciences. She currently works as a lab assistant, helping clean, stock, and manage supplies to ensure the lab operates efficiently. After completing her undergraduate degree, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in orthodontics.
Former Members
Former Members
Dr. Siobhan Branfield was a member of the Washington Lab from 2019 to 2024. Originally from Zimbabwe, she earned her medical degree from Uzhhorod National University in Ukraine. She graduated with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences in 2024 and is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Boston Children's Hospital/Havard Medical School.
Dr. Barbara Manfredi joined the Washington Lab in July 2022 as a postdoctoral fellow. She earned a Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University-College of Medicine (PA). She completed her fellowship in summer of 2024. Her interests include hematology, pharmacology, and cell biology.
Andrea Acsiniuc joined the Washington Lab in September 2022. She graduated in 2025 with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Bioethics. She looks forward to attending graduate school in the coming years.
Yashieta Somani joined the Washington Lab in 2024 as a high school student to learn about hematology and develop skills to explore applications of science. She assisted with cryosectioning, tissue analysis, and genotyping to determine TLT-1's role in hepatic regeneration & atherosclerosis.
Nick Koshy joined the Washington Lab in April 2021 as an undergraduate student. He graduated from Oakland University in April 2023 with a B.S./B.A. in Psychology and Health Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Professional Health Studies as well as minors in Biology and Business. He plans to attend medical school to become a surgeon.
Tommy Denha i joined the Washington Lab in September 2023 sa an undergraduate student at Oakland University. He is graduated in 2024 with a B.S. in Biology. He looks forward to attending dental school in the coming years.
Javier A. Menéndez Pérez graduated from Oakland University with a M.S., in Biology in 2023. He is currently a Ph.D. student in Utah. Javier was a member of the Washington Lab from 2021 to 2023.
Dalya Alsaeed was a volunteer in the Washington Lab. She earned a M.S. in Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Babylon, College of Science (Iraq). She taught Biology to undergraduate students for a decade, while involved in scientific research.
Cole Tracy graduated from Oakland University with a B.S. in Biomedical Science in 2023 with plans to continue graduate-level education related to that field. Cole was a member of the Washington Lab from 2022 to 2023.
Ian Cleary graduated in 2023 with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. Ian was a member of the Washington Lab from 2021 to 2023.
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