Our team
Want to collaborate/work with us? Write to cfalcone@towson.edu
Carmen Falcone, PhD
Principal Investigator
Carmen received her PhD in Functional and Structural Genomics from SISSA in 2017, studying the mechanisms regulating astrocyte development in mouse. Then, she moved to University of California – Davis for her postdoc, where she investigated astrocyte evolution and development across mammals, and started her focus on the interlaminar astrocytes, a special type of cortical astrocytes (ILAs), with the cell body in layer I and long, branched processes crossing several cortical layers. In 2022, she became Group Leader at SISSA. In 2025, she became an Assistant Professor at Towson University (Towson, MD, USA), where she moved her lab. Her lab currently focuses on the study of astrocyte roles in the primate brain, on the understanding of cortical astrocyte roles in the evolution, development and pathology of the mammalian brain.
Elena Christou
Undergraduate student researcher
Elena is a senior undergraduate student in the Honors College at Towson University, studying biology with a focus on cellular, molecular, and organismal physiology. Passionate about medicine, she works as a medical assistant in a dermatology office, developing valuable hands-on experience in patient care and healthcare practice. Drawn to pathological research, she joined the lab in August 2025, eager to better understand how cellular mechanisms drive disease processes. Currently, she is investigating the effect of lesion-induced damage on radial glial morphology and reactive gliosis in the cerebral cortex of turtle brains.
Kyle Hastings
Undergraduate student researcher
I am a sophomore undergraduate student of the Honors College at Towson University. Following the pre-med path, I am studying biology, looking to pursue a career in medicine. Inspired by a general desire to understand the human body with greater depth, the opportunity to advance the breadth of neurological literature drew me to conduct research in Dr. Falcone’s lab. For all of my academic career I’ve been a student, so the chance to not only learn, but to explore questions that have yet to be answered is decidedly exciting. Working alongside my fellow undergraduate researchers has been rewarding, frequently collaborating on projects and sharing each other’s interest in making new discoveries. I look forward to further developing my current research project, investigating varicose-projection glia in self-regenerating planaria under neuroinflammation. Outside Dr. Falcone’s lab, I represented the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics in the Towson SGA, am a member of Towson club tennis, and enjoy drawing & painting.
Anh Quynh Nguyen Do
Undergraduate student researcher
Xin chào! I am an international student at Towson University, pursuing the Bachelor of Science in Nursing with plans to become a Pediatric nurse. I found it interesting when Dr. Falcone introduced me to astrocyte cells in the cerebral cortex of mammals and the unfolding answer about VP astrocytes, which sparked my interest in how brain cells function beyond neurons. Being part of the team has expanded my knowledge beyond the practical experience I will gain in nursing. I am also curious about how cellular lesions can lead to brain diseases and look forward to exploring this area. Besides academics, I love traveling around the world during winter or summer breaks. I enjoy walking along local streets, visiting historic museums, talking to local people, eating the same food they eat daily, and seeing the world through their eyes.
Alyssa Geddie
Undergraduate student researcher
Alyssa is a junior undergraduate student studying Biology with a concentration in Secondary Education at Towson University. Alyssa is also a member of the Towson University Honors College, where she has gained experience mentoring incoming honors students to help integrate them into the community. In her free time, Alyssa is busy substitute teaching for a local school district and preschool, gaining hands-on experiences working with unique students. Her interest in Neuroscience stems from a birth injury that she has known as Erb’s Palsy. Alyssa is looking forward to learning more about Neuroscience via Dr. Falcone’s lab, which she joined in December 2025.
Prasiddika Thapaliya
Undergraduate student researcher
I’m a sophomore Biology major on the Pre-Med track with a Psychology minor, and I’ve always been fascinated by the brain — how it works, how it shapes who we are, and how mental health influences our lives. I’m especially interested in astrocytes and the way they support and impact overall brain function. My long-term goal is to become a neurosurgeon, but beyond the medical side, I’m passionate about truly understanding people. I care a lot about how the mind works, why people think the way they do, and how positive influence can help someone grow. My academic path reflects that mix of science, curiosity, and wanting to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Collaborators
We are lucky to collaborate to brilliant and fun researchers across the world.
Bruno Mota, PhD
Professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)
Francesco Petrelli, PhD
Research associate at University of Lausanne (Lausanne, Switzerland)
Chiara Magliaro, PhD
Assistant professor at Centro E. Piaggio, University of Pisa (Pisa, Italy)
Nina Patzke, PhD
Professor at Health and Medical University, Potsdam (Potsdam, Germany)
Carmen Muñoz Ballester
Assistant Professor at UMBC (Baltimore, USA)
Giuliano Taccola, PhD
Associate professor at SISSA (Trieste, Italy)
Jean-marie Graïc, PhD
Assistant professor at University of Padua (Padua, Italy)
Nunzio Iraci, PhD
Associate professor at University of Catania (Catania, Italy)
Laura Civiero, PhD
Associate professor at University of Padua (Padua, Italy)