Our Team

Tatiana Foroud, PhD has been a faculty member in the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics at Indiana University School of Medicine since 1994. She is a statistical geneticist whose research has focused on the genetics of Parkinson’s disease. She leads the Biorepository Core, Screening Core, Travel Core, Pathology Core and Digital Core that are all part of the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. She also leads the Biospecimen Exchange for Neurological Disorders (BioSEND), a biological repository funded by the National Institutes of Health/ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

To reach Dr. Tatiana directly,please email tforoud@iu.edu.

Laura Heathers, CCRP has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since March of 2015. She graduated from Purdue University with a BA in Behavioral Neuroscience, Biology and serves as project manager for Parkinson’s disease studies department wide including: PPMI Screening, PD GENEration, PPMI Pathology Core, and PPMI Remote. Laura works closely with internal and external collaborators to oversee the coordination and implementation of all PD research projects.

To reach Laura directly, please email laeheath@iu.edu or call (317) 274-5080.

Gena Antonopoulos, BSN, RN, CCRP recently joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in July of 2020. She graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Biology and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Marian University. She serves as project manager for the PPMI Travel Core, Digital Core and Pathology Core. Gena is an Indiana native, married with two teenagers and an oversized lab rescue, and enjoys traveling, reading and cycling.

To reach Gena directly, please email ganto@iu.edu or call (317) 278-3514.

Lauren Austin, BS, has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since November of 2021. She earned her BS in Health Services from Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis in 2021. Lauren serves as a clinical research technician for the PPMI study. Her primary duties include assisting participants with travel arrangements.

To reach Lauren directly, please email lnaustin@iu.edu or call (317) 278-1129.

Audra Bright, BS, CCRP recently joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in November of 2019. In 2014, she graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Exercise Science, and currently serves a research coordinator for the PPMI Remote study. Her primary duties include assisting study participants with travel arrangements for PPMI 2.0.

To reach Audra directly, please email audmyers@iu.edu or call (317) 278-9034.

Karla Gonzalez, BS, CCRP joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in August of 2017. She earned her BS in Biotechnology from Indiana University in 2013 and now serves as Clinical Research Coordinator for PPMI, Fox BioNet, Access Data and Biospecimens (ADB), and Systemic Synuclein Sampling Study (S4). Karla provides biorepository support for sample and kit inventory for study sites, sample distributions, quality assurance and associated documentation for the study sponsor and external investigators.

To reach Karla directly, please email gonzalka@iu.edu or call 317-278-1148.

Jan Hamer, PMP, CCRP has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since June of 2015. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Neuroscience from Indiana University in 2015 and is currently pursuing an MPH degree. Jan now serves as Project Manager for PPMI, working closely with internal and external collaborators to oversee the coordination and implementation of all biorepository projects.

To reach Jan directly, please email jehamer@iu.edu.

Isaac has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since March of 2021. He graduated from Centre College in 2018 with a BS in Psychology and German. Isaac serves as a clinical research technician for PPMI studies and PD GENEeration. His primary duties consist of genetic testing kit distribution and mailing genetic counseling materials to study participants.

To reach Isaac directly, please email iharms@iu.edu or call 317-278-1980.

Kumar Mantravadi, BS, CCRP joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in October of 2019. He graduated from Purdue University with a BS in Microbiology. He serves as a coordinator for PPMI Pathology Core and spends his day developing brain donation plans for study participants nationwide.

To reach Kumar directly, please email kmantrav@iu.edu or call (317) 278-6412.

Alia Neibaur, BAS joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in November of 2019. She earned a BAS in Health Services from Indiana State University in 2017 and is currently pursuing an MS in Statistics. Alia serves as a clinical research specialist coordinator for the PPMI Screening and PD GENEration studies. Her primary duties include data management, along with consenting and scheduling genetic counseling for study participants.

To reach Alia directly, please email aneibaur@iu.edu or call (317) 278-6482.

Emily Sanders, BS joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in September of 2021. She earned a BS in Biology from Purdue University in 2020 and serves as a clinical research technician for the PPMI Remote study. Her primary duties include assisting participants with travel arrangements for PPMI 2.0. Outside of office duties, Emily trains in agility and dock dives with her Sheltie and Border Collie.

To reach Emily directly, please email emasande@iu.edu or call (317) 278-1191.

Caitlin Schulz, BA joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in June of 2021. She received her BA in Biology from Indiana University in 2021 and serves as a clinical research specialist for the PPMI study. Her primary role involves shipping testing kits to study participants and helping her team with distributions.

To reach Caitlin directly, please email caschu@iu.edu or call 317-278-1166.

Cricket Shugars, BS has been with the Department of Medical Molecular Genetics since December 2021. They earned their BS in Biology, Pre-Med from the University of Southern Indiana in 2020. Cricket serves as a clinical research specialist for the PPMI study. Their primary duties include speaking with participants about imaging and clinical eligibility. Cricket has been a vegetarian for 12 years and is an avid hiker and nature lover.

To reach Cricket directly, please email kekjessu@iu.edu.

Cam Thompson, MPH, CCRP joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in the spring of 2016. She graduated with a BA in Psychology from Butler University and earned her MPH in Epidemiology from Indiana University. Cam serves as a coordinator for the PPMI Digital Core, which deploys various technological devices in PD research and monitoring. Her primary duties include managing subject compliance and engagement, troubleshooting, and coordinating wearable device exchanges. She also splits her time on PPMI Remote screening efforts, in order to help identify individuals with olfactory or smell deficits, who are good candidates for PPMI research initiatives. Outside of office duties, Cam is an avid traveler and has been a competitive pickleball player since 2017.

