Lab Members

K.C. Brennan, MD

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Other Members

Kate Reinhart (Headache Physiology Lab)

Kate Reinhart, PhD

Academic Office Information

katelyn.reinhart@hsc.utah.edu

Kate Reinhart completed her PhD at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and joined the headache physiology lab as a postdoctoral researcher in December of 2019. In her graduate studies, Kate employed imaging and electrophysiology techniques to examine spreading depolarizations (SD) and their role in neuronal injury after stroke. Her current work focuses on understanding mechanisms of how SD ignites in the uninjured brain, such as during migraine. This goal has led her to develop a new project in the lab examining high-altitude-induced headaches. Kate was recently awarded T32 funding for these studies, which employs two-photon imaging in awake mice as well as electrophysiology in vivo and in acute brain slices.

Sarah Clair (Headache and Physiology Lab)

Sarah Clair

Academic Office Information

sarah.clair@hsc.utah.edu

Sarah Clair is our lab manager focused on supervising and performing technical and administrative functions that include quality assurance, quality control, performance/process improvement, records maintenance, and scheduling. With a BS in biology and a desire to increase knowledge, she is a foundational contributor to our pain project in refining an innovative surgical preparation that allows us to study the C2 dorsal root ganglion and its role in the neural circuit involved in the manifestation of the migraine phenotype.

Gary Urry (Headache Physiology Lab)

Gary Urry

Academic Office Information

u0969060@utah.edu

Gary Urry is a pre-med undergraduate student at the University of Utah majoring in medical laboratory science. Gary has been a member of the lab since fall 2020 and has worked on the high-altitude headache project since joining the lab, helping engineer custom mouse altitude chambers for use in the project and aiding in ongoing experiments for the project. He also does technician work and 3D printing for other members of the lab. Gary is part of the work-study program at the U of U and also took part in the SPUR program in the summer of 2021.

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Jeremy Theriot (Headache Physiology Lab)

Jeremy Theriot, PhD

Academic Office Information

u0736654@umail.utah.edu

My current work involves the design and fabrication of imaging systems for in vivo characterization of cortical spreading depression. The application of these technologies is directed toward developing treatments for migraine, traumatic brain injury and other brain disorders.

Connor Castonguay

Connor Castonguay

William "Connor" Castonguay joined the Brennan Lab in the winter of 2023 as a research technician. He specializes in mouse behavior models and their application towards better understanding various forms of headache such as migraine and post traumatic headache. By measuring numerous headache criteria in mice, including but not limited to photophobia, tactile hypersensitivity, and anxiety, we hope to better understand the underlying mechanisms and potential treatments of headache to help alleviate the burden headache causes for so many on a day-to-day basis.

Mengya Wang

Mengya Wang, PhD

Mengya Wang obtained her MS degree from the University of Kansas in May 2016 and completed her PhD at the University of Iowa in May 2022. In December 2022, she joined Dr. Brennan's lab as a postdoctoral researcher. During her MS studies, Mengya conducted research on the modulation of the serotonin 1A receptor in depression. For her doctoral project, she delved into the mechanisms underlying migraine, employing techniques including microinjection, optogenetics, and a variety of animal behavioral assays. Her research highlighted the potential involvement of the cerebellum in migraine symptoms. Mengya's primary goal is to decipher the underlying mechanisms of migraine and develop novel therapeutic interventions. At Dr. Brennan's lab, she plans to acquire expertise in electrophysiology and two-photon imaging techniques to deepen her insights into the complex pathophysiology of migraine.

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Hannah Newlin

Hannah Newlin

Hannah Newlin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona in May 2020. Hannah has experience in cell culture, molecular biology, and cellular biology techniques. She joined the Brennan lab in August of 2022 through the Molecular Biology PhD program. Hannah’s project examines the effects of a mutation in the gene encoding for CK1d (a mutation found in a family with migraine) on the presynapse, specifically how this mutant affects the vesicle pool, docking sites, and vesicular release. She is using a combination of molecular techniques, ex vivo electrophysiology, and 2 photon imaging. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, crafting, and hanging out with her two cats.

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