Team

Dr. Lambertini is a molecular biologist by training with a longstanding interest in epi/genetics and translational science. He began his career in 1998 at the Ramazzini Institute (Bologna, Italy), where he established and directed the institute’s molecular biology unit, focusing on biomarkers of long-term health effects from chemical and food-additive exposures in experimental models and contributing to exposure assessment in occupational cohorts. In 2006, he joined the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai to study epigenetic placental markers associated with altered neural and metabolic development in children exposed to environmental determinants. Since 2015, he has collaborated with the ISMMS Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute (DOMI), where he established the DOMI bioinformatics core leveraging ISMMS high-performance computing resources and dedicated local compute infrastructure while leading hypothesis-driven analyses and contributing to manuscripts and grant applications. More recently, renewed work on placental biomarkers of altered neurodevelopment has supported his emerging affiliation with the ISMMS Addiction Institute, where he applies multi-omics approaches to questions at the interface of exposure biology, placenta, and addiction-related outcomes.

Joseph directs operations in the research laboratory, ensuring all projects run efficiently and meet key objectives. He manages project workflows, coordinating resources, timelines, and personnel. Additionally, he oversees all aspects of rodent behavior studies and husbandry, maintaining high standards for animal care and research integrity.

Dr. Brea Guerrero is a Data Science Analyst in the Hurd Lab, a role he has held since 2024. He earned his PhD in Neuroscience from Florida State University. He enjoys collaborating with lab members to squeeze as much insight as possible out of rich datasets. He works remotely from Chicago, and when he’s not wrangling data, he’s spending time with his family or on the jiu-jitsu mats.

Dr. Chisholm is a postdoctoral researcher in the Hurd Lab investigating the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms underlying cue-induced opioid relapse, with particular focus on cannabidiol (CBD)-mediated modulation of relapse-related plasticity. Her research integrates behavioral models with transcriptomic and chromatin-level approaches, including RNA-seq and ATAC-seq, to define targets that may be leveraged to reduce relapse vulnerability.

Konrad is a postdoctoral fellow in the Hurd Lab, where he leverages his interdisciplinary expertise in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and addiction neuroscience to investigate epigenetic and transcriptomic changes in both the brain and blood associated with heroin use. His primary research aims to identify peripheral biomarkers for diagnosing opioid use disorder and to develop tools for quantitatively assessing patient recovery. Konrad earned his PhD in Biology from Temple University in Philadelphia, where his research focused on characterizing changes in circular RNA profiles and RNA N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) modifications in the context of natural appetitive reward and opioid exposure. In his free time, you’ll find him running in Central Park, hunting for the next best baked good, or catching a Broadway show.

Diana earned her BSc in Psychology (2018) and MSc in Neuroscience at Sapienza University in Rome, Italy (2020), studying how early life stress affects dopaminergic neurons and adult susceptibility to cocaine. She completed a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience (2024), focusing on oxytocin’s role in the mesocorticolimbic circuit linking early adversity to cocaine vulnerability. She then worked in Germany on a transgenic Parkinson’s disease model. In November 2024, she joined the Hurd Lab to study the neurobehavioral effects of prenatal cannabis exposure.

Andre B. Toussaint is a postdoctoral fellow in the Hurd Laboratory, passionate about understanding how early-life exposures shape development. His work bridges clinical and preclinical research, from conducting behavioral assessments with children to investigating brain and behavior changes in rodent models. With a background in behavioral neuroscience and substance use research, Andre is committed to translating science into meaningful insights that improve lives. Outside of the lab, he enjoys spending time with family, listing to music, and traveling to the Caribbean.

Jeremy Sherman is a current MD/PhD student in the NEU multidisciplinary training area at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. His research in Yasmin Hurd's lab investigates epigenetic signatures of opioid use disorder in the dorsal striatum, a region of the brain critical to habit formation and addiction. His thesis identified multiple gene expression networks involved in neurodegenerative diseases that were perturbed by heroin. He is supported by an NIH F30 grant.