To reach Cam directly, please email cuthomps@iu.edu or call (317) 274-2224.

Michelle L. Totten, BS, CCRP has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since October of 2017. She earned her BS in Biology from University of Alabama and serves as a project manager for Parkinson’s disease studies including the PPMI screening and the PD GENEration study.

To reach Michelle directly, please email mictott@iu.edu or call (317) 278-1189.

Rachel has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since March of 2021. She graduated from Miami University in 2019 with a BS in Biology and Neuroscience. Rachel serves as a clinical research specialist for the PPMI Pathology Core. Her primary duties consist of helping with brain donation planning for PPMI path core participants. Rachel trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, has a very cool cat, and loves reptiles.

To reach Rachel directly, please email rew3@iu.edu or call 317-278-1985.

Lola Cook, MS, CGC has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since October of 2015. Lola received her MS degree in Medical Genetics from Indiana University in 1990 and has practiced genetic counseling for a variety of specialties – pediatric, prenatal, and adult genetics. Her research interests include the disclosure of genetic test results in a research setting, impact of genetic counseling services in individuals and families with Parkinson disease, educating the health care community about Parkinson’s disease testing and genetic counseling, and leveraging health information technology and varied service delivery models as it relates to improving delivery of genetics services.

For our department, Lola provides genetic counseling to study participants in the PPMI Screening and PD GENEration studies.

To reach Lola directly, please email lpcook@iu.edu, or call (317) 278-1120.

Priscila Delgado Hodges, MS, CGC joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in May of 2020. She earned her MS in Genetic Counseling from Northwestern University. She has provided bilingual prenatal genetic counseling in a multicultural setting for five years prior to specializing in Parkinson’s disease. She provides bilingual genetic counseling to participants enrolled in Parkinson’s disease research projects and has played an integral role in outreach efforts to the Hispanic community. Her research interests include interpreters and the role they play in the genetic counseling session, cultural competence in counseling and diversity in research with a special focus in the Hispanic community.

To reach Priscila directly, please email rahodges@iu.edu, or call (317) 274-0381

Mandy N. Miller, MS, CGC has been with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since May of 2016. Mandy completed her undergraduate work at Indiana University (Bloomington) and received her MS degree in Medical and Molecular Genetics from Indiana University (IU School of Medicine) in 2008. She has worked as a pediatric and prenatal genetic counselor prior to specializing in Parkinson’s disease. Her research interests include the impact and outcomes of genetic testing and counseling in individuals and families with Parkinson’s disease, the sharing of genetic information with family members, and educating the healthcare community about Parkinson’s disease testing and genetic counseling. Mandy provides genetic counseling to study participants for the PPMI Screening and PD GENEration studies.

To reach Mandy directly, please email aaugsbur@iu.edu, or call (317) 274-2241.

Malia Rumbaugh, MS, CGC joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in September of 2016. Her seventeen-year career in research has focused on the genetics of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. She earned her MS in Genetic Counseling from University of California Irvine, and currently provides genetic counseling to study participants in the PPMI Screening and PD GENEration studies. She also serves as the lead genetic counselor for the Longitudinal Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease Study (LEADS) study. Malia has been involved in establishing guidelines for genetic testing in neurodegenerative disorders and currently co-chairs the Asymptomatic Sub-Committee of the Genetic and Biomarker Disclosure Working Group for Alzheimer’s Disease. In her spare time, she enjoys travel and wine making. Malia lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband and a Bernedoodle puppy.

To reach Malia directly, please email mrumbaug@iu.edu, or call (317) 274-2234.

Jeanine Schulze, MS, CGC joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in January of 2016. She earned her MS in Genetic Counseling from University of Arkansas for Medical Science, and has worked as a pediatric and metabolic genetic counselor, specializing in cardiovascular genetics, newborn screening, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. For our department, Jeanine provides genetic counseling for participants in the PPMI Screening and PD GENEration studies, and also contributes to the DigFASD study. Her research interests include the topics of medical transition for pediatric patients, impact of genetic counseling services in individuals and families with Parkinson disease, educating the health care community about Parkinson’s disease testing and genetic counseling, and the utilization of telehealth models in the genetic counseling profession.

To reach Jeanine directly, please email schulzej@iu.edu, or call (317) 278-1128.

Jennifer L. Verbrugge, MS, CGC joined the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics in 2014. She received a MS degree from the Indiana University Genetic Counseling Program in 1998 and she worked as a prenatal genetic counselor for 16 years prior to joining our department. She is now involved with Parkinson’s disease research initiatives, such as PPMI Screening and PD GENEration, that involve genetic testing and disclosure of genetic research results to study participants. Her research interests include examining genetic counseling outcomes in a research setting.

To reach Jennifer directly, please email jlverbru@iu.edu or call (317) 278-0298.

Kelly Nudelman, PhD has been an Assistant Research Professor with the Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics since 2017. She is a geneticist whose research focuses on neurodegenerative disease including Parkinson’s disease. Dr. Nudelman is a co-Investigator for the Parkinson Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, as well as the Biospecimen Exchange for Neurological Disorders (BioSEND), a biospecimen repository funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). She provides scientific support for investigator biospecimen requests and genetic research efforts for these projects.

To reach Dr. Kelly directly, please email kholohan@iu.edu.

Dr. Tae-Hwi Schwantes-An has been an Assistant Research Professor with the Department of Medical and Molecular genetics since 2016. He is a genetic epidemiologist whose research has focused on the genetics of complex diseases. He co-leads genotyping efforts at Indiana University Genetics Biobank where biospecimens are stored from many studies including BioSEND and PPMI. He provides technical support for genotype data generation, review, and curation at the biobank.