Current Lab Members
Thomas H. Sanderson, PhD
Associate Professor
Dept. of Emergency Medicine
Dept. of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Neuroscience Graduate Program
Max Harry Weil Institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation
Michigan Resuscitation Innovation and Science Enterprise
Frankel Cardiovascular Center
Email: thsand@med.umich.edu
Dr. Sanderson received his B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Western Michigan University in 2001 and his Ph.D. in Physiology from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2006. Dr. Sanderson was awarded an American Heart Association Fellowship for his doctoral research in 2004, and his research has been continuously funded since beginning his independent research career as an Assistant Professor at Wayne State University in 2009. The NIH has funded Dr. Sanderson's lab since 2013 with 5 research project grants totaling over 15 million dollars.
Dr. Sanderson joined the faculty of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Michigan in 2017. He serves as a reviewer for multiple granting agencies, including the American Heart Association, the Department of Defense, and was a standing member of the Neural Oxidative Metabolism, Mitochondria and Cell Death Study Section for the National Institutes of Health.
Joseph M. Wider, PhD
Research Assistant Professor
Dept. of Emergency Medicine
Neuroscience Graduate Program
Max Harry Weil institute for Critical Care Research and Innovation
Former American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD, Department of Physiology, Wayne State University
Email: jwider@med.umich.edu
Research in the Wider lab focuses on molecular and translational development of neuroprotective technology for treating acute neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injury (TBI), cardiac arrest, and neonatal hypoxic/ischemic encephalopathy. Dr. Wider's research is funded by the Department of Defense, Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.
Email: jwider@med.umich.edu
Alesa Netzley, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Dept. of Emergency Medicine
NIH F99/K00 Scholar
PhD, Biomedical Engineering, Michigan State University.
Dr. Netzley completed her PhD training at Michigan State University where she focused on development of novel imaging and behavioral analysis in pig models of traumatic brain injury. She is currently developing novel therapeutic interventions for acute brain injury using small and large animal models of disease. Her research is focused on understanding the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in acute neurologic injury and development/optimization of new therapeutic approaches.
Stephanie Thi, DVM
Veterinary Resident
DVM, North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine
Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM)
My previous research projects during veterinary school have investigated sedation and analgesia in bullfrogs and the role of the immune system in aging canines. Currently, my research involves the pharmacokinetics of topical buprenorphine in laboratory animal species and swine models of cardiac arrest/resuscitation and traumatic brain injury.
Katlynn Emaus
PhD Student
Neuroscience Graduate Program
NINDS F31 NRSA Fellow
BS, Oakland University
Currently I'm investigating a novel mechanism underlying mitochondrial dynamics following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in a translational setting starting in cells and moving to large animals. Katlynn's project is funded by a NIH F32 fellowship.
Email: kjemaus@umich.edu
Francisco J. Torres Torres
PhD Student
Neuroscience Graduate Program
SfN Neuroscience Scholar
BS, University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
By leveraging primary glial cell cultures, as well as biochemical and imaging techniques, I’ve begun to interrogate how mitochondrial dysfunction during ischemia reperfusion impacts the signaling cascades associated with microglial polarization.
Email: fjtorres@umich.edu
Reagan Speas
PhD Student
Neuroscience Graduate Program
MNI Graduate Scholar
AS, Clark State Community College
BS, The Ohio State University
My research interest is in better understanding the mechanistic changes in mitochondrial dynamics after traumatic brain injury with an emphasis on translational models.
Email: rspeas@umich.edu
Sarita Raghunayakula
Research Specialist
MS, Molecular Biotechnology from Wayne State University
I have 10 plus years of experience in several molecular biology techniques and mammalian cell culture. Currently working on the role of mitochondrial proteases in regulation of mitophagy and cell death during OGD/Reperfusion injury.
