WE STUDY THE CELL TYPES AND CELL STATES UNDERLYING CHRONIC PAIN AND HEADACHE
Animal models of pain at single-cell resolution
Characterizing cell-type-specific molecular adaptations in animal models of chronic pain and headache.
Cell atlas of human sensory neurons
We are building single-cell gene expression datasets of human trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia
EPIGENOMIC mechanisms of nerve regeneration
Axonal injury initiates a transcriptional metamorphosis of sensory neurons into cells focused on regeneration. We are studying the epigenetic mechanisms that mediate this dramatic transformation.
next-generation pain therapeutics
Using single-cell genomics, we are characterizing nociceptor-specific molecular features that can be targeted for the development of highly-selective pain therapeutics.
MEET THE TEAM
WILLIAM RENTHAL, M.D., PH.D.
WILLIAM RENTHAL, M.D., PH.D.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Will is the Director of Headache Research at the John R. Graham Headache Center. He earned his M.D. and Ph.D. at the UT Southwestern Medical Center and completed his neurology training at UT Southwestern and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He trained with Dr. Eric Nestler (doctoral) and Dr. Michael Greenberg (postdoctoral).
Shamsuddin bhuiyan, pH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Shams uses computational approaches and mathematical models to understand gene expression changes after peripheral nerve injury. Prior to joining the Renthal lab, Shams completed his PhD in Bioinformatics at the University of British Columbia with Dr. Paul Pavlidis.
HYO JEONG YONG, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Hyo is studying the function of nociceptor-specific gene expression. She received her M.S. from Macquarie University and her Ph.D. from Korea University with Dr. Jae Young Seon,
EVANGELIA SEMIZOGLOU, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Eva is studying trigeminal ganglion cell types and their function. She received her Ph.D. at Kings College London with Drs. David Andersson and Stuart Bevan.
ERIKA WILLIAMS, MD., PH.D.
RESEARCH FELLOW
Erika is studying the cell types of human sensory ganglia and attends as a neuromuscular specialist. She received her M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard Medical School where she studied the vagus with Dr. Steve Liberles. She then completed her neurology residency and neuromuscular fellowship at Mass General Brigham.
DUSTIN GRIESEMER, M.D., PH.D.
RESEARCH FELLOW
Dustin is studying gene regulation in human sensory ganglia and is a PGY4 anesthesia resident here at BWH. He received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Harvard Medical School where he studied the function of genetic variation in 3’UTRs with Dr. Pardis Sabeti.
LILY HE, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Lily is studying gene regulation in sensory neurons and is interested in developing cell-type specific gene therapies to treat pain. She completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Harvard University with Dr. Nicholas Bellono.
Hyoungwoo Kim, PH.D.
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
Hyoungwoo is studying how intrinsic regeneration programs reshape sensory neuron function across conditions. She earned her PhD at Seoul National University under Dr. Seog Bae Oh and previously trained as a postdoc at Boston Children’s Hospital with Dr. Clifford Woolf. Her earlier work focused on peripheral mechanisms of neuropathic pain.
Hannah MacMillan, Ph.D.
BIOINFORMATICIAN II
Hannah uses single cell genomics to study cell subtypes in trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia. She received her M.S. from New York University and her Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School with Dr. Athma Pai.
Chayse Arnhold, B.S.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Chayse studies gene regulation in sensory neurons. She received her bachelors degree in Neuroscience from the Ohio State University.
Alyssa Shultz
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Alyssa is a research scientist studying the trigeminal ganglion. She is currently pursuing her bachelor’s at Northeastern University.
Judy Zhu, B.S.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Difei (Judy) Zhu, graduated from the University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in Quantitative Biology. She currently studies peripheral sensory neurons, focusing on their cell types and molecular features, using computational methods
Iris Lopez, B.A.
RESEARCH SCIENTIST
Iris is the head of human tissue procurement. She received her B.A. in Neuroscience from Amherst College.
AARON BROWN
ADMINISTRATION
ALUMNI
Angeliki Vgontzas, M.D.
Research fellow (2018-2020)
Current: Assistant Professor of Neurology, Brigham And Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Lite Yang, B.S.
Research Assistant (2018-2021)
Current: Graduate student, Washington University St. Louis
Matas Vitkauskas
Summer student (2021)
Current: Undergraduate student, YaleNUS College
Mengyi Xu, B.S.
Research Assistant (2020-2022)
Current: Graduate student, McGill University
Jia Li, Ph.D.
Fellow 2021-2023
Jay Luo
Undergraduate student (2022-2023)
Current: Graduate student, Harvard University
Katerina Pantaleo
Undergraduate student (2022-2024)
Current: Nursing student at University of Saint Joseph
NEWS AND PHOTOS
Thrilled to share our cross-species study of TG and DRG cell types in published form! This was a collaborative effort led by @shamsChronicles and @MengyiXu4 across many groups including @robgereau, @UTDPainLab, @rezasharif,@JessLaMae, and Clifford Woolf
CONTACT
We are recruiting graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and research assistants!
To apply, please email wrenthal@bwh.harvard.edu:
Your CV and the names of three references
@willrenthal
© 2023 Renthal Lab