-
Chetan Bettegowda, MD PhD
- Jennison and Novak Families Professor of Neurosurgery
- Professor of Neurological Surgery
-
Jordina Rincon Torroella, MD
- Co-director, the Brain Tumor Genetics Laboratory
- Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery
Team Members
![Group of researchers on a bright stage](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/lab-team-hero.jpg)
Our lab brings together talented researchers with a passion for patient care and neurological discovery. Our team consists of residents, medical students, graduate students and undergraduate trainees. Learn more about our team members and their backgrounds:
Principal Investigators
Team Members
Tej Azad, M.D.
Neurosurgery Resident, Johns Hopkins Medicine Research Interests: Liquid biopsy clinical deployment, domestic health policy and health services research Home State: Indiana Undergraduate Education: Washington University in St. Louis | Biomedical Informatics Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/tej-azad.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=62F9B9C0B7A49EAF72F8A3ACA1243389)
Timour Al-Khindi, M.D.
Neurosurgery Resident, Johns Hopkins Medicine Hometown: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Undergraduate Education: University of Toronto Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/timour-al-khindi.jpg?h=300&iar=0&w=240&hash=9CFFD664A8808DCECE02EA65CDF3A18B)
Risheng Xu, M.D., Ph.D.
Neurosurgery Resident, Johns Hopkins Medicine Research Interests: Molecular mechanisms underlying trigeminal neuralgia and translational therapies for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia and neuropathic pain Undergraduate Education: Harvard University Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/risheng-xu.jpg?h=761&iar=0&w=608&hash=5B6F48810258940186A6F5347A125A4D)
Josh Materi
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Surgical outcomes in neurosurgery, translational oncology of liquid biopsy and a rodent model for treatment of spinal metastases Hometown: Thermopolis, Wyoming Undergraduate Education: University of Wyoming
![Josh Materi headshot](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/neurosurgery-residency/josh-materi.jpg?h=800&iar=0&w=640&hash=6304F50BC03A9FE677E06DE9C9E65594)
Divyaansh Raj
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Clinical application of liquid biopsy and neuro-oncology research Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey Undergraduate Education: Emory University | Economics, Neuroscience
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/divi-raj.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=E3E42C04BC54E245ED2845DAEA2FFD82)
Pavan Shah
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Brain tumor immunology, cancer genetics and clinical outcomes research Home State: Arizona Undergraduate Education: University of Southern California | Biomedical Engineering
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/pavan-shah.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=F2F106DCC4225A3F38A0F41DB8D842A2)
Nivedha Kannapadi
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Glioblastoma immunotherapy, vaccines for brain neoplasms and liquid biopsies Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Undergraduate Education: University of Virginia | Neuroscience, English
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/nivedha-kannapadi.jpg?h=563&iar=0&w=450&hash=03DC39C3BEAAB4CACCD67C77CD54CD7E)
Sumil Nair
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Global neurosurgery, neurotrauma, cerebrovascular disease and patient-centered research Home State: New Jersey Undergraduate Education: Washington University in St. Louis | Neuroscience, Anthropology
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/sumil-nair.jpg?h=570&iar=0&w=456&hash=33D2D16DE855E6CD683278A30CFCE1CC)
Andrew Hersh
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Hometown: Brooklyn, New York Undergraduate Education: Princeton University | Economics
![Andrew Hersh](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/andrew-hersh.jpg?h=653&iar=0&w=524&hash=6F1285E39CBC4798C0C938F809A7E935)
Megan Parker
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Neuro-oncology, cancer genomics, social determinants of health and neurosurgical outcomes Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada Undergraduate Education: Stanford University Hobbies: Running, dancing, cooking
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/megan-parker.jpg?h=801&iar=0&w=640&hash=F62B003E101186B86A2BE3C883AD63D7)
Dorothy Wang
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Trigeminal neuralgia, global health Hometown: Portland, Oregon Undergraduate Education: Whitworth University Hobbies: All things outdoors, jam sessions, running marathons, and trying out new recipes in the kitchen
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/dorothy-wang.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=AB661EA80665D2D193542A8A89E19738)