Kion is a PhD student, researching how opioid-induced changes in mitochondrial function within the dorsal striatum contribute to neurodegenerative like changes. Building on insights from sequencing datasets, he employs both in vivo and in vitro models to identify mechanistic links between opioid misuse and neurodegenerative processes, with the goal of revealing actionable targets. He graduated from Charleston Southern University and a post-baccalaureate fellowship through the PREP program at MUSC. Outside the lab, Kion enjoys drawing, cooking, and watching cat videos.

Katie is an MD/PhD Student from Canton, Massachusetts who completed her undergraduate studies at NYU and postgraduate research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. She is studying the underlying molecular etiology of CBD's anxiolytic effects. Outside of the lab, she loves traveling, discovering new restaurants, and spending time outside with her dog, Opal.

Chinonso (Chino) Nwakama started in the MD-PhD program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in July 2023. Chino joined the Hurd lab in July 2025 after completing the first two years of medical school. For his PhD, Chino is studying Opioid induced cognitive impairment and neurodegeneration. Before joining the MD-PhD program at Mount Sinai, Chino studied Neuroscience and History at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities and conducted research on sex differences in drug-induced plasticity in the labs of Drs. Mark Thomas and Paul Mermelstein.

Lauren is a 2nd year Neuroscience PhD student in the Hurd lab investigating the role of prefrontal brain regions in opioid addiction. She aims to leverage multi-omic data from the orbitofrontal cortex to identify drug targets and develop effective therapeutics. She graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Neuroscience in 2022, and completed a post-baccalaureate fellowship at the NIH in 2024. Outside of the lab, Lauren enjoys reading, dancing, and exploring new restaurants.

Eli is an Associate Researcher II with a background in prenatal genetic disease, graduated from Tor Vergata University in Rome. Eli is currently working on addiction-related projects that include DNA, RNA, protein and nuclei extraction from rat and human brain tissue, PBMCs and nuclei isolation from rat and human blood, ATAC-sequencing, and library preparation.

Kailie is a Research Associate I with a background in cancer research and microscopy imaging with various microscopes; confocal, spinning disk confocal, multi-photon, and electron. She received a bachelor's in biology from Castleton University. She is part of the molecular team, using techniques such as RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, qPCR, and nuclei isolation using rat and human samples, and provides guidance on microscopy projects in the lab.

Ignacio joined the Hurd Lab in fall of 2025 as an animal behavior technician. He recently graduated from Yale University in May 2025 with a B.S. in Neuroscience, where he focused on behavioral neuroscience, animal models, and translational research. His interests center on translational neuroscience, epigenetics, and the impact of environmental experiences on brain development and behavior in psychiatric and substance use disorders.He is excited to join the team as he prepares for his graduate training and future research career.

Dr. Salsitz has been an attending physician in the Mount Sinai Beth Israel, Division of Chemical Dependency, New York City, since 1983 and is an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. In 2014, he became the Mount Sinai Beth Israel site principal investigator of the Phase II cannabidiol clinical trial, which investigated how cannabidiol may decrease cue-induced heroin in abstinent heroin dependent human subjects. He is the principal investigator of the Methadone Medical Maintenance research project and certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the Board of Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease. He works as a study physician and provides clinical evaluations and safety of study participants.

Dr. Levesque is the Medical Director of the Opioid Treatment Pathways Program at the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai West. She is also the Associate Director of the Fellowship in Addiction Medicine Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. After receiving her medical degree from the University of Montreal, Dr. Levesque completed a Family Medicine and a Clinician-Scholar residency program at the University of Montreal, an Addiction Medicine fellowship at Mount Sinai West Hospital and a Masters in Experimental Medicine at McGill University.

