Our Team

Great science begins with great people. We bring together an interdisciplinary team of scientists, physicians, trainees, and collaborators united by a shared curiosity about the human brain and the diseases that affect it. We value creative thinking, scientific rigor, generosity, and the freedom to challenge established ideas. Our laboratory is built around collaboration and mentorship, where diverse perspectives fuel discovery and young investigators are encouraged to develop their own scientific identities. Above all, we believe that doing meaningful science should be as rewarding as the discoveries themselves.

Meet the Team

  • John Crary, MD-PhD

    PRINCIPLE INVESTIGATOR, CRARY LAB

    John F. Crary, MD, PhD is a neuropathologist, neuroscientist, and Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research challenges conventional thinking about neurodegeneration, integrating human neuropathology, genetics, experimental neuroscience, and artificial intelligence to uncover why the aging brain becomes vulnerable to disease. He leads the Crary Lab and directs Mount Sinai’s Neuropathology Brain Bank.

  • Kristen Whitney, PhD

    ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

    Dr. Whitney bridges human neuropathology and experimental neuroscience to uncover the molecular mechanisms driving tauopathies. Combining patient-derived stem cells, brain organoids, and molecular profiling, she investigates how cellular stress pathways contribute to neurodegeneration, with a particular focus on progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). An award-winning early-career scientist, her work brings human disease into the laboratory to identify new mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets.

  • SoongHo Kim, PhD

    SoongHo Kim, PhD

    SENIOR SCIENTIST

    SoongHo Kim investigates the molecular machinery that governs protein homeostasis in the aging brain. His work focuses on the biochemistry of JADE1, tau metabolism, and the cellular pathways that regulate protein turnover, uncovering fundamental mechanisms that may protect against neurodegeneration.

  • Marcos Schaan Profes, PhD

    POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW

    Marcos Schaan-Profes, PhD is a rising investigator developing innovative approaches to unravel the molecular drivers of tauopathy. Combining optogenetics, biochemistry, and cell biology, he explores how JADE1 regulates tau aggregation and proteostasis. Recognized by AFTD Neuro2024 and awarded independent research funding from the BrightFocus Foundation, Marcos is advancing new ideas at the intersection of molecular neuroscience and neurodegenerative disease.

  • Madhave Jere

    MD-PHD CANDIDATE

    Madhavi is a fifth-year MD/PhD student. She grew up in Bengaluru, India, and double majored in Neuroscience and Biochemistry at Vassar College. Madhavi discovered her passion for research as an undergraduate, drawn to the creativity, variety, and collaboration that the lab environment offers. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, kickboxing, and painting live watercolors of picturesque locations around New York

  • Anna Bostoganashvili

    LAB MANAGER

    Anna is passionate about developing preventive methods for neurodegenerative disorders through drug and therapeutic advancement. She is seeking to expand her knowledge of research in neuroscience laboratories exploring genetic mechanisms of Alzheimer's Disease and drug addiction. Outside the lab and academics, she enjoys oil painting.

  • Lily Aronov

    ASSOCIATE RESEARCHER

    2024 Binghamton University graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Integrative Neuroscience. Driven, enthusiastic, and perpetually curious scientist who values teamwork, creative problem solving, and innovation. Interested in using genomics and epigenomics tools, along with cell culture-based models, to dig into the nitty-gritty of neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric and neurodegenerative disease. Passionate about working with others to create positive learning experiences and forging genuine connections.

  • Michael Karlovich

    DATA ENGINEER

    Michael Karlovich is a computational neuroscientist, data engineer, and visual artist working at the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and perception. At the Crary Lab, he develops the digital infrastructure and computational pipelines powering large-scale neuropathology research. An internationally recognized creator of visual illusions, Michael co-discovered the award-nominated Scintillating Starburst, bringing an unusual combination of scientific rigor, engineering, and creative vision to the team.

Collaborators

Kurt Farrell, PhD

Kurt Farrell, PhD is a computational neuroscientist and investigator in Genetic and Genomic Sciences whose research bridges human neuropathology, genetics, and large-scale molecular profiling. Integrating computational biology, single-cell genomics, and human brain tissue, he investigates the cellular and molecular drivers of neurodegeneration, uncovering why specific brain cell populations are vulnerable to disease.

Principle Investigator, Farrell Lab

Gabriele Campanella, PhD

Gabriele Campanella, PhD is a leading innovator in computational pathology and artificial intelligence, pioneering the use of deep learning to transform how human tissue is studied at scale. His work bridges pathology, computer vision, and foundation models, developing powerful new approaches to extract biological insights from digital histology. At the forefront of AI-driven discovery, he is helping redefine the future of digital neuropathology.

Principle Investigator, Campanella Lab
Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE

Neuropathology Brain Bank

The Crary Lab works closely with Mount Sinai’s Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research CoRE, a collaborative hub connecting human brain tissue, clinical expertise, and cutting-edge research. Working alongside neurologists including Drs. Ruth Walker and Melissa Nirenberg through initiatives such as CANPARK, and neuropathologists including Drs. Tim Richardson and Jamie Walker, we bridge clinical observation and fundamental discovery. Together with a broad network of investigators, the Brain Bank transforms the extraordinary gift of human tissue into new insights into aging, neurodegeneration, and disease.