Dr. Khaing obtained her PhD in Developmental, Cellular and Molecular Biology from NYU-Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York with Dr. James L. Roberts and Dr. Mariann Blum. Her post-doctoral work was in the lab of Dr. Christine Schmidt at the University of Texas at Austin, where she developed biologically relevant biomaterials to interact with and augment the central nervous system. Dr. Khaing's expertise is in the areas of plasticity and regeneration of the adult central nervous system during aging and after trauma. She enjoys cooking, knitting, woodworking, hiking and reading in her spare time.
Collaborators
Christoph Hofstetter, M.D., Ph.D., is a physician scientist in the Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of Washington. Dr. Hofstetter earned his M.D. from University of Vienna, and Ph.D. at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm.
Dr. Hofstetter is an expert in experimental and translational spinal cord injury research. His research focuses on the development on biomarkers for prognosis and treatment guidance following acute spinal cord injury. Together with his collaborator Dr. Matt Bruce, his laboratory has developed a novel type of contrast-enhanced ultrasound which allows to visualize specific segments of the vascular tree. This innovative imaging modality allows his laboratory to assess the impact of trauma on local tissue perfusion. Dr. Hofstetter also investigates the use of stem cells and specialized polymers to improve recovery following acute spinal cord injury. His research also includes the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation with both preclinical and clinical trials in close collaboration with Drs. Moritz and Perlmutter. Dr. Hofstetter is former chairman of the Section of Spinal cord Injury of the North American Spine Society and serves as Associate Member of the AO Spinal cord injury knowledge forum.
Dr. Hofstetter is an expert in experimental and translational spinal cord injury research. His research focuses on the development on biomarkers for prognosis and treatment guidance following acute spinal cord injury. Together with his collaborator Dr. Matt Bruce, his laboratory has developed a novel type of contrast-enhanced ultrasound which allows to visualize specific segments of the vascular tree. This innovative imaging modality allows his laboratory to assess the impact of trauma on local tissue perfusion. Dr. Hofstetter also investigates the use of stem cells and specialized polymers to improve recovery following acute spinal cord injury. His research also includes the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation with both preclinical and clinical trials in close collaboration with Drs. Moritz and Perlmutter. Dr. Hofstetter is former chairman of the Section of Spinal cord Injury of the North American Spine Society and serves as Associate Member of the AO Spinal cord injury knowledge forum.
Dr. Reed is Section Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Harborview, Medical Director of the HMC Senior Care Clinic and UW Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine. Her personal interests include hiking, skiing, attending sporting events, and spending time with her family.
I worked a number of years at Philips Ultrasound and then Supersonic Imagine in the south of France (Provence) and now at CIMU in the Applied Physics Laboratory here at the University of Washington.
It is an exciting time to be working in ultrasound with advances in hardware, computing, and transducers enabling the expansion of ultrasound capabilities and applications from patient and personal monitoring, to handheld ultraportable systems, and to new tools and modalities on premium level systems.
The Millen Lab has long been interested in the genetic and developmental basis of structural birth defects of the brain both in humans and animal models. We have a specific interest in malformations of the cerebellum, a brain structure that lies between the brainstem and the cerebrum and plays important roles in sensory perception, motor output, balance and posture in addition to cognition and emotion. The relative anatomic simplicity of the cerebellum makes this important brain structure an ideal system to study neural development. Further, the mechanisms that drive cerebellar development are shared by more complex regions of the brain, including the cerebral cortex.
Dr. Yang is a urologist with a special interest in urological problems due to neurological disease or injury. She treats bladder dysfunction and sexual dysfunction associated with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, stroke and other neurological conditions.
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Jen earned her PhD in Biomedical Engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, where she worked on the development of a novel minimally-invasive therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. She has extensive experience with the design and fabrication of targeted contrast agents and their use in conjunction with either focused ultrasound, in a therapeutic context, or specialized imaging. In her current role, her primary focus is the development and application of novel high speed ultrasound contrast imaging techniques to assess injury-induced hemodynamic changes in the spinal cord.
Preeja Chandran is a Postdoctoral Scholar working under the mentorship of Dr. Zin Khaing in University of Washington. She received her PhD in dissecting the proponents of apoptotic pathway after spinal cord injury under the guidance of Dr. Sankar Venkatachalam, University of Madras, India. She has extensive experience in surgical approaches, surgical and pharmacological interventions to treat SCI. She is currently working with the characterization and improving intraspinal blood flow in chronically injured spinal cord for optimal functional recovery in aging.
Professional Staff
As the lab manager, Lindsay keeps the lab running by writing protocols, maintaining records and supplies, and training new lab members. She also has been performing rodent microsurgery for over 10 years; starting her career at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California. Lindsay received her Bachelors of Science in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz— home of the Banana Slugs! Lindsay enjoys cooking, fishing, games and trivia, and lives in West Seattle with too many pets.
Jeff joined the lab in 2017 as a recent graduate from Western Washington University. He previously worked in Western’s Behavioral Neuroscience program, studying the neural basis of sucrose craving under Dr. Jeffrey Grimm. In the Khaing lab he assists with all active projects by performing histological analysis of tissue specimens, and by evaluating the functional deficits associated with spinal cord injury. He enjoys outdoor activities all over the Seattle area, including hiking and rowing.
