The team

Manus was trained at Duke University (BS: Physics; BA: Philosophy), Johns Hopkins University (PhD: Biophysics), and the University of Oxford (post-doc: Neurology). He joined the Johns Hopkins faculty in 2009 and in 2010 moved to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he is currently a Professor of Neurology, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, and Radiology and Radiological Sciences.

Paula Trujillo is a Research Assistant Professor in the Cognitive Division of the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research is dedicated to the development of innovative quantitative brain MRI biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, alongside methods that integrate multi-modal imaging, cognitive, and clinical data.

Recently, she has focused on the multi-site implementation of MRI protocols for clinical trials. Over the past decade, she has played a crucial role in numerous research studies, leading the design of experimental protocols, MRI acquisition, data processing, and analysis. She is also committed to mentoring, supervising undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. students in their research endeavors.

Before her current role, she completed postdoctoral research fellowships at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the National Research Council of Italy. She holds a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from Politecnico di Milano, an M.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Politecnico di Torino, and completed her undergraduate studies at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogota, Colombia

Kilian is a senior post-doctoral fellow in the Neurology department. He is focusing on developing machine learning algorithms for neuroimaging analysis. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer sciences and his master’s degree in bioengineering from Université de Strasbourg, France. Kilian obtained his PhD in Computer Science from Université de Bordeaux, France. During his doctoral research, he worked on new machine learning methods for the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and prognosis of subjects suffering from amnesic mild cognitive impairment. His current research includes studying developing new methods for the study of the glymphatic system. In addition, he is involved in other projects that use imaging techniques to assess changes occurring with the course of neurodegenerative diseases.
In his free time, Kilian likes skateboarding around campus and educating the team about French wines.

Hi, my name is Megan Aumann and I am a post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Neurology Department. I am interested in utilizing non-invasive MRI methods to identify biomarkers that can be used to assess disease progression in neurological and cerebrovascular diseases. Additionally, I am interested in understanding how maintaining a routine care schedule (or lack of) can impact health outcomes in patients with chronic and progressive diseases such as Sickle Cell Disease. My doctoral research focused on understanding the role of the cerebellum in modulating dopamine networks in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Essential Tremor. In my free time, I enjoy playing competitive sand volleyball, paddleboarding, and rooting for the Atlanta Braves baseball team. 

Wesley started as a post-doctoral fellow in the Neurology department in Fall of 2022 after completing his PhD in the joint Medical College of Wisconsin/Marquette University Biomedical Engineering Department, using MRI to better understand hemodialysis-related neurodegeneration. He is interested in developing and using quantitative cerebrovascular MRI techniques to understand pathophysiology and disease progression to help clinicians make better informed decisions on treatments and interventions. Currently, Wesley is working primarily on sickle cell anemia and moyamoya disease projects. In his free time, Wes is a cyclist and enjoys going to concerts at The Basement East, movies at the Belcourt theater, and playing pickup basketball.

Maria is a Senior Program Manager in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She earned both her bachelor’s and MBA degrees from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee where she also minored in negotiations and entrepreneurship. Maria joined the Donahue Lab in 2019. Most of her work focuses on administrating and overseeing studies from inception to close out by. Her day-to-day efforts focus on data collection processing, management of databases, as well as recruitment, and patient interactions. Previous studies she has worked on focused on nutrition and behavioral interventions in underserved communities. Additionally, Maria assists other labs and collaborators across departments at VUMC during study development and close-out.  

Samantha Davis graduated in 2016 from Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. She is currently working on her Masters in Biomedical Science at Barry University. She joined the Donahue lab in 2022 as a research coordinator for the sickle cell, lymphedema, and stroke projects. In her free time, Samantha enjoys traveling, spending time with family and friends, and almost anything adventurous. 

Lauren Milner is a Clinical/Translational Research Coordinator II in the Pediatric Neurology Department. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Sports Medicine from Samford University in 2021 and her Master of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology from the University of Memphis in 2023. She joined the Donahue lab in 2023 and currently works on sickle cell, stroke, and type 1 diabetes studies. 

