Members

PI, Michael Reese Professor of Anesthesiology; Vice Head for Research

Education and Training:  

M.D., Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY

Residency, Anesthesiology: New York University-Langone Medical Center, NY

Fellowship: Neuroanesthesia, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH

Board Certification: American Board of Anesthesiology

Dr. Roth was a faculty member at the University of Chicago from 1986 to 2015, where he served as Professor with Tenure of Anesthesia and Critical Care and Director of Neuroanesthesia. In 2015,  he left the U of C as Professor Emeritus and took his current position as Michael Reese Professor of Anesthesia and Vice Head for Research at UIC. He also serves as Director of Faculty Development. 

Dr. Roth is a clinician-scientist who has had NIH and other funding for  > 25 years for research on retinal ischemia and neuroprotection, relevant to retinal vascular diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, one of the most important causes of blindness in the world. He has performed extensive research on perioperative visual loss, a devastating condition that affects patients undergoing cardiac, spine, and other surgery. He is the only anesthesiologist member of the North American Neuro-ophthalmological Society. 

Honors include: election to the Association of University Anesthesiologists, several-time author of the ‘Best Abstract’ at the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) Annual Meeting, Fellow of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, UIC Faculty of the Year, Keser Shem Tov (“good name”) award from the Chicago Center for Torah and Chesed, Parents of the Year Award from Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov HS. 

Dr. Roth served on numerous national committees including as the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the ASA, Chair of the ASA Task Force on Perioperative Blindness, and has been a visiting professor at prominent institutions in the U.S. and abroad. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Ophthalmology, and is a faculty fellow in the Honors College 

Contact: rothgas@uic.edu. Telephone: 312-996-0052

Research Associate

Education:  BS in Biochemistry, University of Illinois
                          MS in Bioengineering - Nanotechnology, University of Illinois
                          M.D., University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

Post-Doctoral Research Associate

Education:    BSc in Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University, India

Msc in Medical Genetics, University of Glasgow , Scotland, UK

PhD in Animal Biotechnology, Szent Istvan University, Hungary

Mahek is currently focusing on the role of EVs derived from different stem cells . Her research aims to evaluate their efficacy in reducing apoptotic stress in retinal precursor cells and primary eye cells .

Contact:  mahek@uic.edu

Research Technician

Education:  BS in Chemistry with the Biochemical Option, Honors with Distinction (Thesis), Cum Laude. UW-Milwaukee 23’ 

Molly graduated with a BS in Chemistry with the Biochemical Option from UMM in May of 2023. After working with the Arnold Lab at UWM (in collaboration with the MIDD), she came back home to Chicago to strengthen her skills as a biochemist and explore different routes of research before applying for graduate school. She hopes to continue her work with both cell and animal models to better understand the complex pathways present in the central nervous system and beyond. 

Contact: mkiley4@uic.edu

PhD Student 

Education:  BS in Psychology, Georgia State University '19

Destiny graduated from Georgia State University (GSU) in 2019 with a BS in Psychology. She completed a post-baccalaureate program at UIC as an NIH PREP scholar, where she studied the gut-microbiome brain axis. She joined the Roth lab as a GEMS graduate student to gain experience in bioengineering nanoparticles and applying them to cell culture and animal models. Her research interests include neurobiology of neurodegenerative disorders. 

Contact: dogbu@uic.edu

Medical Student 

Education: BA in Biology, Wash U’ 20

Marianna is a medical student at UICOM. Her current project aims to explore functionally engineered vesicles and retinal dysfunction in traumatic brain injury.

Awarded James Scholar, December 2023.

Contact: mvakaki2@uic.edu

Medical Student 

Education: BS in Neuroscience, Tulane University '21; UICOM '26

Lahari graduated from Tulane University in December 2021 with a BS in Neuroscience and a minor in Psych. Upon graduation she worked in clinical research at HMS in Boston, and now she is currently a M1 at UICOM. In her free time, she enjoys following sports/watching football. 

Contact: lkolli2@uic.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Education: BS in Biological Sciences  UIC '26

Project(s):

Victoria is a undergraduate student majoring in Biological Sciences. She is part of the Honors College and GPPA Med program and joined the Roth Lab to gain lab technique experiences.

Contacts: vchen25@uic.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Education: BS in Biological Sciences  UIC '26

Project(s): 

Nina is a undergraduate student in the Honors College and GPPA Med program at UIC. She is excited to start doing research in the Roth Lab! 