Saket Myneni
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Neuro-oncology, surgical outcomes, CSF fluid mechanics Hometown: Austin, Texas Undergraduate Education: Stanford University
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/saket-myneni.jpg?h=624&iar=0&w=500&hash=423F1504D0AC0D67D0D2659CEFFBC2EC)
Anita Kalluri
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Neuro-oncology, neuro-trauma, global health, neurovascular disease, trigeminal neuralgia, surgical outcomes, CSF fluid mechanics Hometown: Clarksville, Maryland Undergraduate Education: University of Pennsylvania Hobbies: Enjoys visiting family and friends, playing with her dogs, exploring new pasta recipes
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/anita-kalluri.jpg?h=706&iar=0&w=565&hash=C6D82169514F380430BB8B032CF3197B)
Sadra Sepehri
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Neurology and neurosurgery Hometown: Columbia, Maryland and Tehran, Iran Undergraduate Education: University of Maryland, College Park
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/sadra-sepehri.jpg?h=620&iar=0&w=497&hash=17013CA09BC617157C9CDE5F99F0D918)
Collin Kilgore
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Cerebrovascular disease, neuroimaging, neurodegeneration Hometown: Cumming, Iowa Undergraduate Education: Washington University in St. Louis
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/collin-kilgore.jpg?h=438&iar=0&w=350&hash=68FCCA2D85F408005BD806BA9C930A34)
Emily Rodriguez
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Surgical outcomes with a focus on Latino health outcomes Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio Undergraduate Education: The Ohio State University Hobbies: Boxing, reading philosophy, nail art
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/emily-rodriguez.jpg?h=800&iar=0&w=640&hash=07819A6E324C742926988862274C2EAE)
Kathleen Ran
Medical and Graduate Student, Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Neurotrauma, neurovascular, intersection of neurosurgery and public health Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Undergraduate Education: Harvard University Hobbies: Running, nature hikes, outdoor grilling
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/kathleen-ran.jpg?h=800&iar=0&w=640&hash=C8D24AF53332653EDCA31673C530ADC4)
Kelly Jiang
Medical Student, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Research Interests: Translational neurosurgery Hometown: Wayne, Pennsylvania Undergraduate Education: University of Pennsylvania
![Kelly Jiang](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/kelly-jiang.jpg?h=704&iar=0&w=564&hash=BFB7F44B720F396AE5B82FF27AC96B5A)
Shelby Burk
Graduate Student, Johns Hopkins University | Biotechnology Research Interests: Brain cancer biology and biomarkers, pediatric oncology, surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation Hometown: Palo Alto, California Undergraduate Education: Saint Mary’s College
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/shelby-burk.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=5734B48674DDFC5E7D7656F5E771D479)
Krish Gopalan
Graduate Student, Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Bioinformatics in the biological and public health contexts Hometown: SoCal, California Undergraduate Education: University of California, Berkeley Hobbies: Making music, reading, and playing board games
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/krish-gopalan.jpg?h=150&iar=0&w=120&hash=A34606511D8249A6398D56C598A347AC)
Tasfia Hussain
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Clinical epidemiology, trigeminal neuralgia Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Hobbies: Hiking and badminton
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/tasfia-hussain.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=6FD7C55ACFC05E163F127171B1B77C25)
Harmon Khela
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Neuro-oncology Hometown: Sacramento, California Hobbies: Basketball
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/harmon-khela.jpg?h=625&iar=0&w=500&hash=647C1856517B974EFBBCE385967F1895)
Kylie Ning
Undergraduate Student, Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Pancreatic cysts, trigeminal neuralgia, neonatology Hometown: Little Rock, Georgia Hobbies: Piano, guitar, plant enthusiast
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/kylie-ning.jpg?h=894&iar=0&w=715&hash=F274F7BEDE295771396163C0103FC60A)
Chloe Dunseath
Prospective Medical Student Research Interests: Clinical research in brain cancer, molecular and genetic factors affecting treatment outcomes, targeted treatment options in brain cancer Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio Undergraduate Education: University of Notre Dame
![](/-/media/neurology-neurosurgery/images/brain-tumor-genetics-lab/team/chloe-dunseath.jpg?h=700&iar=0&w=560&hash=6B2D94819E026C1945266EB5D8DB3C26)