People

Current and past members of the lab

The research in our lab spans the full range from basic molecular and cellular biology to clinical research and is only possible with the support of many talented and dedicated people from diverse backgrounds and levels of training. We are thankful for the contributions of all the current and past lab members who have helped propel our work forward. We are also always open to inquiries from anyone interested in joining the lab.

Linh Vo

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

I am from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I had my B.S. in Biotechnology from the University of Science (Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam), M.S. in Medical Sciences from the University of Tsukuba (Japan), and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Wayne State University (Detroit, US). I love to visit different countries around the world and explore their diverse cultures. One of my favorite hobbies is reading mangas and webtoons. Outside the lab, I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, especially spending priceless moments with my son!

Rodrigo Cartaxo

Research Specialist

I am originally from Brazil. I obtained a Ph.D. in Oncology from the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center in São Paulo, Brazil. I then did a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan in Carl Koschmann's lab, where I studied mechanisms of spread in pediatric brain tumors. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, especially chasing my little one wherever we go 😊, and traveling whenever possible.

Vatsala Singh

Research Technician

I graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint in December 2024 with a B.S. in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, with a minor in Mathematics. My goal is to earn my Ph.D. and continue doing research within the medical field. In my free time, I love to be outside, cooking, and watching baseball.

Minnet Zerisenai

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am currently an undergraduate at UM from Ypsilanti, MI majoring in Neuroscience on the Pre-Health track with a minor in Music. After graduating, I plan on either going to medical school or PA school to eventually pursue a career in the medical field while also continuing research in the field of neuroscience or physiology. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music and hope to attend the concerts of my favorite artists. I aspire to explore the world and engage in new experiences!

I earned my M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Michigan and my B.S. from Walchand College of Engineering in Sangli. I am originally from Pune, India and am passionate about integrating fundamental sciences, neuroscience and engineering to study neurodegenerative diseases. I hope to pursue a PhD in this area. When I am not in the lab, I love getting lost in thrillers, mystery and fantasy novels, watching anime, swimming (when it's not too cold), travelling on a budget and listening to music.

Jason (Mingze) Qin

Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am currently an undergraduate student at U-M from Vancouver, Canada majoring in BHS on the Pre-Med track with a minor in Business. After my undergraduate studies, I plan on going to medical school and pursuing a career in the medical field, specifically a neurosurgeon. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, piano, and making new friends!

Brett A. McCray

Principal Investigator

Brett A. McCray, MD, PhD, is a physician scientist with training in neuromuscular disease and a background in cellular and molecular neuroscience. He is currently an Assistant Professor in Neurology at the University of Michigan. He received his MD and PhD degrees from the University of Pennsylvania where he worked with Dr. J. Paul Taylor on the pathogenesis of hereditary neuropathy due to mutations in Rab7. He then completed neurology residency at the Mass General-Brigham Neurology program, followed by neuromuscular fellowship at Johns Hopkins. He then spent remained at Johns Hopkins as an Assistant Professor in Neurology for seven years before moving to the University of Michigan in 2023. His laboratory research is focused on the pathogenesis of hereditary neuropathy with a particular interest in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2C (CMT2C) and related disorders that are caused by gain-of-function mutations in the cation channel TRPV4. He studies cellular and animal models to gain insight into the role of TRPV4 in health and disease. He has also established a TRPV4 neuropathy patient registry and specialized multidisciplinary natural history study to better define the course of the disease and to lay the foundation for a future clinical trial.

Research Technician