Dr. Tate serves as a co-investigator and Associate Director of Clinical Trials at the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai (AIMS) where she provides clinical research oversight and contributes to study planning, protocol refinement, resource allocation, and timeline management for all clinical trials initiated by the institutional director, Dr. Yasmin Hurd. Concurrent with her role as Associate Director of Clinical Trials at AIMS, she is the Director of Nutrition at the Center of Excellence of Eating & Weight Disorders at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai where she also provides clinical assessments of patients. In this dual role, she supports collaborative research between the two programs focused on developing novel nutrition-based treatment and pharmacotherapy toward relapse prevention in those with eating disorders and addiction.

Ashanta Yama Carter is Addiction Counselor and Clinical Trials Manager with years of experience and a passion for de-stigmatizing addiction to help individuals with behavioral health difficulties. She sees recovery and research as redemptive process that leads to restoration. In her work as a counselor in multiple modalities, she collaborates with participants to mobilize research participation by increasing engagement and rapport within the community. She uses her eclectic approach to counseling by exploring each individual’s biological, psychological and social needs.

Marjory Paul, PA-C is a physician associate with over 15 years of clinical experience in addiction medicine, anesthesia, primary care, and research. At the Addiction Medicine Institute at Mount Sinai, she performs thorough medical and psychiatric evaluations, follows treatment protocols, and supports clinical research to improve evidence-based practices. Marjory is dedicated to patient education and empowerment, helping individuals navigate substance use recovery and maintain overall health and well-being.

I’m a regulatory affairs and clinical research professional with expertise in managing multi-site trial operations, IRB processes, and regulatory pipelines involving federal agencies. My work is driven by a commitment to advancing ethical, inclusive research through strategic oversight and cross-disciplinary collaboration.

Chris is a physician assistant with experience in addiction medicine, psychiatry, and clinical research.

Raquel is a dedicated healthcare professional with extensive experience as a Registered Nurse in hospital settings. She embraces new challenges with resilience, turning obstacles into opportunities for professional and personal growth. Her experience across the Philippines, Singapore, and the U.S., where she now calls home, has deepened her understanding of coworkers, patients, and their families. Passionate about fostering success and development, she finds fulfillment in roles that allow her to make a meaningful impact while maintaining her fun-loving side.

Gabrielle is a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in functional MRI, currently studying the impact of cannabidiol on neurobiological, behavioural, and clinical factors relevant to substance use disorders. Her current research focuses on CBD's effect on cue-induced craving and anxiety in individuals with opioid use disorder.

Pavan Poojar is a postdoctoral researcher with expertise in advanced MRI techniques, specializing in neuroimaging. His current work uses magnetic resonance spectroscopy to explore the impact of CBD on in vivo glutamatergic levels in individuals with opioid use disorder. Pavan Poojar is committed to leveraging MRI technology to enhance clinical understanding and diagnostic capabilities in neuroscience.

Jenee Wilson is a lead clinical research coordinator on our phase 3 clinical trial studying CBD for opioid use disorder. She plans to continue her education to become and primary care and addiction medicine physician/

Maria Purcell completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at the University of Virginia. At the Hurd lab, she has operated under multiple studies, including UG3 and Neuroimaging. She plans to eventually continue her education to become a clinical psychologist.

Daniel Garcia is a Clinical Research Coordinator for Dr. Hurd’s cannabidiol (CBD) research program. He graduated with a master’s in Biomedical Science from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and holds a BS in Neuroscience from the University of Rochester. He’s interested in attending medical school in the near future with an emphasis in medical research.

Dr. Hanish Kodali is a physician-turned-epidemiologist with expertise in epidemiology, biostatistics, and public health research. At the Addiction Institute at Mount Sinai, he investigates cannabidiol (CBD) as an adjunct therapy for opioid use disorder. His broader work explores non-traditional risk factors for chronic diseases and mental health using large-scale and clinical datasets to improve population health outcomes.

As Project Coordinator, Sarah supports the clinical research team by handling the administrative side of running the lab's studies.