Meet the Team

Charisse Winston, M.Sc., PhD is an Assistant Professor at the University of Southern California (USC) in the Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Winston received her Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from the University of Virginia, her Master’s in Biochemistry, and her PhD in Neuroscience from Georgetown University. Her main research areas includes racial/ethnic disparities in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), specifically understanding how extracellular vesicles (EVs) contribute to the molecular environment that fosters AD amongst minoritized and underrepresented individuals. 

Ruslan Rust, PhD, holds the position of Assistant Professor of Research in Physiology and Neuroscience at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He previously worked as a principal investigator at the Institute of Regenerative Medicine (IREM) at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. His research aims to address existing challenges in stem cell therapies for brain injuries, such as stroke, through the use of advanced genetic, molecular, and computational tools.

Samian Syed is an award-winning rising senior at Van Nuys High School with a strong passion for neuroscience and psychology. He has conducted neuroscience research focusing on neurodegeneration and is currently in the process of publication. He presented this research at the 2026 Los Angeles County Science and Engineering Fair and won a recognition. Samian is also a dedicated community leader, being recognized by the nation's second-largest school district as a district leader and champion for his initiatives and advocacy. He has worked with numerous district officials to push scholarship initiatives and ensure equitable opportunities for nearly 500,000 students across Los Angeles County. He has also created a mental health awareness and sharing platform, which was accepted in the Los Angeles Innovation Expo as a finalist project.