Katie Hay is a Manager of Research Programs in the Department of Neurology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She earned her MS degree in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, with a concentration in neuropsychology. Her research background started at Johns Hopkins University in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit, where her work focused on researching more efficacious treatments for individuals with substance use disorders. Currently, she is serving at Vanderbilt exploring the effect of neurodegeneration on cognition, behavior, and movement symptoms through studies that utilize neuroimaging techniques such as MRI and PET. Her studies focus on Parkinson's Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple Systems Atrophy, Dementia with Lewy Bodies, and others.

Caleb Han is a Clinical Coordinator in the Donahue Lab. He graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience. He has been involved in the Donahue Lab since his sophomore year of college. Currently, he is studying cerebrovascular reactivity in moyamoya patients and working with MRI-compatible EEG equipment to explore physiological changes of the brain during sleep.  

Maeve Curtin is a Clinical/Translational Research Coordinator II for the Division of Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology. In 2023, She earned her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and psychology from Skidmore College. She assists with the implementation of innovative neuroimaging to investigate neurofluid kinetics, cerebrovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, she is the lead coordinator of SageHD, a pharmaceutical clinical trial for Huntington’s Disease. After VUMC, she will pursue an education and career in neuropsychiatric healthcare.

Melanie Leguizamon is a Clinical/Translational Research Coordinator I in the Neurology Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She recently graduated from Vanderbilt University in 2024 with a BS degree in Cognitive Studies; Child Development; and Medicine, Health, and Society. She first joined the Donahue and Claassen labs in 2022 as an undergraduate research assistant and worked to apply deep learning algorithms to structural MRI to investigate perivascular changes in relation to impaired glymphatic clearance in neurodegenerative disease state. She is now involved in projects looking at the effects of exercise in Parkinson’s disease, cerebrovascular reactivity in Moyamoya, choroid plexus and parasagittal dural volume changes in ICU delirium, and more. Following her time at VUMC, she plans to apply for her PhD in Clinical Psychology.

Abigail Dubois is a Research Analyst I in the Neurology Department at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in molecular neuroscience from the University of Rhode Island in 2024 and joined the Donahue Lab shortly thereafter. Previously, she worked on projects related to the early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease using retinal imaging at the University of Rhode Island and Butler Hospital in Providence, RI. Under Dr. Donahue, she is investigating how dysfunction of the glymphatic system contributes to cognitive decline and elevated beta-amyloid levels in Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on water density of the choroid plexus and CSF flow. After VUMC, she will continue her education and apply to medical schools.

Alex Song is a 4^th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Graduate Program at Vanderbilt University. He earned his BA degree in Neuroscience and Economics from Vanderbilt University. After graduating, he worked in the Claassen lab at VUMC as a research analyst and coordinator where his work focused on the biological determinants of impulsivity in Parkinson’s disease using PET imaging. His current research work focuses on leveraging novel MR methods to investigate cerebral oxygen metabolism in the context of stroke risk in sickle cell disease.

Bryce Keating is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Psychology and a minor in Quantitative Methods graduating in May 2025. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in the years following his graduation from Vanderbilt. He is a member of the SyBBURE Searle Undergraduate Research Program, an instructor for WilSkills, a student-led outdoor organization that runs backpacking, caving, climbing, and paddling trips for Vanderbilt students, and a volunteer with Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science (VSVS).

Gabriela Pierobon Mays is an undergraduate student pursuing a major in Neuroscience and Medicine, Health, and Society graduating in May 2024. She plans to apply to medical school in the summer of 2024. She joined the Donahue lab in April 2021. On campus, she is a member of the Varsity Vanderbilt Women’s Swim Team, Vice-President of Engagement for Vanderbilt Dance Marathon, co-chair of shadowing for the Vanderbilt Pre-Medical Society, and enjoys volunteering as a Crisis Text Line Counselor.

Kabir Bagai, originally from Nashville, is currently a senior at Columbia University majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Entrepreneurship. He is interested in exploring the applications of intelligent systems such as Machine Learning and Robotics in healthcare. He joined the Donahue Lab in June 2024 and is working on developing deep-learning models to segment ventricular structures of the brain in MRI. Outside the classroom, he enjoys playing tennis, rock climbing, and photography which he does as a hobby and professionally through his freelance business.