Ana G. Cristancho, MD, PhD (she/her)
Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, raised in South Florida
College @ the University of Miami - dual major in Biology and Philosophy
MD/PhD program @ the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (Funding: Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study)
Pediatrics & Child Neurology @ the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Instructor Funding: NINDS R25, NICHD K12)
Favorites: wandering Philadelphia, traveling, gelato, World Cup futbol, chasing my toddler and cockapoo.
Staff Scientists
Post-Doctoral Research Fellows
We are looking for a post-doctoral fellow to join the team!
Preeti Chauhan, PhD (she/her)
Research training experience from Michigan State University, Michigan, USA, (Post-Doctoral Research Associate) and Banaras Hindu University, India (Ph.D.).
Joined the Cristancho lab in July 2022
Project: 1) Determining the long-term effects of hypoxia on synaptic density and function. 2) Establishing neuronal cell culture models of in vitro correlations.
Beyond research: Traveling and exploring new places/cultures. Love being around family, friends, and loved ones.
Graduate Students
Staff
We are looking for a senior technician to join the team!
Ethan Gadra
Haverford College (class of 2022): Major in Biology, Minors in Chemistry & Environmental Studies
Started working in the Cristancho Lab summer of 2021 as an undergraduate. Now a great technician!
Thesis investigating the potential neuroprotective effects of histone variant H3f3b.
Project: continuing research into the effects of H3f3b on the pathophysiology of prenatal hypoxia.
Beyond research: Haverford College pole vault record holder, enjoys hiking, animals, & spending time with friends & family
Maddie Smith
Lehigh University (class of ): major in Neuroscience
Started working in the Cristancho Lab _____
Project:
Beyond research:
Undergraduate & Post-Baccalaureate Students
We welcome undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students. Look out for the lab entry in the CURF Research Directory! Work-study students are welcome!
Jasim Faisal
Abby Tan
Paulo DeOliveira, PhD
Postdoctoral fellowship at NIH/NIDA, Baltimore, US.
Ph.D. and M.Sc in Pharmacology at Department of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina – UFSC, Brazil
Joined the Cristancho lab in July 2024
Project: Exploring the Role of BRD Proteins in Hypoxia-Induced Splicing Changes
Beyond research: Soccer, COD, exploring new adventures and cultures, being around loved ones
Maggie Cassidy, PhD Candidate
Vanderbilt University (class of 2020): Major in Neuroscience, Minor in Mathematics
Started working in the Cristancho Lab Spring 2023
Project: Investigating epigenetic and neuroprotective roles of BCAT1 during hypoxia
Beyond Research: All things reality TV, perfecting her homemade bagel recipe, and her cat, Mojo
Shikhar Gupta
student at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Biochemistry and submatriculating in Chemistry via the Vagelos MLS Program, expecting to graduate in May 2026.
joined the Cristancho Lab in Fall ‘22
Project: Exploring the role of histone hyperacetylation in hypoxia-induced splicing changes
Beyond research: sings in the Penn Chorale, serves as an elected student government member, and currently trying his best to become a movie buff and perfect his french press recipe
Former Lab Members
Jospehine Trasher (Rotating MD/PhD Student)
Caroline Dannacher (Undergraduate Researcher)
Bianca Rodriguez (Undergraduate Researcher)
Corina Nava (Undergraduate Researcher)
Lynne Kim (Undergraduate Researcher)
Lillian Belzer (CRISSP Undergraduate Researcher)
Claudia Dyer (CRISSP Undergraduate Researcher)
Elyse Gadra* (Undergraduate & Research Technician) - Current medical student at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Donya Zarrinnegar* (Undergraduate Researcher)
*Before the lab was official, these individuals contributed significantly to the foundation we continue to build.
Sabrina DaSilva, MD-PhD Candidate
University of Pennsylvania (class of 2020): Major in Biochemistry and Neurobiology, Masters in Chemistry through the Vagelos MLS Program
Started working in the Cristancho Lab ___
Project:
Beyond research:
Taylor Phillips-Jones, MD-PhD Candidate
Howard University (class of 2021): Major in Biology, Minors in Psychology, Chemistry, and Spanish
Started working in the Cristancho Lab in Fall 2024
Project: studying how prenatal hypoxia alters the brain immune environment
Beyond research: loves to bake, paint, and try new restaurants in Philly
Dejah Coates, PhD Student
Howard University (class of 2021): Major in Biology, Minors in Psychology, Chemistry, and Spanish
Started working in the Cristancho Lab in Fall 2024
Project: studying how prenatal hypoxia alters the brain immune environment
Beyond research: loves to bake, paint, and try new restaurants in Philly