Todd Lab members

Principal Investigator: 

Peter K. Todd, M.D., Ph.D.

email: petertod_at_med.umich.edu

Peter is the Bucky and Patti Harris Professor of Neurology and the Associate Chair for Research in the Department of Neurology. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, San Diego and then entered the Medical Science Training Program at the University of Wisconsin, where he completed his doctorate and medical degree.  His Ph.D research focused on synaptic defects in Fragile X Syndrome, a common inherited cause of cognitive impairment in children. He completed a neurology residency at the University of Pennsylvania where he did research with Dr J. Paul Taylor. He came to Michigan in 2008 as an American Academy of Neurology clinical research fellow and trained in the laboratory of Henry L. Paulson, M.D., Ph.D..  Dr. Todd Joined the Michigan faculty in 2010. When he is not in the lab, Dr Todd sees adult patients with Fragile X-associated disorders (Fragile X Syndrome, FXTAS, FXPOI) and Cerebellar Ataxia at the University of Michigan. He also sees patients with movement disorders at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center. Peter spends his free time with his wife and daughters. He is an avid cyclist, craft cocktail maker and indie pop music enthusiast.

Postdoctoral Fellows and Research Faculty: 

Evrim Yildirim, Ph.D.

Evrim joined the lab in 2022 after a prior post-doc at Northwestern University and a Ph.D. at Rutgers University.  He is using Drosophila to study repeat expansion disorders. 

Melissa Asher, Ph.D.

Melissa joined the lab in 2022 after getting her Ph.D. at the University of Minnesota.  She is using iPSC derived neurons to study FXTAS. 

Nurun Nahar Borna, MD, PhD

Borna joined the Todd lab in late 2023 after prior work on mitochondrial disorders.  She is working on mouse models of FXTAS.

Richard Albertson, MD, PhD

Richard joined the lab as an R25 fellow in 2024. he is studying how homeostatic compensation influences neurodegenerative disease onset and trajectory.

Sinem Ovunc, MD

Sinem joined our lab as a research fellow and team scientist after completing her medical degree in Turkey.  She is studying modifiers and mechanisms underlying RAN translation in multiple disorders.  

Graduate Students:

Shannon Miller 

Shannon is a CMB PhD student who Joined the lab in the summer of 2020.  She is exploring how repeats influence transcription initiation and the mechanisms of RAN translation in C9orf72 FTD/ALS.

Samantha Grudzien

Samantha joined the lab as a Neuroscience grad student in the Spring of 2021.  She is using mouse models to study and develop treatments for Fragile X-associated disorders.

Clare Wieland

Clare  joined the lab as a Neuroscience grad student and MSTP student in the summer of 2022.  She is exploring neuronal-specific mechanisms governing RAN translation in repeat expansion disorders.

Ross Kaufhold

Ross joined the lab as a Biochemistry grad student and MSTP student in the spring of 2023.  He is being co-mentored by Jay Brito Querido.  His project is exploring using structural tools to understand how repeats modulate translational initiation.

Sydney Willey

Sydney is a graduate student in Neuroscience who joined the lab in 2024.  She is using stem cell model systems to study Cerebellar Ataxia with neuropathy and vestibular areflexia syndrome (CANVAS).

Kirsten Warcup

Kirsten is a graduate student in Human genetics who joined the lab in 2024. She is studying the epigenetic impacts of short tandem repeats on human disease.

Senior Lab Scientist:

Amy Krans

email: kransa_at_umich.edu

Amy has served as primary research support staff to the Todd Lab since 2010. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University in Biomedical Science and then earned a Master of Science degree from Purdue University in Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology.

Andrea Suarez

Andrea is a UM-PREP student from Puerto Rico who is spending a year working in our lab on repeat expansion disorders before heading on to graduate school.

Administrator: 

Lori Kunkel

Administrative Assistant 

Phone: (734) 615-5632 || Fax: (734) 647-9777

Email: loriku_at_med_dot_umich_dot_edu

Lori serves as the primary administrative support person to the Todd lab

Undergraduate Researchers:

Eric Ji:  Working with Shannon Miller on Drosophila models of FXTAS and ALS.

Rayyan Khan: Working with Samantha Grudzien on mouse models of FXTAS.

Bertha

Bertha is a new lab member whose project involves filling the space left by Peter whenever he is out of the lab while providing the same cool demeanor.

