Stanford University
Showing 23,351-23,360 of 36,217 Results
-
Derick Okwan
Assistant Professor of Pathology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsBroadly, the Okwan lab’s primary interest is to understand how and why the immune system contributes to nearly all chronic diseases. The immune system of the modern human has evolved from a history of stress to the species: famines, continual bouts of lethal pandemics, as well as major climate/environmental and migratory changes that exposed the immune system to novel threats. At the forefront of these challenges are innate immune cells, particularly neutrophils, the most abundant leukocytes. For the first time in human history – at least in the western world- we live in an era of abundance. The Okwan lab is interested in understanding how this traumatic history creates a functional mismatch for the neutrophil, which we believe underpins their roles in chronic diseases of the modern era: cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disorders. Rather than wholesale depletion of neutrophils and innate immune cells, we seek to identify novel approaches to leverage these cells to combat various diseases.
-
Okikiola Morenike Olajide
Postdoctoral Scholar, Biology
BioOkikiola M. Olajide, PhD is a molecular virologist and emerging structural biologist specializing in HIV-1 vaccine research. Currently a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Barnes Lab at Stanford University, Dr. Olajide focuses on designing HIV-1 immunogens that elicit silent face-targeting broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and developing innovative HIV infection models using human spleen organoids. Her research aims to bridge the gap between promising preclinical immunogens and their effectiveness in human clinical trials, advancing the path toward more effective HIV vaccines. Dr. Olajide earned her PhD in Biology from Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg, where she investigated protein-protein interactions crucial for viral entry in bat influenza A viruses, pioneering approaches such as photo-affinity protein crosslinking and genetic code expansion. She also holds an MSc in Medical Virology from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, where she studied the role of cockroaches in the dissemination and sustained transmission of live-attenuated oral polio vaccine virus. During her BSc in Microbiology at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, she uncovered an ongoing rubella outbreak among at-risk, unvaccinated pregnant women. A strong advocate for advancing research in developing regions, Dr. Olajide actively supports training initiatives for scientists in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her commitment to mentorship, shaped by her experiences as an international scholar, drives her to guide the next generation of researchers in making meaningful scientific contributions.
-
Clayton Olash
Affiliate, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
BioClayton Olash, MD is a psychiatry resident at the Medical University of South Carolina and an affiliate researcher with Stanford University. His work bridges psychiatry, neuroscience, and contemplative traditions, with a focus on how altered states of consciousness can catalyze lasting psychological change.
Clayton's current research spans multiple projects, including studies on ibogaine and its impact on the default mode network, rapid-acting neuromodulation techniques such as SAINT TMS combined with meditation, and a novel high-dose electrotherapy device for home-based treatment of depression. His broader aim is to understand how psychedelics, brain stimulation, and meditative practices can modulate self-related processing and promote enduring well-being.
With backgrounds in philosophy, psychology, and medicine, Clayton's work emphasizes integration: uniting ancient contemplative wisdom with modern neuroscience and emerging technologies. His long-term goal is to develop translational models of care that transform transient altered states into sustainable therapeutic traits.
