Members

Principal Investigator

Marmar Vaseghi, MD PhD

mvaseghi@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. Vaseghi is a cardiologist, clinical cardiac electrophysiologist, and Professor of Medicine at UCLA and Director of Clinical and Translational Research at the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center. She obtained her MD from Stanford University, MSc in clinical research at UCLA and her PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Physiology at UCLA through the STAR program. She is the principle investigator and co-investigator of several National Institute of Health funded studies evaluating the role of autonomic
nervous system and neuromodulatory therapies in heart rhythm disorders as well as novel catheter ablation techniques to treat arrhythmias. She is the recipient of the NIH New Innovator Award.

Post-doctoral Fellows

Valerie van Weperen, MD PhD

vvanweperen@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. van Weperen is a postdoctoral fellow, who is currently conducting research into the underlying causes of parasympathetic withdrawal in cardiovascular disease, and investigating potential neuromodulatory treatments in the pig model. She earned both her MD and PhD from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and was awarded a full scholarship (Rubicon) from the NWO to pursue her postdoctoral work in the Vaseghi laboratory.

Project Scientists

Asokan Devarajan, PhD

adevarajan@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. Devarajan is an assistant project scientist. He obtained his PhD from University of Madras, Chennai, India, and performed his post-doctoral training at UCLA, examining the role of PON2 in atherosclerosis and diabetes. He is currently evaluating the role of cardiovascular disease on autonomic neuronal function and molecular remodeling.

Visiting Research Scholars

Léa Benabou, MD

LBenabou@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. Benabou received her MD from France and is joining the Vaseghi lab as part of her master's degree. She participates in all large animal studies in the Vaseghi lab.

Maryam Emamimeybodi, MD

memamimeybodi@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. Emamimeybodi received her MD from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences. She is investigating the effects of transcutaneous vagal nerve stimulation on post-operative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Maryam is an avid runner and enjoys exploring LA.

Staff Research Associates

Neil Jani, MD

njani@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. Jani received his MD from the Medical University of Sofia and is currently evaluating the role of Neuropeptide Y in inhibiting sympathovagal balance in the setting of cardiovascular disease in the porcine model. In addition to managing the lab, he oversees students studying in the lab and supervises them in surgical and experimental procedures. When he's not in scrubs, he enjoys tennis, golf, road biking, and board games.

Kerry Wang, MD PhD

kew@mednet.ucla.edu

Dr. Wang is an ENT surgeon by training who obtained his MD from Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China and his PhD from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. He is currently performing studies related to mechanisms of vagal withdrawal in a mouse infarct model. He has significant expertise in head and neck and cardiac procedures related to rodents.

Lab Assistants

Shail Avasthi, BS

savasthi@mednet.ucla.edu

Mr. Avasthi received his bachelors degree from UCLA in 2023 and participates in all large animal studies in the Vaseghi lab.

Kuan Cao, MS

kcao@mednet.ucla.edu

Ms. Cao received her Masters Degree from Cornell University and participates in all the large animal studies in the Vaseghi lab.

Undergraduate Researchers

Ashna Kumar

ashnakumarr@ucla.edu

Ms. Kumar is an undergraduate student at majoring in Psychobiology. She is currently assisting with porcine studies on autonomic innervation of the cardiovascular system in the porcine model and environmental factors that affect autonomic function in mice. She hopes to pursue a career in medicine. 

Artin Khaky

artinkhaky@ucla.edu

Mr. Khaky is an undergraduate student at UCLA majoring in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology. He assists with experimental studies evaluating the effects of sympathoexcitation and parasympathetic dysfunction in the setting of cardiovascular disease in the porcine model. He hopes to pursue a career in scientific research.

Lab Alumni