Team
We are based at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. To learn more about our team and work, please visit the Department of Translational Neurosciences website.
James Bibb, PhD
Lab Director and Chair
Contact: jbibb@arizona.edu
Dr. Bibb’s research focuses on exploring the molecular mechanisms of intracellular signal transduction in health and disease. Throughout his career, he and his team researchers have employed multidisciplinary approaches to identify novel signaling mechanisms; characterize their actions; define their physiological functions; and to understand how they contribute to pathogenesis and pathophysiology.
Prior to joining the college, Dr. Bibb was a professor and the vice chair of Research, as well as the Champ Lyons Endowed Chair for General Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He was also appointed faculty in the Departments of Neurobiology and Neurology at the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. Additionally, Dr. Bibb served as member of their Graduate Biomedical Sciences Program.
He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees with honors from Murray State University and the University of Kentucky, respectively. He worked in the Cell Biology and Physiology Department at Washington University in St. Louis before completing his doctorate in Cellular and Developmental Biology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. His doctoral thesis characterized the poliovirus receptor protein in Eckard Wimmer’s laboratory.
Dr. Bibb’s postdoctoral training was conducted in the Laboratory on Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience at the Rockefeller University under the direction of Paul Greengard. His work on the regulation of dopamine neurotransmission was cited in the Nobel Prize in Physiology for Medicine in 2000. In 2014, Dr. Bibb became a tenured full professor. During his career, he has amassed more than 100 publications.
Ayanabha Chakraborti, PhD
Assistant Research Professor
Contact: chakrabortia@arizona.edu
Dr. Ayanabha Chakraborti is an Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Translational Neurosciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix (UA-COMP). Before joining UA-COMP, he worked as a Research Faculty/Instructor in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of Surgery at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). He also served as the Managing Director of the Animal Behavioral Assessment Core at UAB. Dr. Chakraborti has a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from University of Delhi, India, and has received postdoctoral training at NIDA, NIH, and the University of California, San Francisco. He has also worked as a Senior Lecturer (Neuroscience & Physiology) at Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine, Monash University, Malaysia, and as an Assistant Consultant (Drug Development R&D) at the Innovation Labs, Tata Consultancy Services, India. Over the years, Dr. Chakraborti’s research has focused on understanding the mechanisms by which exposure to stress alters neuronal function leading to neuropsychiatric disorders like anxiety and depression. His current research interests involve elucidating the complex microbiota-gut-brain signaling mechanisms that mediate the pathophysiology of mental illnesses and identifying novel molecular targets for therapeutic intervention.
Areas of Interest
- Gut-Brain Axis and Mood Disorders
- Metabolic Syndrome & Neuropsychiatric Comorbidities
- Sex Differences in Stress related neuropsychiatric disorders
Jacob Larson, PhD
Research Scientist
Contact: jlarson7@arizona.edu
With a Bachelor’s in Biochemistry from the University of New Mexico and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from UNC Chapel Hill, Dr. Larson specializes in biochemical assay development and biophysics, focusing on novel ligands for protein targets.
In the Bibb Lab, he applies his expertise to develop new screening methods targeting CDK5 in CNS and oncology research. His innovative approach aims to discover molecules that inhibit CDK5 activity and disrupt its interaction with P35/P25.
Outside the lab, Dr. Larson is an avid powerlifter and enjoys hiking with his dogs and partner. His balance of professional rigor and personal hobbies exemplifies his dynamic approach to both his scientific endeavors and life.
Diana Monge, MD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Contact: dianamonge@arizona.edu
Diana Monge is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Department of Translational Neuroscience at the University of Arizona-COMP. She holds a medical degree from the University of Sonora, Mexico. Diana's primary research focus lies in the investigation of neuronal injuries, with a specific emphasis on traumatic brain injuries, using a range of multi-omic approaches. Diana’s goal is to utilize her research to optimize standard medical practice and improve patient outcomes in the near future.
Shahram Zarrabian
Postdoctoral Researcher
Contact: szarrabian@arizona.edu
Shahram Zarrabian is currently a Research Associate at the Department of Translational Neuroscience, University of Arizona. He earned his B.Sc. in General Biology at Kharazmi University in 1996; his M.Sc. in Medical Physiology at Shahid-Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in 1999; and his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Institute for Cognitive Science Studies in 2016, working with Prof. Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast. In his thesis work, he focused on the role of CA3 area GABA A and GABA B receptors on
anxiolytic-like behaviors and avoidance memory deficit induced by D-AP5, NMDA receptor antagonist, in rats in elevated plus maze test. After completing his PhD, Shahram accepted a position as an Assistant Professor at Azad University of
Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, where he worked for 5 years. He then followed his research carrier at the University of California, San Francisco. Shahram has over 27 publications and a score of 329 scientific
citations.
Dalton Lennon
Lab Manager
Contact: dlennon@arizona.edu
Analisa Stewart
Graduate Student, Clinical Translational Science
Contact: analisastewart@arizona.edu
Analisa Stewart (she/her) is a doctoral student working in both the Department of Translational Neurosciences and the Department of Basic Medical Sciences. She is interested in early detection of Vascular Dementia and stroke. She uses surgical models to learn more about disease state characteristics. She then uses a variety of behavioral, multi-omic, and histopathological techniques to track changes in the brain. Prior to joining the Bibb and Gonzales labs, Analisa worked in the Beach Lab’s Brain and Body Donation Program focused on the study of aging. She received her B.S. in Biology from Arizona State University.
Julián Ramos
Research Technician
Contact: ramos@arizona.edu
Julián is a recent first-generation graduate from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Medical Studies. He is an aspiring physician who plans on pursuing a career in Orthopedic Surgery. His current work in the Department of Translational Neuroscience involves chemotherapy and its pathological effects on brain structural plasticity. Julián’s previous work examined the effects of radiotherapy on head and neck cancers at the University of Arizona, Tucson, which first sparked his interest in research in the summer of 2022. In addition to working with the team in Translational Neuroscience, he is also a Medical Scribe Specialist in Orthopedic Surgery at Banner. He is a lifelong learner and looks forward to expanding his knowledge and expertise.
Chin-ning Chen
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Contact: chinning@arizona.edu
My name is Chin-Ning Chen, and I am an undergraduate student majoring in Biochemical Science and Technology. Recently, I am a student intern in Dr. Bibb’s lab. In Bibb’s lab, I am exposed to cutting-edge research and technology. My current focus within Dr. Bibb's lab involves studying neuroendocrine tumors in collaboration with a dedicated team.
