Moss Lab Team Members
Marvis Arowolo (Research Specialist II)
Marvis obtained her BS degree in Biochemistry from Landmark University, Nigeria in 2016 and her Master’s in Biochemistry from Kwara State University, Nigeria in 2022. Her undergraduate research explored oxygenation techniques for diabetes treatment, sparking her interest in diabetic neuropathy. And her Master's research focused on understanding cellular signaling pathways and metabolic alterations in cancer. The genetic and biochemical overlap between oncogenic pathways and neurodegeneration offers a rich landscape for exploration, and I am eager to contribute to this emerging area of research. She is working to uncover cellular and molecular mechanisms driving CMT1A and HNPP and evaluate their role in disease progression. She will be continuing this research as a graduate students in the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience PhD program beginning Fall 2025.
Kathryn Moss, PhD (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Kathryn Moss earned her BS degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan and her PhD in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University. She completed her dissertation with Dr. Gary Bassell studying post-transcriptional mechanisms of neuronal development and neurological disease and a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Ahmet Höke at Johns Hopkins University studying CMT1A and HNPP pathogenesis. She began her position as Assistant Professor with NextGen Precision Health at the University of Missouri in April 2024 and continues to study inherited dysmyelinating peripheral neuropathies with the aim of facilitating therapeutic development for these debilitating diseases. Dr. Moss brings a unique perspective and dedication to her work due to her personal history with CMT1A as a patient.
Moses Ataben (INP PhD Student)
Moses Ataben earned his BS degree in Anatomy from the University of Uyo, Nigeria and his Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree in Human Disease Models and Morphological Phenotyping from Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. In 2024, he was awarded a JAE Intro to Research Fellowship by the Spanish National Research Council and worked with Dr. Francesco Ulloa at the Cajal Institute in Madrid, Spain. He previously worked on amyloid-beta plaque accumulation and tau phosphorylation in Alzheimer’s disease and expansion microscopy to enhance visualization and mapping of brain tissue architecture at nanoscale resolution. He is currently a graduate student in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience PhD program. In the Moss lab, Moses is focused on developing and characterizing new models of CMT1A and HNPP to study disease pathogenesis and support novel therapy development.
Abby Chischolm (INP PhD Student)
Abby obtained her BS in Psychology from Lincoln University in 2021 and recently completed her Master’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Missouri, working with Dr. Mahesh Thakkar. Her Master’s research was focused on understanding circadian rhythms in ischemic brain injury and addiction. She was awarded a Legacy Building Fellowship in 2022 in recognition of her academic accomplishments to support her graduate studies. Her PhD studies in the Moss lab are centered on understanding how the function of PMP22 in cell membranes is regulated. She plans to take a multidisciplinary approach to address remaining questions about the regulation of PMP22 function and how dysregulation contributes to CMT1A and HNPP pathogenesis. She is also passionate about service as she led the development of a student group to support neuroscience PhD students.
Hedy Lewis (Undergraduate Student)
Hedy is an undergraduate student majoring in Biological Sciences as well as Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. After gaining her first research exposure in Dr. Chandrasekhar's lab, she has become motivated to further explore the field of neuroscience. Her current work in the lab involves assisting with cell culture and immunofluorescence experiments. She soon hopes to become more independent in the lab and take on a project to dissection molecular mechanisms of CMT1A and HNPP pathogenesis using cell culture models. After completing her undergraduate degree, she aspires to pursue an MD-PhD degree in neuropharmacology, where she hopes to build upon her undergraduate research experience and contribute to advancements in developing treatments for neurological disease.
Nate Parrish (Research Specialist II)
Nate spent 12 years in the Army, during which he completed his BS degree in Psychology from Campbell University and was commissioned as an engineer officer. His time in the military cultivated strong leadership, discipline, and problem-solving skills, which he has carried into his scientific pursuits. After completing his service, Nate made the intentional decision to shift career paths and pursue his long-standing interest in biomedical research, joining the Moss Lab as a research specialist. Nate is most interested in developing therapeutic interventions for CMT1A and related neuromuscular disorders and is actively building research skills to prepare for a successful transition to graduate school. He is focused on developing novel cellular models of PMP22-related CMT to dissect mechanisms of disease and support therapeutic discovery.