Todd Lab Alumni: 

Connor Maltby, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow 2020-2024

Now:  Biotech startup in Dublin, Ireland 

Shasha Zhang, PhD;  Reserach team scientist 

Now:  Research Administrator , University of Michigan

Indranil Malik, Ph.D.  Postdoctoral Fellow 2017-2023

Now: Assistant Professor at IIT Hyderabad, India

Becky Glineburg, Ph.D. Post-doctoral Fellow 2016-2022

Now: Assistant Professor at Chapman University

Geena Skariah, Ph.D.  Post-doctoral Fellow 2017-2021

Now: Scientist at Johnson and Johnson/ Janssen Pharmaceuticals

Jill Haenfler, Ph.D. - Post-doctoral Fellow 2015-2017

Now: Instructor in Developmental Biology, University of Michigan.  

Michael Kearse, Ph.D. - Post doctoral fellow 2013-2016.

Then:  A Post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania with Jeremy Wilusz. 

Now: Assistant professor, The Ohio State University (Go Blue!)

Fang He, Ph.D. -  Post-doctoral fellow 2011-2016.  

Now: Associate Professor, Texas A&M University at Kingsville.

Yi-Ju(Lulu) Tseng, Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology 2019-2023. MsC in MCDB, 2016-2018

Now:  Scientist at Janssen Pharmaceuticals

Shannon Wright, PhD in Neuroscience 2017-2022

Now: Post-doctoral Fellow at MIT

Katelyn Green, Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Biology 2015-2020.  

Now:  Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Michigan

Yuan Zhang, MD, PhD.   Visiting Scientist  2017-2020.

Then:  Sleep research fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

Now: Physician at Xaingya Hospital, Central South University.  Changsha, China.

Alex Linsalata, Ph.D.  CMB Graduate program and MSTP program    2014-2019.

Now: PTSP/Internal medicine resident, Vanderbilt University

Caitlin Rodriguez, Ph.D.      Neuroscience Graduate Student 2013-2018. 

Then: Post-doctoral fellow, Gitler lab, Stanford University.

Now:  Scientist, Maze therapeutics.

Abbie Renoux Ph.D. - Graduate student 2010-2015 

After Todd Lab: Post-doctoral Fellowship at Tufts/AstraZeneca with Stephen Moss.  

Now: Research Scientist, Triplet Therapeutics, Boston.

Samantha Fernandes: UM Prep student 2020-2021.  

Now:  Ph.D student at University of Washington, Seattle.


Bryana Bayly, MD  Med student 2018-2021  

Now: Pediatric Psychiatry Resident, Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Yomira Palacios.  UM prep student 2021-2022

Now: PhD. student at UC Davis

Courtney Collins- Research Technician/Undergraduate Research fellow.  Completed Honor's thesis. Now: A Medical Student at Kentucky.

Michelle Fraser- Research Technician/Undergraduate Research fellow.  Completed Honor's thesis in lab.  Now: A Neuroscience Graduate student at UCLA. 

Arya Ahmady-Research Technician/Undergraduate Research fellow.   Completed Honor's thesis in the lab. Now: Medical Student at Case Western Reserve University.  

Yash Sharma- Undergraduate Research fellow.  Now: In Dental School.

Nick Carducci- Research Technician.  Now: A medical student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Feras Ackall- Research Technician/Undergraduate Research fellow.  Completed Honors thesis in the lab. Now: ENT surgeon at Duke. 

Seok Yoon Oh- Master's Student 2009-2011; Research Fellow 2011-2014.  Now: a Medical Student in Chicago. 

Kelsey Hamrick- Research Technician/Undergraduate Research fellow.  Completed honor's thesis in the lab. Now: A PhD student in psychology at Wayne State.

Kush Sharma- Research Technician/Undergraduate Research fellow.  Completed Honor's thesis in lab.  Then: Medical Student.  Now: A Surgery Resident at Spectrum Health .

Jinghan (Jane) Cheng-  Undergraduate Research fellow  Now: Medical school 

Aly Shea- Undergraduate Research fellow.  

Mariam Shiekh- Undergraduate Research fellow.

Grace Van Hyfte- Undergraduate Research fellow. 

Dana Abufarha- Undergraduate Research fellow. 

Elena Cortes- Visiting Undergraduate Research Fellow. Now: Ph.D. Student at University of Chicago.

Samir Nath- MSTP rotation student.  Now: Neurology Resident, Mayo.

