Current Lab Members
Dr. Juan Pablo 'JP' Palavicini
Principal Investigator
JP has a broad background in neuroscience and metabolism with extensive training and expertise in the molecular mechanisms underlying aging and age-related diseases, specifically Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and diabetes, with a particular focus on animal model systems and lipid metabolism.
Aside from doing research and writing manuscripts and grants, JP loves traveling with his family, playing and watching sports (soccer, basketball, tennis, bowling), watching Netflix series (Lupin being his favorite so far), and drinking (in moderation) craft beers (stouts, porters, and hazy IPAs being his favorites).
(210) 450-3044
Lab Manager / Research Associate-Senior
Victoria 'Vicki' DeLeon
Vicki joined the Palavicini Lab in October 2025 with over 20 years of experience in preclinical animal research. She serves as our lab manager, overseeing purchasing, regulatory coordination, and day‑to‑day operations, and as our research technician, bringing extensive expertise in cognitive, metabolic, and geroscience-focused in vivo studies.
Vicki grew up in San Antonio. Beyond the laboratory, she enjoys reading, gardening, and attending live music shows.
IBMS PhD Candidate (Neuroscience discipline)
Eduardo Gutierrez Kuri, MD, MS
Eduardo, the first PhD student to join the Palavicini Lab (Jan 2024), received his MD from Anáhuac University in Mexico City and his MS in Neuroscience from UTSA. He has been conducting research in this field for over 3 years. His research interests include neurodegenerative diseases, neuroimmunology, neuroplasticity, and molecular neuroscience.
Eduardo’s project focuses on the role of PLCG2, a gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease risk and longevity, in brain health and neuroinflammation. He passed his qualifying exam with honors in June 2025 and his thesis proposal in January 2026.
Eduardo grew up in Torreón, Mexico. Beyond the laboratory, he enjoys watching movies, sports, and tabletop gaming.
Summer Medicine Student (MSTAR program)
Ananya Gupta
Ananya is a medical student interested in neurology, neurosurgery, and the care of older adults. Her experiences volunteering in hospice care and supporting family members with neurodegenerative disease sparked a strong commitment to improving quality of life for people with age-related conditions.
In the Palavicini Lab, Ananya is studying how age and humanized tau biology interact with microglial responses after ischemic stroke in MAPT-GR mice, with the goal of understanding mechanisms that drive post-stroke tauopathy and cognitive decline in older adults.
Research Assistant (SPUR program)
Jude Ellison Aden
Jude is a research assistant in the Summer Physiology Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Program. He is a junior biochemistry major at the University of Texas at San Antonio, with research experience in bioconjugation and chemical synthesis. Jude plans to apply to MD programs and pursue a career as a physician specializing in allergy and immunology.
He recently joined the Palavicini Lab, where he studies microglia and astrocytes and their roles in immunology and Alzheimer’s disease progression. His current project investigates the relationship between PLCγ2 and Alzheimer’s disease. While statistical evidence suggests that this gene and its protein product influence disease progression and potential protection, the mechanisms remain unclear. His work focuses on comparing brain activity in mice with functional versus non-functional forms of PLCγ2 to better understand its role.
Jude grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Outside the laboratory, he enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction, swimming, and weightlifting.
Affiliate - Non-degree PhD student
Maximus 'Max' Peto
Max is a researcher focused on mechanisms and interventions that influence human longevity and age-related disease. He brings extensive experience in large-scale literature curation on aging, having screened hundreds of thousands of studies and led the development of resources such as the Rodent Aging Interventions Database (RAID) and MortalityPredictors.org.
Pratush Saravanan
Pratush graduated from the University of California, Berkeley (May 2023), where he studied both Molecular & Cell Biology as well as Bioengineering. His previous research spans a broad range of disciplines focused on neural stem cell engineering, neurodegeneration, and neuroimmunology, with his most recent role being in a translational neuro-oncology lab at UCSF.
As a first-year STX-MSTP M.D./Ph.D. rotation student, he is continuing to explore fundamental biological mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease, with the ultimate goal of characterizing the interplay between AD pathological hallmarks and glial cells in disease progression.
Pratush is originally from Denver, Colorado, and was in the San Francisco Bay Area for the past seven years. Outside of the lab, he enjoys trying new coffee shops and restaurants, playing various sports, and watching movies.
Postbaccaulareate Research Fellow
Charlie Sconiers
Charlie graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Classics. She is interested in how external factors contribute to neurodegeneration and completed a senior honors thesis focusing on the perception of Alzheimer's disease in Ghana. She joined the Palavicini Lab in June 2026 through the HU-ERA-PREP program, where she is continuing her interests in aging and Alzheimer’s disease research.
Outside of the lab, she enjoys arts and crafts activities, such as diamond painting and latch hooking, and participating in community service.
IBMS PhD student (Biology of Aging or Neuroscience discipline)
Your name could be here!
Interested in joining the Palavicini Lab? We are recruiting a motivated graduate student to lead a project in Alzheimer’s disease or the biology of aging, aligned with our lab’s focus on brain aging and dementia. Reach out to Dr. Palavicini to learn more about rotation opportunities.