People

Lead

Headshot of Pamela Lein

Pamela J. Lein, PhD

  • CounterACT Director & Project 1 Lead
  • Project 1
Dr. Pamela Lein is a Professor of Neurotoxicology and Chair of Molecular Biosciences in the School of Veterinary Medicine. She has broad training and experience in molecular and cellular neurobiology, neuropharmacology and neurotoxicology. Her research focuses on defining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurotoxicology, including how chemical threat agents and therapeutic agents modulate neuroinflammation and neural function. 

Co-Lead

Photo of Amy Brooks-Kayal

Amy Brooks-Kayal, MD, FAAN, FANA, FAES

  • CounterACT Co-Director and Project 1 Co-Lead
  • Project 1
Dr. Amy Brooks-Kayal is a Professor and Chair of Neurology in the School of Veterinary Medicine. Her research focuses on cellular and molecular pathways in the development of epilepsy following brain injury, with particular emphasis on identifying new therapies for the prevention and treatment of both seizures and cognitive co-morbidities characteristic of acquired epilepsy.

Consultant

Bruce Hammock

Bruce Hammock, PhD

  • Consultant
  • Project 1
  • Core A
Dr. Bruce Hammock is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Entomology and Nematology. Dr. Hammock is a toxicologist and bio-organic chemist with extensive experience in pharmacology. He was elected to the National Academy of Sciences for his work on immunoassays and sensors for toxins. He is trained in drug metabolism and has expertise in metabolomics.

Graduate Student

Headshot of Peter Andrew

Peter Andrew, BS

  • Graduate Student
  • Project 1
Peter Andrew is a student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program. After graduating from Tufts University, he worked for two years in the Tufts-AstraZeneca Laboratory for Basic and Translational Neuroscience. His graduate research for CounterACT involves the assessment of neuroprotective strategies against intoxication with organophosphates. 
Jeremy MacMahon

Jeremy MacMahon, BS

  • Graduate Student
  • Project 1
Jeremy MacMahon is a graduate student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program. His research involves characterizing the role of neuroinflammation in chemical exposures and identifying neuroprotective compounds to prevent the long term cognitive decline associated with these exposures.
Maria Munoz headshot

Maria Muñoz, BS

  • Graduate Student
  • Project 1
Maria Muñoz is a graduate student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program. She first worked as an undergraduate researcher studying the effects of environmental pollution on the lung, and then after graduation, in a cancer biology lab developing models of soft-tissue sarcomas. Maria is working to neuroprotective compounds against the toxic effects from acute organophosphate exposure.
Headshot of Chelsea Unkel

Chelsea Unkel, BA

  • Graduate Student
  • Project 1
Chelsea Unkel is a Ph.D. student in the Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program. She studies the role of neuroinflammation following acute organophosphate intoxication and potential therapeutics to reduce long-term sequalae, emphasizing translational models and understanding of epileptogenesis.