Dom D'Andrea is a research assistant in the Biologics Lab at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, where they work with Dr Colin Franz in the Neuroregenerative Rehabilitation Lab. The lab's current focus is on improving outcomes after peripheral nerve injury, and on characterizing the role of several relatively common single-nucleotide polymorphisms on neuronal regeneration post-injury. Their work combines in vivo and in vitro research to help forge a better understanding of these health issues, with special interest in modeling these diseases with animal models and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to study axon regeneration and motor neuron disease.
They received their undergraduate degree at Oberlin College, earning a BS in neuroscience. While there, they worked with Dr Michael Loose studying the brain circuitry involved in human decision making using EEG, and with Dr Keith Tarvin analyzing social competition in wild songbirds. After graduating they worked with Dr Nathan Cooper to study the breeding behavior and habitats of the Kirtland’s Warbler, a small endangered songbird native solely to an isolated area in Michigan. They have also worked in public science education at the Lawrence Hall of Science (Berkeley, CA).