Contacts: nfons2@uic.edu

Research Assistant

Education: BS in Biochemistry, Chicago State University '18

Lorea came to the US from Spain with a 4-year full scholarship to play tennis at a Division I school. She joined the Roth lab upon graduation and learned lab techniques under Biji's mentoring. She is known as the expert multi-tasker in the lab! 

Position: Medical Research Assistant

Education: BS in Biological Sciences, UIC '20

Project(s): Engineered exosomes for retinal ischemia

While an undergraduate at UIC, Raj was a member of the Honors College. He did his senior thesis in the lab and was the recipient of an Honors College Undergraduate Research Grant. He also received a grant for his research from the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness. He is currently a M2 student at UICOM. 

Currently: UIC College of Medicine '24

Contact: rpate334@uic.edu

Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Education: BS in Biological Sciences, Minor in Spanish for the Health Professions, UIC '21

Project(s): Evaluation of the neuroprotective effect of therapeutically active candidate drug compounds to treat retinal neurodegenerative diseases.

Lexi is a senior Biology and Spanish student at UIC who loves to learn and expand her knowledge. She is part of the Honors College as well as a two sport Division I athlete competing in Cross Country and Track and Field!

Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant 

Education: BS in Biochemistry UIC '21

Project(s): Protective effect of Exosomes in Age-related macular degeneration 

Sanabil is a graduating senior majoring in biochemistry. She is part of the honors college and completed her thesis in the Roth Lab. Alongside research, she is working towards obtaining her EMT license and plans to go to medical school in the near future.

Position: Research Assistant 

Education: BA in Health Sciences and Judaic Studies, Blitstein Institute of Hebrew Theological College '20

Project(s):  Engineered exosomes for glaucoma therapy

Rachel was supported by an Administrative Supplement for Diversity from the National Eye Institute. She is planning to pursue an MD/PhD. 

Position: Undergraduate Research Assistant

Education:  BS in Biological Sciences and Art, UIC '20

Projects: Functionally engineered EV  project. While at UIC, Sophie was in the Honors College, and received a Undergraduate Research Grant for her work in the lab. 

Future Plans: Sophie plans to go to medical school. 

Position: Undergraduate Student Researcher

Education: BS in Biological Sciences, UIC '19

Projects:  Autophagy and mesenchymal stem cell derived exosomes in retinal ischemia related projects.  In his 2.5 years in the Roth Lab, Mohan was a recipient of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research Initiative and Honors College Undergraduate Research grants.  In the future, Mohan hopes to pursue a career in academic medicine, 

Currently: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine '23

Position: Undergraduate Student Researcher

Projects: In the Roth lab Nathan studied autophagy in retinal ischemia. Thus far Nathan has attended several national conferences, received runner up for best poster as well as honors college research grants. 

Currently: Nathan is a research assistant in the Carthew lab at Northwestern University working to develop deep learning methods for segmentation of time lapse microscopy. After graduating from UIC in 2022 Nathan will pursue a PhD in quantitative/computational biology.

Position: Medical Student Researcher

Education: MD UIC College of Medicine '21

Projects: Role of endocytosis by HSPGs in the functional effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles. 

Carlos participated in the Craig Fellowship during the Summer of 2018 in the Roth Lab, and was a recipient for the "NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related Research Program".

Currently:  Anesthesiology Resident at UIC Medical Center.

Position: Medical Student Researcher

Education: MD UIC College of Medicine '21

Projects: The role of autophagy as a mechanism of post-conditioning in retinal ischemia.

Monica was a Craig Fellow Recipient the summer of 2017, and was awarded a grant for her research from the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness.

Currently: Internal Medicine/Psychiatry Resident at Vidant Medical Center East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.

Position: Medical Student Researcher

Education: MD, UIC College of Medicine, '19

Projects: Autophagy and Post-ischemic conditioning in the Retina.

While in the lab, Clara was the recipient of a Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship from the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research. 

Currently: Resident in Anesthesiology, University of California, San Francisco

Position: Undergraduate Student Researcher

Education: BS in Biological Sciences with minor in Psychology, UIC '16

Projects: Mesenchymal Stem cells and their effects on reversing retinal ischemia. 

Research helped Jasmine not only educate herself more on these complicated ocular conditions but also contribute to the creation of new knowledge that will eventually be used in her clinical settings as an optometrist.   

Currently: Second year optometry student at the Chicago College of Optometry 

Position: Undergraduate Student Researcher

Education: BS in Bioengineering and minor in Disability Studies, UIC '17

Currently: Sara is a Quality Engineer II at Medline Industries and is pursuing a MS in Product Design and Development Management from Northwestern University.