Lab Members
Principal Investigator
Andrew J. Shepherd, B.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: AJShepherd@MDAnderson.org
Dr. Andrew Shepherd conducts preclinical research investigating the mechanisms that link inflammation to the pain induced by various forms of injury, including joint damage and chemotherapy-induced neuropathy, with a particular emphasis on signaling related to the renin-angiotensin system. The ultimate goal of the Shepherd Lab in the department of Symptom Research is to identify interventions that can mitigate or prevent the development of pain associated with these chronic disease states.
Dr. Shepherd earned his bachelor's degree in molecular cell biology in 2003 and a doctoral degree in neuroimmunomodulation in 2006, both from the University of Manchester in Great Britain. His training and expertise focus on rodent models of pain, behavioral readouts of pain sensitivity and assays of primary rodent and human sensory-neuron function.
Dr. Shepherd co-chairs UT MD Anderson's Pain Research Consortium, a unique platform that brings together clinical and basic science pain experts for interdisciplinary discussion, innovative problem-solving and shaping the future of pain management.
Angela M. Casaril, Ph.D.
Senior Research Scientist
Dr. Casaril joined the department of Symptom Research in July 2021, bringing more than 12 years of experience with preclinical drug testing and regulatory compliance. During her postdoctoral fellowship at Heidelberg University, Dr. Casaril received independent funding from the German Research Foundation to investigate the role of neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction in inflammation-induced depression. Her current research in the Shepherd Lab focuses on understanding tumor-immune interactions in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, with a primary focus on planning, execution and data analysis for the lab's projects on tumor-induced neuropathic pain and the role of immunometabolism in inflammation-induced depression.
Additionally, Dr. Casaril holds an M.B.A. in project management and oversees laboratory operations for the four neuroimmunology laboratories within the department of Symptom Research.
Sandeep Manoharlal Dembla, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Dr. Dembla joined the Shepherd Lab in November 2024, bringing extensive expertise in molecular physiology, pharmacology and ion channel research, along with a passion for translational science aimed at improving pain management. He earned his Ph.D. in pharmacology and toxicology from Universität des Saarlandes, Germany, where he investigated TRP ion channels in epithelial cells. In postdoctoral fellow and research associate positions at Philipps-Universität Marburg, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Universität des Saarlandes, he contributed to high-impact research in pain mechanisms.
Dr. Dembla's expertise spans preclinical research, molecular biology, calcium imaging and in vitro pharmacology. His current research focuses on understanding how angiotensin drives macrophage recruitment and subsequent myeloid cell disruption in chronic pain states, such as type 2 diabetes.
Outside the lab, Dr. Dembla enjoys traveling, exploring local cuisines and cultures and experimenting with new recipes at home.
Caitlyn M. Gaffney, M.S.
Research Scientist
Caitlyn joined the Shepherd Lab in April 2021. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) in 2018 and a master's degree in biology from SHSU in 2020, focusing on antimicrobial discovery. In the Shepherd Lab, she is involved in several projects, including the RESTORE (neuromuscular polytrauma), TTI-101 (STAT3 inhibitor) and MC38 (tumor-induced neuropathy) projects. Caitlyn received the 2024 Division of Internal Medicine Excellence Award for Basic Science Research.
Away from the lab, Caitlyn spends time with her dog, Sammie, who is named after the SHSU college mascot and who enjoys car rides and lots of cuddles.
Peng Li, Ph.D.
Senior Research Assistant
Dr. Li joined the Shepherd Lab in November 2024. A native of Xi'an, China, he has a lifelong curiosity about and fascination with the life sciences. He earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry from Sichuan University (Chengdu, China) and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from the Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (Shanghai, China). In the Shepherd Lab, he uses calcium imaging and immunohistochemistry to study dorsal root ganglia neurons' pain sensitivity to paclitaxel, a tumor chemotherapy drug.
Away from the lab, Dr. Li enjoys spending time with his family, especially hiking in the national parks. He is also an avid fan of swimming and watching swimming competitions.
Yanyan Jiang, Ph.D.
Senior Research Assistant
Dr. Jiang joined the Shepherd Lab in April 2025. She obtained her Ph.D. in neuroscience from Tulane University, and she has extensive experience in physiology and neuroscience research. In the Shepherd Lab, she is involved in the IMPETUS project, which investigates chronic pain after surgery.
In her free time, Dr. Jiang enjoys traveling, hiking and exploring new things.
Marc A. Pina, M.S.
Research Assistant II
Marc is a Houston native who was always drawn to healthcare and aspired to work at UT MD Anderson. He earned his B.S. degree from Houston Baptist University as a first-generation college graduate and interned in UT MD Anderson’s Experimental Radiation Oncology department during undergrad. He later completed his master’s degree in biomedical science, with a focus on therapeutics and pharmacology, at the UT MD Anderson UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. He is excited to join the Shepherd Lab and contribute to the team's efforts.
