MEET THE TEAM

Dr. Paulo Lizano, M.D., Ph.D

Dr. Paulo Lizano is a neuropsychiatrist, physician-scientist, and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School with expertise in translational neuroscience. He is the Division Chief of Translational Neuroscience and directs the ASPIRE first episode psychosis clinic at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. 

His research laboratory focuses on understanding the inflammatory and microvascular basis of psychosis, as well as vision science and neuromodulation. Dr. Lizano is particularly interested in the use of complementary translational approaches to study inflammation and microvascular features from different perspectives.

He combines retinal and brain imaging techniques to identify novel biomarkers and examine factors contributing to the cellular-molecular deficits in psychosis by examining patient-specific cellular models of microvascular function. A long-term goal of the laboratory is to identify both diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers and novel tractable treatment targets for patients living with psychosis, particularly those in the early psychosis period.

Clinical Research Assistants

  • Nick Raymond

    Nick holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts. His primary work is related to the trans-cranial direct current stimulation projects ongoing in the lab. His research interests including modulating the brain’s electrophysiology properties to better understand and treat the symptomatology of psychotic disorders. Outside of the lab, Nick enjoys riding motorcycles, reading and hanging out with friend.

  • Brendan Stiltner

    Brendan has his undergraduate degree in Psychology from Connecticut College. In the Lizano Lab, he works on the retinal trial and the choroid plexus research project. He is interested in how multiple neuroimaging methods and advanced statistical techniques can be incorporated to understand heterogeneity in psychiatry. When he’s not working in the lab, Brendan likes playing ultimate frisbee, cooking, listening to music, and spending time with friends.

  • Daphne Ying

    Daphne earned her B.S. in Psychobiology from the University of California, Los Angeles and her Masters of Science in Medical Science from Boston University. She is interested in medication adherence, trauma, and insight in early course psychosis. She also works in the ASPIRE clinic. She enjoys running, bird watching, and art history while she is not working

Post Doctoral Fellows

  • Rebekah Trotti, MS, PhD

    Rebekah received her BS, MS, and PhD in Psychology at the University of Georgia and training in clinical science at Emory University. Her research primarily investigates the neurophysiology of psychosis and mood disorders using electroencephalography and transcranial electrical stimulation technologies. Outside of work, Rebekah likes to run and entertain her dog Ruthie.

  • Deniz Altunsu kurt, MSc, PhD

    Deniz received her BSc and MSc in Neuroscience at Bahcesehir University, and her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at Koc University. Deniz is a post-doctoral researcher working on Blood-Brain Barrier disruption in Early Course Psychosis using patient-derived iPSC. Outside of the lab, Deniz likes to run and explore new restaurants in Boston.

  • Ling-Yu (Beryl) Huang, PhD

    Beryl received her BS in Neurobiology from Purdue University and PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Georgia. Her current research interests are to investigate the morphological changes of the choroid plexus across age and psychiatric diagnoses and to identify the brain activities which support human cognitive flexibility. When not at work, Beryl likes to spend time on yoga, climbing, paddling, and science fiction.

  • Cemal Demirlek, MD, PhD

    Cemal earned both his MD and PhD in Neuroscience in Turkey. His research focuses on understanding severe mental illness using multi-modal data collection techniques

Data Analysts

  • Victor Zheng

  • Oshin Kushwaha

Medical Trainees

  • Michael Song

    BIDMC Psychiatry Research Track Resident - PGY2

  • Maria Alino Dies

Students

  • Morgan Hricay

  • Victoria Lyons

  • Alexa Adesokan

  • Prachi Patel

Alumni

  • Deepthi Bannai

    PhD Student (UC Berkeley)

  • Rachal Hegde

    Medical Student (St. George’s University)

  • Willa Molho

    Medical Student (Boston University)

  • Chelsea Kiely

    Medical Student (Ohio State University)

  • Daman Dhunna

    Medical Student (Boston University)

  • Olivia Lutz

    PhD Student (University of Chicago)

  • Sovannarath Pong

    Medical Student (Ohio State College of Medicine)

  • Marlynn Lopez

    Medical Student (Carle Illinois College of Medicine)

  • Ali Sendil

    Psychiatry Resident (Rutgers University)

  • Nora Sheehan

    Medical Student ( Boston University School of Medicine)

  • Iniya Adhan

    Medical Student ( Medical College of Wisconsin)

  • Melanie Nisenson

    Medical Student (Tufts University School of Medicine)

  • George Ling

    Psychiatry Resident ( University of Alabama Birmingham)

  • Erik Velez-Perez

    MD/ MPH Student (Ponce Health Sciences University)

  • Swetha Gandu

    Medical Student ( Touro University Nevada)

  • Pallavi Krishnarao

    Medical Student (Baylor College of Medicine)

  • Neha Iska

    Medical School ( Michigan State University)

  • Tatiana Winkleman

    Medical Student ( Harvard Medical School )

  • Diego Carreno

    Medical Student ( Brody School of Medicine)

  • Meredith Norton

    Medical Student (University of College- Dublin Medical School)

  • Jothini Sritharan

    Neuroscience PhD Student (Swiss Paraplegic Research Institute)

  • Ally Zeng

  • Kiranpreet Dhaliwal

    Medical Student( Western University-School of Osteopathic Medicine)

  • Jolie Hoang

    PhD Student (Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai)

  • Tunde Aideyan

    PhD Student (Northeastern University)

  • Matthew Johnson

    Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship (Yale)

  • Emma Oss

    Medical student (Creighton University)

Collaborators, Mentors, Advisors