Sam Natla- Undergraduate Research Fellow.  Sam joined the Todd Lab in the spring of 2013 as a high school student and stayed on as an undergraduate at Michigan. Now applying to Medical School.

Brittany Flores- Rotation Student.  Brittany rotated in the lab as a CMB graduate student in winter 2014.  

Logan Morrison- Rotation student.  Logan rotated in the lab as a neuroscience graduate student in winter 2017. 

Vikram Saraan- Vikram is an undergraduate who worked in the lab from 2015-2017.  Now: Medical school

Sylvia Edoigiawerie  Sylvia was a UM-SMART student fellow in 2017.  She is now an MSTP student at the University of Chicago.   

Veronica Towianski Veronica was in the lab as a volunteer in 2016 and as a FXAM-sponsored undergraduate fellow in 2017.

Austin Taylor- Rotation student.  MSTP student who rotated in the lab in the summer of 2016.  

Kallisse Dent  Kallisse joined the lab in the fall of 2016 and stayed on as an SROP fellow in 2017 and completed and honors thesis.  Now: UM MPH program.

Nico Gomez - MSTP Rotation student summer and fall of 2017 .  Now: Barmada lab.

Stephen Fedek Stephen was an undergraduate who was in Todd lab from 2015-2018.  He now has a position in industry.

Udit Sheth  Udit was a neuroscience undergraduate who completed an honors thesis in our lab from 2016-2019.  He now is a Ph.D. Student at the Mayo Clinic.

Hannah McKay- UROP student in the lab in 2018. 

Prithika Ramaiyer -UROP student in the lab in 2018. 

Jason Hu - Summer undergraduate volunteer in 2019.

Emma Thornton-Kolbe- Rotated as a neuroscience graduate student in winter 2020. Now: PhD student in Clowney Lab.

Taylor Takla- Undergraduate researcher 2019-2020.  Now: Graduate school at Wayne St.

Kristen M. Lozada-Soto- MSTP rotation student.  Now:  Nursat Lab.

Katy Calleja- joined the lab as a UROP student in fall 2019.

Sofia Bennett- Joined lab as HS summer volunteer in 2019.  She is now in the Honors College at Penn St.

Evan Hall- Undergraduate volunteer in 2020.

Julia Alexander- Undergraduate researcher 2018-2021.  NFXF fellowship recipient.  Now: Med School

Hamza Islam- Undergraduate volunteer 2021.

Kristina Zheng - Undergraduate student from 2019-2020. 

Favour Afolabi-   Undergraduate student in lab summers 2020 and 2021.  Now: PhD program Biomedical engineering 

Sinem Ovunc-  Medical student from Turkey.  Remote in 2020/ in person summer 2021.  NOW: finishing medical school.

Quinn Doctrove- NGP rotation student 2021.  Now: Meisler Lab.

Faith Carranza- CMB Rotation student 2021.  Now:  Leiser Lab

Emily Pierant-  NGP Rotation student 2022.  Now: In Bielas Lab.

Alexa Putka- NGP Rotation student 2022.  Now: McLaughlin Lab.

Jessica Muinos- UM SMART student, Summer 2022. Now: Finishing Undergrad at Bradley

Dominic DeBiasi- Worked with Samantha Grudzien on mouse models of FXTAS; NFXF summer research Fellow.

Summer Ann- Worked with Lulu on RAN translation of ALS associated repeats.

University of Michigan Alzheimer's Disease center

 and Michigan Udall Center

The Todd lab is part of a larger group of Neurology research labs focused on Mechanisms of Neurodegeneration.  These include the laboratories of Dr. Henry Paulson, Dr. Vikram Shakkottai, Dr. Sami Barmada, Eva Feldman, and Dr. Dan Leventhal.  All of these labs share common space as well as certain equipment and all the labs interact intellectually and socially. 

University of Michigan Center for RNA biomedicine.  

The Todd lab is a very active member of the UM Bioinitiative funded RNA center at Michigan that focuses on the roles or RNA in human disease and as a therapeutic tool.  We regularly interface with other CRB labs and Peter serves on the executive committee.


University of Michigan Precision health initiative and Taubman Institute 

In collaboration with Drs. Ryan Mills, Kara Wyant and Alan Boyle, The Todd lab is an active participant in the UM Precision health initiative.  We are involved in expanding neurology patient sample collection (through the MIND-PRO program) and are doing research into the broader roles of repeats in human diseases.