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Yury Miller, MD, PhD, Principal Investigator
Yury received his MD and PhD from Russian State Medical University in Moscow. After a postdoc at Tel Aviv University, he joined Joe Witztum’s lab at UCSD where he advanced to a faculty position. He is currently Professor in the Department of Medicine, UCSD. Yury’s original interest in lipoprotein oxidation and macrophage biology in the context of atherosclerosis evolved into studying fundamental aspects of cholesterol metabolism and chronic inflammation. The current projects in the lab include studies in atherosclerosis, neuropathic pain and Alzheimer’s disease, with collaborative projects in asthma and glaucoma.
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Soo-Ho Choi, PhD, Project Specialist
Soo-Ho received his PhD from Hallym University. He joined Miller’s lab in 2006, initiating studies in TLR4 biology, autophagy and mitochondrial function in macrophages and providing critical contribution to the majority of projects in the lab. Soo-Ho is currently a multi-PI on a glaucoma project and is developing his own program in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis.
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Shenglin (Celine) Li, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar
Shenglin received her MD from Shandong University and PhD from Fudan University. She studies the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular atherosclerosis, with a focus on lipid metabolism and macrophage-driven inflammation. Her research explores how lipid dysregulation and immune cell responses contribute to plaque development and progression, aiming to identify novel insights into disease pathogenesis and therapeutic targets.
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Abigail Alvarado, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar
palvaradovazquez@health.ucsd.edu
Abigail earned her doctorate in Medical Immunology from Uppsala University, where she studied mast cell progenitors in respiratory disease. Her research focuses on neuro-immune interactions in asthma, particularly how allergens and viral infection reorganize lipid rafts and modulate Toll-like receptors and purinergic signaling in airway epithelial cells and sensory neurons. She is currently investigating how these pathways contribute to airway hyperresponsiveness and chronic inflammatory remodeling.
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Shihui Ding, PhD, Postdoctoral Scholar
Shihui completed her Ph.D. at Tsinghua University, investigating intracellular vesicular transport during embryonic development and subsequently focusing on zebrafish larval neuronal activity. She then joined the Miller lab as a Postdoc, where she is studying lipoprotein assembly and cholesterol transport in glial cells in Alzheimer's disease.
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Elena Alekseeva, MS, Staff Research Associate
ealekseeva@ucsdhs.onmicrosoft.com
Elena has worked extensively in enzymatic biochemistry, arthritis and lung endothelium research, and experimental evolution. Her primary role is Lab Manager, ensuring that the laboratory operates efficiently and seamlessly. She focuses on removing logistical and administrative barriers so researchers can dedicate their full attention to scientific discovery and maintain a smooth, productive workflow. In addition, Elena contributes to atherosclerosis research at the Histology Core, where she performs heart and aorta dissections, tissue staining, imaging, and data analysis.
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Jungsu Kim, MS, Staff Research Associate
Jungsu is the manager of the cell culture facility in the lab and the mouse colony. She maintains cell stocks and conducts mouse colony maintenance, breeding and genotyping.
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Nicolaus Nazarenkov, BS, MS, Staff Research Associate
Nick received his Masters in Biological Science from Clemson University and Bachelors in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior from University of California, Davis. His previous research was in IBS nutrition as well as liver disease drug studies. Nick is currently working on Alzheimer's disease and animal behavior studies.
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Aakash Patel, BS, MAS, Staff Research Associate
Aakash graduated from UCSD with a BS in Neurobiology and a MAS degree in Clinical Research. As undergrad he worked in Joseph Gleason’s lab investigating neural tube defects. Before joining Miller’s lab, Aakash worked in a Translational Neuroplasticity and Repair Lab at the UCLA Department of Neurosurgery. His current research projects include testing tactile allodynia in mouse models, dissecting various tissues, immunohistochemistry and imaging.
Lab Members
Current Members
Meet the members of the Miller Laboratory: