Who we are and what drives our research?

We are a group of scientists who are highly enthusiastic about learning new things about human genetics, the central nervous system, and related diseases.

As so, we love new ideas, asking questions, and creating new molecular biology tools.

We very much care about patients and we wish to contribute to helping patients.

Meet The Team

Assistant Professor, Principle Investigator

Lien Nguyen, Ph.D.

lien.nguyen at ufl.edu

Lien has always been interested in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and in developing therapeutic strategies for these devastating diseases.

Started her independent lab at the CNG, MGM, UF COM in December 2022, Lien is enthusiastic about gaining new knowledge and doing research to increase our understanding of disease and how the central nervous system works. Learn more about Lien's research interest and experience here.

OPS Lab Technician

Ana Mijares

anamijares at ufl.edu

Ana joined the lab in March 2020. She is studying repeat expansion pathology in brain tissue samples from patients affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ana is asking a question of whether repeat expansion pathology is a novel biomarker that predicts disease outcome and progression in AD patients.

Research topics: Disease pathology, biomarkers, gene discovery

BMS Graduate Student

Logan Bell

logan.bell at ufl.edu

Logan joined the lab in April 2022. He is excited about studying the role of tandem repeats in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Logan's research involves studying repeat interactome and addressing questions whether repeats including transposon elements play roles in chromatin remodeling and regulating telomere function and integrity. Learn more about Logan's interest and research experience here.

Research topics: repeats in disease, disease mechanisms, repeat interactome, gene discovery

Undergraduate Student

Isabella Gerstin

igerstin at ufl.edu

Isabella joined the Nguyen lab as a volunteer in Summer 2023. She is learning about repeat expansions and tandem repeats and their impact on degenerative neurological disorders and CNS function. Learn more about Isabella's interest and research experience here.

Postdoc associate

Huong Phuong

huong.phuong at ufl.edu

Huong joined the Nguyen lab as a postdoctoral associate in June 2023 after earning her PhD in Biological Science at Nara Institute of Science and Technology. Huong's research interest includes discovery of novel repeat expansions that cause or are associated with Alzheimer's disease and development of mouse models of novel AD-associated mutations using AAV approach. Learn more about Huong's research interest, research experience, and hobbies here.

Research topics: Gene discovery, mouse model, disease mechanisms

Undergraduate student

Emma Maffetone

emmamaffetone at ufl.edu

Emma joined the lab in Jun 2023 an undergraduate volunteer. She is learning to characterize novel repeat expansions and studying how these mutations link with disease. Learn more about Emma's interest, research experience, and hobbies here.

Incoming Biological Scientist III/Lab manager

Svetlana Yegorova

syegorova at ufl.edu

Svetlana is going to join the L.Nguyen lab in June 2023

JOIN OUR LAB

We are looking for outstanding and motivated students, postdocs, and biological scientists to join our team. Please contact Dr. Nguyen for details on open positions.

lien.nguyen at ufl.edu

(352) 273-5847