Paul Ashwood (Primary Investigator) [email protected]

Paul is the primary investigator of the Ashwood lab. His research interests are investigating the link between the immune system and the central nervous system, the gut-brain axis in neurodevelopmental disorders, and how the maternal immune system impacts neurodevelopment. Paul enjoys walks in nature and football (soccer).  

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Rachel Moreno (graduate student) [email protected]
​Rachel is a fourth-year PhD candidate in the Graduate Group of Immunology. During her free time, she enjoys embarking on day-trips to neighboring cities, adding to her plant collection, and judging local Davis coffee shops by their vanilla lattes. Rachel primarily focuses on understanding how the adaptive immune system is dysregulated in children with autism and GI issues, with a heavy focus on the role of regulatory T cells and their suppressive properties.
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Hadley Osman (graduate student) [email protected]
Hadley is a 3rd year PhD candidate in GGI. In her free time, Hadley likes to climb, take aerial classes, knit, and spend time outdoors. Her research focuses on how maternal allergic asthma and environmental exposures can impact neurodevelopment and neuroinflammation in the offspring using a novel mouse model. 



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Yasmin Azzam (graduate student) [email protected]
​Yasmin grew up in Washington state and is a PNW gal through and through. When she's not in lab or catching up on the latest neuroimmunology publications, she enjoys spending time in nature, working on art projects (painting/ceramics/jewelry making), collecting oddities and antiques, exploring Sacramento with friends, and lounging around with her adorable calico cat Maple. Yasmin is currently researching trained immunity in monocytes and how it is altered or impaired in children with autism and comorbid gastrointestinal (GI) issues, relative to non-GI autistic children and typically developing children.
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Jocelyn Back 
​Undergraduate researcher 
Jocelyn is a third year Global Disease Biology student at UC Davis with plans to attend graduate school to earn her MPH in epidemiology, ultimately aspiring to work in the field of public health. In her free time, Jocelyn is actively involved with the UC Davis dragon boat/paddling team and also enjoys cafés.

Ryan Hart
​Undergraduate researcher 
​Ryan is a UC Davis Global Disease Biology undergraduate set to graduate 2025. He is particularly interested in medical microbiology and immunology. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, hiking, riding motorcycles, traveling and many more outdoor activities.

Lab alumni

Juan Tamayo, PhD.
Destanie Rose, PhD. 
Charity Onore, PhD.
Milo Careaga, PhD.