Kelly Cristine Santos Roballo

My formal educational training was in veterinary medicine (D.V.M at University of Sao Paulo), animal bioscience and neuroscience (Ph.D. at University of Sao Paulo), and central and peripheral nervous system injury/repair and immunology (Post doc at University of Wyoming). My background and my skillset are wide-ranged, and I have over the past 12 years expanded my knowledge to new areas of biology, biomedicine, and bioengineering. As a veterinarian, I have training in general surgery for laboratory animals, pets, and farm animals including pigs. As PhD student at Dr. Ambrosios laboratory at University of Sao Paulo, I developed a project on peripheral nerve regeneration using neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (EV) cargo such as micro-RNAs and proteins. I was also responsible for taking care of laboratory animals (mice, rats, and rabbits), and performing genetic modification (CRISPR Cas-9; iPS cells/iPSCs) and immunological evaluation in various cell types (e.g., stem cells, iPSCs, primary culture cells, neuronal cells, choroid plexus cells). As a post-doctorate fellow at Dr. Bushmans laboratory at University of Wyoming, I developed novel immunomodulatory mechanisms and biomaterials for peripheral nerve and spinal cord repair. Nowadays I am an Assistant Professor of Neuroscience and Physiology at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Tech. My research is focused on (1) developing new methods that will determine the best nerve graft to be used after a nerve injury, (2) investigating the potential of cell derived extracellular vesicle populations and their cargo to improve regenerative therapies and result in individualized care after nervous system injury, and (3) understanding the relationship between glial cells, neurons, and immunomodulatory cells (immune cells and stem cells) in the success and failure of spinal cord regeneration. Furthermore, I am affiliated with the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles, 500 Women Scientists, Society for Neuroscience, Sigma Xi and Peripheral Nerve Society. Within the Peripheral Nerve Society, I serve on the Communication Committee. I also have been serving as an ad-hoc reviewer for several journals and NIH study sections. (Source: Lattes Curriculum)