I am part of the ultrasound team with Khaing lab. I finished my undergraduate in 2013 at Western Washington University in Mathematics and Physics. In 2022 I completed my master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with a focus on ultrasound imaging at the University of Washington.
I have been with the Khaing lab since 2022. When I am not working at the computer, I like to spend my time at Mariners games.
I have been with the Khaing lab since 2022. When I am not working at the computer, I like to spend my time at Mariners games.
“Gustavo Hernandez is a 2022 UW alumni, majoring in Biology-Physiology and minoring in Spanish. He is currently volunteering at Harborview Medical Center in a Physical Therapy Clinic and plans to become a DPT. Gustavo enjoys bouldering at the Seattle Bouldering Project and learning about physical exercise, neuroanatomy, and rehabilitation practices.”
Undergraduate Students
Anjali is an undergraduate student in the class of 2025 at Pomona College where she majors in Psychological Science and minors in Biology. At school, she has studied behavioral responses in C. elegans and how culture and environment influence neural processing and cognitive flexibility using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Since joining the lab in June 2022, she has worked on mapping changes in the microvasculature of the aging spine and written for The Handbook of Neural Engineering. She is interested in pain management, improving outcomes for those with spinal cord injuries, and the treatment of neurological disorders. In the future, she hopes to attend graduate school and become a clinical neuropsychologist. In her free time, Anjali likes to read classic novels and bake bread for charity. You can contact her at aekarp@uw.edu
Emma joined the lab in October of 2021 and is an undergraduate in the class of 2025 at the University of Washington. She is majoring in Neuroscience, minoring in Anthropology, and is pursuing medicine. She is very interested in behavioral neuroscience, pediatrics, and psychiatry. She is also intrigued by the relationship between music and medicine, and has explored this connection through organizations where students provide musical therapy to nursing home residents and hospital patients. Outside of academics, Emma likes to spend her time composing and playing music, helping lead UW Grey Matters Journal, and watching nature documentaries!
I am a third year undergraduate at the University of Washington pursuing a double degree in Bioengineering and Neuroscience. My work at the Khaing Lab for the past two years has been centered around engineering projects such as manipulating microvessels and developing 3D hydrogels as an avenue for neural regeneration after spinal cord injury. Outside of academic life, I am passionate about art and playing tennis. I plan to pursue a career in the medical field in the future and the Khaing Lab has provided an incredible atmosphere for innovation, growth and pushing my passion for science.
Steven is a third-year Neuroscience (BS) student at the University of Washington. He works on the Aging Brain Project at the Khaing Lab, focusing on the analysis of microvasculature and astrocytes in regions of the brain thought to be associated with learning and memory.
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/tran~steven
"Dylan joined the lab in July of 2020 and is an undergraduate in the class of 2025 at George Fox University. He is majoring in biochemistry and on the pre-med track, with additional interest in studying both calculus and physics. He is currently co-president of the premedical club and a teaching assistant for neuroscience courses. In his free time, he loves strategic board games, hiking, playing piano, longboarding, and competing in esports for his school. Dylan has future aspirations to enter the medical field as a surgeon."
Paige joined the lab in February 2023 and is an undergraduate student at the University of Washington. Dedicated to pursuing a career in medicine, Paige is majoring in Biology: Physiology with a minor in Chemistry. She is interested in the body’s response to traumatic brain injuries, especially concerning the developing minds of children. Outside of the lab, Paige shows kids the world of neuroscience through the Grey Matters Journal Outreach team, plays with UW women’s club ice hockey, and rock climbs.
I am a junior at the University of Washington pursuing my Bachelor’s in Bioengineering. I spent 3 years researching therapeutic techniques involving ultrasound to treat Alzheimer’s disease and investigate restoring amyloid and tau burdened regions of the brain, with a focus on progression of the disease with a traumatic brain injury. Currently I am interested in pursuing medical school. When I am not in school or studying, I get to indulge in my first love of equestrian sports. I love to ride horses, and have been a dressage rider since I was 5.
Noor is a recent Biochemistry graduate from the University of Washington and has been a part of the lab since October 2020. Noor has a particular interest in the intersection of social care and medicine and aspires to work with Doctors Without Borders and in underserved communities as a general practitioner. In the lab, Noor works on studying the effects of bladder denervation after SCI. During her time at UW, she had created and taught a course to help students succeed in biology. Currently, she is working as a medical assistant in a gynecology clinic. Outside of this, Noor spends her time photographing concerts and experimenting in darkrooms.
Benji Valenti is a senior studying Biochemistry and minoring in Chemistry and Anthropology. He joined the lab in June 2023 and hopes to become a pediatrician in the future. Outside of lab, he can be found poorly playing basketball, spending time with friends, reading, and playing guitar.
Naya is a third-year undergraduate at UW studying Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. She is hoping to focus more on clinical research and explore inter and intracellular connections. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in medicine. She serves as an officer for the ChemE Brewing club, and has previously conducted psychology research in the CDH Lab. In her free time, she enjoys baking sweet treats, going to the beach, and doing yoga."
