PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
William Lowry, Professor
B.S. University of Washington
Ph.D. Weill Medical College, Cornell University
Post-doc with Elaine Fuchs, Rockefeller University
Abril Morales
Abril Morales is originally from Oxnard, CA, and earned her bachelor’s degree at UCLA in 2018. She joined the Lowry lab in 2019 where she works to understand the molecular biology and metabolomic disturbances of monogenic intellectual disability disorders using stem cell-derived models. Outside of the lab, Abril enjoys watching movies, going to concerts, and trying new recipes.
Carlos Galván
Carlos Galván is from Fontana, CA and is a current 2nd year PhD student in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program. He graduated from UCLA in 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry and joined the Lowry lab in 2020. His undergraduate research focused on increasing efficacy of targeted and immune therapies in Melanoma. In the Lowry lab, he is currently studying the molecular mechanisms and metabolism of epidermal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) and hair follicle stem cells. Outside of lab, Carlos is involved in SACNAS at UCLA and enjoys the outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
STAFF
Itzetl Avila
Itzetl is a 3rd-year transfer student from Los Angeles Valley College. She is currently completing MCDB Departmental Honors for her research in the lab and is a student in the Biomedical Research minor. She works alongside Matilde Miranda and Jasmine Esparza to define a role for cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in hair follicle stem cell homeostasis. Besides lab, Itzetl serves underrepresented and vulnerable populations in organizations such as The Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture (CESLAC) and Pre-Health Dreamers. During her spare time, Itzetl loves to spend time with her family and eat food.
VISITING SCIENTIST
Jim Rheinwald, Ph.D.
Jim was a P.I. at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and then at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for 35 years. His research interests include the mechanisms regulating growth, replicative senescence, motility, and differentiation of normal human somatic epithelial cell types; how these change in different cell types during malignant progression; and the development of optimal culture conditions for propagating human somatic cells in culture. He is currently providing advice on several research projects in the Lowry lab.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Daniel Gomez
Yesenia Apreza
Victoria Cerillos