Outside of work, Marc enjoys sports, NFL Sundays, Astros games, road trips and cooking. He is currently honing his baking skills.
Rotating Graduate Students
Maria Benavente, M.Sc.
Graduate Research Assistant
Maria is a Ph.D. student in the MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where she studies neuroimmune mechanisms involved in disease and chronic pain. Originally from Chile, she earned her bachelor’s degree in biotechnology engineering from Universidad Católica del Maule before moving to Houston to complete a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. Her research training integrates molecular biology, animal models and bioinformatics, with previous work focused on prion biology, neurodegeneration and circadian regulation of gene expression.
Melissa Solem, B.S.
Graduate Research Assistant
Melissa is a first-year Ph.D. student at the MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She earned a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, where she studied molecular mechanisms underlying Huntington’s disease pathology. In graduate school, she plans to research cancer neuroimmunology and the neurological aging of cancer survivors.
In her free time, Melissa enjoys running, cooking, K-12 outreach and watching baseball (go Twins!). She is also learning Spanish and Portuguese.
Jialu Liu
Undergraduate Research Volunteer
Jialu is a student at Rice University studying cell biology and genetics with minors in neuroscience and medical humanities on the pre-med track. She is eager to gain hands-on research experience and learn about neuropathies and chronic pain in the Shepherd Lab, furthering her interests in the intersection of cancer biology and neuroscience.
In her free time, Jialu enjoys traveling, exploring new restaurants, taking photos and making music.
Jonathan Medina-Cornejo
Undergraduate Research Volunteer
Jonathan is a student at the University of Houston studying biology with a minor in medicine and society on the pre-med track. Having had family members with neuropathologies, he is highly motivated to gain hands-on research experience and learn about neuropathy and chronic pain, all while furthering his interest in neuroscience.
In his free time, Jonathan likes to spend time with friends and family and to play soccer, a sport he's been a part of since he was six years old.
Clarissa Aguilar
Clarissa was a Research Assistant II in the Shepherd Lab. She left the lab to begin graduate school at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Mihály Balogh, Ph.D.
Dr. Balogh was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Shepherd Lab from 2020–2022. He subsequently became an assistant professor at the University of Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Analysis Group, The Netherlands.
Ibdanelo Cortez, Ph.D.
Dr. Cortez was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Shepherd Lab. He departed the Shepherd Lab to take an adjunct professor position at St. Thomas University in Houston, Texas.
Rachelle Garrity, B.S.
Rachelle joined the Department of Symptom Research in August 2021 and was a Senior Research Assistant in the Shepherd Lab until July 2024, when she left to pursue her Ph.D. studies at Texas A&M University. Her work in the Shepherd Lab allowed her to explore her interest in neuroimmune interactions while contributing to the discovery of mechanisms underlying these interactions.
Md Areeful Haque, Ph.D.
As a Research Scientist in the Shepherd Lab, Dr. Haque focused primarily on investigating how the fibroblast-derived protein PI16 influences inflammatory and neuropathic pain. He left the lab in 2025 to begin a postdoctoral fellowship at UT Health.
Elizabeth A. Kolb, B.S.
Elizabeth joined the Shepherd Lab as a Research Assistant I in July 2023. She worked on the MC38 (tumor-induced neuropathy) and TTI-101 (STAT3 inhibitor) projects.
Syed Mehdi, B.S.
Syed was a Research Assistant I in the Shepherd Lab. He departed the lab to attend graduate school at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
James M. Nichols, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Dr. Nichols was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Shepherd Lab from 2019 to 2025. He worked primarily on the NiMA (diabetic neuropathy therapeutics) and RESTORE (neuromuscular polytrauma) projects. He departed the lab in summer 2025 to begin an Assistant Professor position at the University of Central Florida.
Nicholas Nguyen, B.S.
Nicholas was a Research Assistant I in the Shepherd Lab. He left to attend graduate school at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
Hoang Vu T. Pham, M.S.
Hoang was a Research Assistant II in the Grace Lab from August 2019 to August 2024. He worked primarily on the NiMA (diabetic neuropathy therapeutics) and RESTORE (neuromuscular polytrauma) projects. He left the lab to continue pursuing his graduate studies in biochemistry and molecular biology at UTMB.
The Phong (Ronnie) Trinh, B.S.
Ronnie was a Research Assistant II in the Shepherd Lab. He remained at UT MD Anderson after leaving the lab, becoming an Institute Associate Scientist III in the Neurodegeneration Consortium.
Karen M. Valadez, B.S.
Karen was a Research Assistant I in the Shepherd Lab from 2022 to 2025. She subsequently transitioned to UT MD Anderson's Experimental Radiation Oncology department.
Undergraduate Research Volunteers
Amy Cheng, Rice University
Maury Elorza, Tecnológico de Monterrey
Mariam Haj-Ismail, University of Houston
Neha Kalakuntla, Rice University
Eric F. Lee, University of Houston / Baylor College of Medicine
Rotating Graduate Research Assistants
Breanna Shen, MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences