David Medina

Barrow Neurological Institute

Dr. David Medina is an assistant professor in the Translational Neuroscience Department at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He earned his PhD from UT Health Science Center in San Antonio in 2013, where he studied the mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). In 2014, he began postdoctoral training focused on applying bioengineering techniques to neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Currently, Dr. Medina’s research investigates various neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, FTD, and AD. He aims to identify shared molecular pathways using cellular and mouse models. His work employs multidisciplinary approaches, which include developing drug delivery techniques, conducting multi-omics analyses, discovering biomarkers, and creating in vitro models. Furthermore, his research evaluates innovative therapeutic strategies, such as small molecules, novel nanoparticle formulations, and viral vector approaches.

Ashley Boehringer

ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center

Dr. Ashley Boehringer is a research assistant professor at the ASU-Banner Neurodegenerative Disease Research Center (NDRC) within the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University (ASU). She earned her PhD in Neuroscience from ASU in 2018, where her research focused on a novel mutation associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Following her graduation, Dr. Boehringer began her first postdoctoral fellowship at the Weinberg ALS Center at Jefferson University, where she investigated the roles of neuronal activity and DNA damage in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of ALS. In 2022, she continued her postdoctoral training at the NDRC at ASU, shifting her focus to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Her current research encompasses all three neurodegenerative diseases and employs both iPSC and animal models, concentrating on synaptic changes associated with these conditions and the development of novel therapeutics.

Aaron Valentine

Translational Neuroscience Department, Barrow Neurological Institute

Aaron Valentine is a research scientist in the Translational Neuroscience Department at the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. He earned his Master of Science degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2023, where he researched new therapeutic options for treating brain metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer. Aaron will begin his PhD in Neuroscience at Arizona State University in Fall 2025. Currently, he collaborates with Dr. David Medina and Dr. Robert Bowser to study ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases.