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Meet Our Team

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Surya Reis, PhD

Director Research Operations, CNL

Executive Director, MPL

Co-Chair LMDG, MGH

sreis [at] mgh.harvard.edu​

My main scientific interests center around understanding the biological and chemical underpinnings impacting mental health states and identifying what can be measured, quantified, and modified to ultimately improve human wellbeing. My work focuses on high-throughput assay development for CNS drug discovery with an emphasis on high-content imaging, automation, and data analysis pipeline development.

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I have studied Biology and Mathematics at the University of Mainz, Germany, received a B.Sc. in Human Genetics at UCL, London, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Genetics from the Erasmus MC, Rotterdam before arriving at MGH.

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Paloma Tuttle, PhD

Research Lab Operations Manager

PTUTTLE-VASSEUR [at] mgh.harvard.edu

As a bioorganic chemist by training, I am broadly interested in advancing novel and ethnobotanical therapeutic treatments and illuminating their underlying molecular mechanisms. I earned a BS in Chemistry from Florida International University and a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University, completing my dissertation on the elucidation of a novel rearrangement mechanism of inhibitor adducts which facilitates targeted treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders and confers drug resistance in acute myeloid leukemia. I joined the Haggarty lab to support administrative operations and innovation in research programs.

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Daniel Fass, PhD

Staff Scientist

DFASS [at] mgh.harvard.edu

My long-term scientific goals are to improve our understanding of pathological mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric diseases, and to discover novel therapeutics for these diseases. Much of my work involves elucidating the phenotypic consequences of disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors and transcriptional coregulator proteins. I screen small molecules for their ability to reverse these phenotypic consequences. In addition to transcription factors, I have also worked on ion channels, GPCRs, and signal transduction pathways involved in neuroplasticity and neuropsychiatric diseases.

I obtained a BA in Psychology at Rutgers University, a PhD in Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh, and post-doctoral training at the Oregon Health & Science University.

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Debasis Patnaik, PhD

Staff Scientist

DPATNAIK [at] mgh.harvard.edu

My main interest is drug discovery with epigenetic targets.

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Carl Alexander Sandhof, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

CSANDHOF [at] mgh.harvard.edu

My research interests are the molecular and cellular mechanisms which underlie the accumulation and intercellular transmission of prion-like proteins that is observed in neurological disorders with CNS proteinopathy. I believe that understanding how these mechanisms are connected to the diseases’ pathogenesis and how we can modulate them are fundamental for the development of novel pharmacological interventions.

My current research focuses on the potential of using mTOR independent autophagy activating small molecules to clear accumulated misfolded proteins in patient derived iPSC tauopathy models. Being able to enhance the cell’s own degradative capacity which is frequently impaired in CNS proteinopathies might enable us to treat patients that suffer from diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and FTDs.

I studied at the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, Germany, where I obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biosciences, a master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology, followed by a Dr. rer. nat. in Biology. In my doctoral studies I investigated genetic modifiers of cell-to-cell transmission and endo-lysosomal escape of the prion-like proteins α-synuclein and tau.

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Karis Will, PhD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

KEWILL [at] mgh.harvard.edu

I am interested in uncovering the spatial organization of biosynthetic enzymes that produce neuroactive small molecules in the human central nervous system. I use fluorescence microscopy to quantify the subcellular localization and colocalization of these enzymes in human cellular systems. I am also interested in characterizing the effects of plant-derived natural products on neuroplasticity in human neurons.

I earned my BS in Chemistry from Stanford University and a PhD in Chemistry from Harvard University. My training in chemistry allows me to synergize my interests in biological pathways with understanding the molecular mechanisms underpinning the neuroactivities of various neuroactive small molecules.

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Sergio Lázaro Martínez

Graduate Student

SLAZAROMARTINEZ [at] mgh.harvard.edu

I hold a BSc in Biotechnology from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain, and an MSc in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience, with a specialization in Fundamental Neuroscience, from Maastricht University, the Netherlands. My research is driven by a strong interest in the fundamental neurobiological mechanisms underlying the cognitive and emotional effects of psychedelic drugs. Currently, as a PhD student at the Haggarty Lab, I am building on the research that formed the basis of my master’s thesis, focusing on the therapeutic potential of understudied but ethnobotanically significant psychedelic plants and preparations. Collaborating closely with the Medicinal Plant Lab, I adopt a neuroethnopharmacology approach to discover novel neuroplasticity modulators, giving serious consideration to traditional methods of preparation and use of psychedelic plants, and integrating biochemical, imaging, and electrophysiological techniques to study their mechanisms of action.

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​AJ Schick

Graduate Student, Chemical Biology, Harvard

ASCHICK [at] g.harvard.edu

I’m currently a graduate student with the Chemical Biology, and Leder Human Biology and Translational Medicine programs at Harvard Medical School. My research interests include using chemical probes to learn about the disease mechanisms of migraine and other headache disorders as well as understanding how drugs that treat these disorders affect the central nervous system. Additionally, I’m investigating possible novel headache treatments derived from natural products.


I’m originally from Stamford, Connecticut, but I’ve spent a large portion of my childhood growing up in North Falmouth, Massachusetts. My hobbies outside of the lab include creating and producing music with my band, watching F1 racing or any other motorsport, as well as cooking new recipes with my girlfriend.

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​Julia S. Etkin, MBE

Graduate Student

JETKIN [at] bwh.harvard.edu

I am a PhD Candidate in the Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. My doctoral research is focused on psychedelic medicine, ethics, and regulation, funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions of the European Commission. I completed my Master of Science in Bioethics as a Dean’s Scholar at Harvard Medical School in 2026 and was the 2025-2026 Student Fellow of the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School. I previously held research appointments with the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard and the Yale Collaboration for Regulatory Rigor, Integrity, and Transparency at Yale School of Medicine. My interdisciplinary research addresses mind-body harmonization in pharmaceutical and psychiatric ethics, policy, and regulation through novel psychoactive substances, altered states of consciousness, and transformative interventions. In my free time, I take solace in nature, practice yoga and meditation, and spend time with animals.

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Ian Johnson

Research Technician

IDJOHNSON [at] g.harvard.edu

I obtained a master’s degree in medical science and bachelor’s in molecular biology and biotechnology from the University of Delaware. My goal is to expand my knowledge as I start my career in the world of molecular biology and biotechnology.

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Michael Motoc

Medical Student

MMOTOC [at] bwh.harvard.edu

I studied Biology with a sub-focus on Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, conducting neuro-behavioral research in addiction in the Flagel Lab. I then left for London to do both a Masters degree in Art History at The Courtauld (focusing on modernism, specifically the intersection between Psychology, Surrealism, and Philosophy) while conducting neurodevelopment research in the Williams Lab at King’s College London. 

 

I am currently a 4th year medical student at HMS, and I am particularly fascinated by how psychedelics can impact neurodevelopment and neuronal plasticity. Moreover, I would love to explore prior botanical research that may reveal much about the under-studied psychedelic plants and their impacts on human physiology. 

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