The once controversial idea that parental experiences, such as stress or diet, can shape the physiology and behavior of their offspring via epigenetic mechanisms has become an active area of research. Dr. Mathieu Wimmer studies the influence of drug abuse in fathers (sires) on future generations. His research program combines animal models of drug addiction and memory formation with molecular biology techniques to investigate the impact of paternal drug taking on drug-related behaviors and memory formation in progeny.

Dr. Wimmer is also interested in epigenetic remodeling events in the brain that underlie these inherited changes in behavior. Dr. Wimmer received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania under the mentorship of Dr. Ted Abel. His postdoctoral training under the guidance of Dr. Chris Pierce at Penn focused on the transgenerational epigenetics of cocaine addiction. Dr. Wimmer’s research is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Reza graduated from Tehran University in 2005 with a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology. He earned an M.S in Molecular Biology from the national institute of genetic engineering and biotechnology (NIGEB), where his work focused on cloning new genes in the B. subtilis genome.  His Ph.D. in Medical Proteomics from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences focused on the meta-analysis of available high-throughput data on Alzheimer's disease.  In the Wimmer lab, Reza has been developing bioinformatic analytical pipelines for large sequencing data sets. His projects are aimed at delineating the molecular signatures associated with chronic drug exposure in reward-related brain regions. He is also continuing to purse meta-analyses of existing data sets related to addiction-like behaviors in rodents and chronic drug use in humans.

Dr. Karbalaei's publications

Dana earned her B.A. in Psychology from Marshall University in 2016. Under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Gould, she received her Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Health from Penn State University in the summer of 2021. Her graduate research focused broadly on genomic, neurobiological and behavioral underpinnings of learning and addiction in rodent models. Dana joined the Wimmer lab in the Fall of 2021. Her current research interests include mechanisms underlying multi- and transgenerational inheritance of drug addiction phenotypes, as well as the development and study of rodent behavioral paradigms. 

Dr. Zeid's publications

Joanna graduated from the University of Massachusetts Boston with a B.S. in Biology in May of 2021. While at the University of Massachusetts Boston, Joanna was a research assistant in Dr. S. Tiffany Donaldson's lab where she studied environmental enrichment as a treatment for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. She also contributed to work concerning the effects of amphetamine exposure in adolescent rats. She joined the Wimmer lab as a PhD student in fall 2021 and hopes to investigate the epigenetics of chronic drug use and how drug addiction may contribute to cognitive deficits. Outside of the lab, Joanna likes making and listening to music, fitness, and reading comics.

Genesis graduated from Lawrence University with a B.A. in Neuroscience in June of 2021. She relocated to Germany where she worked as a research assistant in Dr. Vanessa Stempel’s lab at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research investigating sex and estrous-specific changes in the periaqueductal gray (PAG). She joined the Wimmer lab as a PhD student in the fall of 2024. She is interested in exploring how the estrous cycle may modulate addiction-related neural plasticity. In her free time she enjoys cooking, attending music events, and traveling. 

Angela is pursuing a BS in Neuroscience with a minor in Psychology from the College of Liberal Arts at Temple University. She joined the lab in the summer of 2023 to gain knowledge about how opioids affect memory. Angela intends to begin a doctorate program after graduation to continue her education in Neuroscience. Outside of the lab, Angela works as certified nursing assistant and participates in the publication of the trainee-led scientific publication Grey Matters. 

Ben is majoring in Neuroscience in the College of Liberal Arts. He joined the Wimmer Lab in the spring of 2024 with the aim of gaining a deeper understanding of the intergenerational implications of substance misuse. Following his graduation, Ben plans on pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience as he continues his career in research.

NeAva is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with a minor in Computer Science from the College of Liberal Arts (Class of 2026) and is a member of the National Honor Society of Neuroscience at Temple University. She joined the Wimmer Lab in the spring of 2024 as part of the MiNDS Program. NeAva is hoping to deepen her understanding of drug exposure and its interactions with early-life adversity using rodent models. After graduation, NeAva plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience. 

Katherine is majoring in Psychology in the College of Liberal Arts with a minor in Chemistry. She is a part of the Temple’s Honors Program (Class of 2027) and Sonkin-Weisman Scholars Program. She joined the Wimmer lab in the summer of 2024 to understand the etiology of addiction and memory. Outside the lab, Katherine works as an emergency medical technician and a CLA ambassador. After graduation, she plans on pursuing dental school to become a dentist.  

Vedant is a student in the honors program majoring in Neuroscience through the College of Liberal Arts (Class of 2027). He is also a Sonkin-Weisman Scholar and a Pre-med Health Scholar. He joined the Wimmer Lab in the fall of 2024 to better understand the multigenerational consequences of drug exposure and the genetic components of addiction. Outside the lab, Vedant heads two student organizations- MedicZero and TempleToys. He also enjoys playing the piano and clarinet. After graduation, Vedant plans on attending Lewis Katz School of Medicine and pursuing a career as a physician.