Email: raghunay@med.umich.edu
Gary Shangguan
Senior Research Lab Technician
M.S. Cellular/Molecular Biology from Eastern Michigan University
I have more than 10 years of working experience in biomedical research labs, currently take care of mouse colony, mouse genotyping and etc.
Email: shanguan@med.umich.edu
Erin Gruley
Department of Emergency Medicine Research Manager/Research Specialist
BS, Zoology from Michigan State University
With 15 years of experience in large and small animal surgery and behavioral studies, I have worked on several projects under Dr. Sanderson investigating ischemia-reperfusion injury. Currently, my primary focus in the lab is the swine model of cardiac arrest and resuscitation.
Email: egruley@med.umich.edu
Caroline Dubs
Research Specialist
BS, University of Michigan
My primary role in the lab is assisting with the large animal models of cardiac arrest/resuscitation and traumatic brain injury with a focus on behavior.
ccarothe@med.umich.edu
Liam McCracken
Research Assistant
BS, Wayne State University
Olivia Kane
Undergraduate Research Assistant with U@MNI
Neuroscience BS (2025), University of Michigan
As a pre-medical student, I am interested in better understanding the foundation and dynamic nature of research in order to prepare me for a dynamic career in medicine.
Mikayla Anton
Undergraduate Research Assistant with U@MNI
Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience BS (2026), University of Michigan
As a pre-dental student, I am passionate about neuroscience research to prepare for a career in dentistry, as this experience enhances my understanding of brain function and provides a strong foundation for my future in dental medicine.
Past Lab Members
Garrett Fogo, PhD
Current Role: Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard Medical School
K00 Fellow
Dr. Fogo conducted his PhD training in the Sanderson lab. His project focused on understanding the mechanisms of mitochondrial dynamics in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury using novel imaging techniques and computational modeling. Garrett was funded by the NSF and NIH for his graduate training and is currently supported by the NIH F99/K00 training grant in his postdoctoral research at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Anthony Anzell, PhD
Current Role: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Pittsburg
T32 Fellow
Dr. Anzell conducted his PhD training in the Sanderson lab. His project focused on understanding the mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control following ischemic stroke. Dr. Anzell is a postdoctoral fellow a the University of Pittsburg where he studies the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathologic progression of HHT.
Christos Strubakos, JD, PhD
Current Role: Instructor, University of Windsor
Dr. Strubakos conducted his PhD training in the Sanderson lab. His project focused on testing a mitochondrial based therapeutic approach to limit brain injury following ischemic stroke. Dr, Stubakos went on to attain his JD from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Christian A Reynolds, PhD
Current Role: Assistant Professor, Wayne State University
R01-Funded Independent Investigator
Dr. Reynolds conducted his PhD training in the Sanderson lab. His project focused on developing mitochondrial modulation therapy for neonatal hypoxic ischemia encephalopathy and uncovering novel insights into mechanisms of brain injury form hypoxia. Christian currently runs his independent research lab at Wayne State University investigating the mechanism of autonomic dysreflexia following spinal cord injury.
Kathleen Maheras, PhD
Current Role: Team Lead - Horizon Scanning at ECRI
AHA Postdoctoral Fellow
Dr. Maheras conducted her postdoctoral training in the Sanderson lab. Her project focused on the role of oligodendrocyte disruption in white matter injury following brain injury caused by cardiac arrest. Dr. Maheras has had a successful career in industry research and is currently working at Horizon Scanning as the team lead.
Collaborators
Robert Neumar, MD, PhD
Cindy H. Hsu, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Surgery, University of Michigan
Maik Huttemann, PhD
Professor of Molecular Medicine and Genetics and of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, Wayne State University
Karin Przyklenk, PhD
Professor and Carman and Ann Adams Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Central Michigan University
Richard Mortensen, MD, PhD
Professor, Molecular & Integrative Physiology, Internal Medicine, and Pharmacology, University of Michigan
Colin Greineder, MD, PhD
M. Hakam Tiba, MD, MS
Research Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan
