Leadership Team
Melissa Barker-Haliski
Co-Director, CEDD
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutics
Dr. Melissa Barker-Haliski is an Associate Professor in Department of Pharmaceutics and Co-Director of CEDD. She obtained a PhD in pharmacology and toxicology from the University of Utah. Dr. Barker-Haliski was co-chair of the American Epilepsy Society/International League Against Epilepsy’s (ILAE) Pharmacology Common Data Elements Working Group from 2014-2018 and the Phenotyping Common Data Elements Working Group from 2019-2021 with the goal to harmonize preclinical pharmacology studies for epilepsy drug discovery by industry, government, and academia. Her research addresses how chronic seizures in Alzheimer’s disease influence functional and pathological trajectory, representing a new precision medicine opportunity to identify untapped therapeutic targets and disease-modifying strategies for neurological disorders. Fun Fact: She loves hiking and camping throughout the Northwest, baking, and exploring new painting techniques.
H. Steve White
Co-Director, CEDD
Professor, Department of Pharmacy
Steve White, RpH, Ph.D, earned his baccalaureate degree in Pharmacy and a M.S. in Pharmacology at Idaho State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the University of Utah where he rose through the academic ranks after joining the College of Pharmacy faculty in 1986. Before joining the University of Washington School of Pharmacy as Chair of the Department of Pharmacy in January of 2016, White served as the principal investigator and scientific director of the NIH-sponsored Anticonvulsant Drug Development (ADD) Program, established in 1975 to identify novel anticonvulsant drugs using established animal seizure and epilepsy models. Since stepping down as Chair in June of 2022, White is largely focused on his independent research program and advancing a new initiative intended to increase the role of the community pharmacist in the care and management of the patient with epilepsy. Fun Fact: Steve loves hiking, camping, and travel.
Michelle Guignet
Acting Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacy
Dr. Michelle Guignet pursued a PhD in Pharmacology & Toxicology from the University of California – Davis to acquire the scientific and working knowledge to advance drug discovery and healthcare. After graduating in 2019, she moved to Seattle for advanced training in epilepsy research, where she gained extensive experience in the preclinical drug development pipeline. In her current role as an Acting Assistant Professor within CEDD, she harnesses innovative platforms to deepen our understanding of clinical and biological factors that lead to drug resistant epilepsy, aiming to discover more effective and better tolerated treatments. Fun Fact: Outside of work, she loves cooking and challenges herself to try a new recipe every week!
Research Scientists
Dannielle Zierath | RS3 and Lab Manager
Danielle graduated from the University of Washington in June 1994, and has been working at UW in various areas of research since 1993, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, thirst and salt appetite and the immune response to stroke. She joined CEDD in September 2017 and her areas of focus in the lab are lab management, surgery, and the TMEV model of infection-related epilepsy.
Stephanie Davidson | RS2
Stephanie received a BS in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington and has worked at the UW for 15+ years. She joined the Barker-Haliski Lab in November of 2019, focusing on the intersection of Alzheimer’s Disease and epilepsy, specifically how sex and age modify acute seizure susceptibility.
Kevin Knox | RS2
Kevin graduated with a degree in neuroscience from Pomona College. He has been working in the Barker-Haliski lab since 2017 and his role involves model development and acute drug testing at the intersection of epilepsy and aging-related neurodegeneration. Fun Fact: He loves geography and can name every country in the world.
Jonathan Vuong | RS1
Jonathan graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in biochemistry. He began working as an undergraduate research assistant for the CEDD in 2021 and his role involves acute and chronic testing in rodent seizure models. Fun Fact: He loves watching baseball – Go M’s!
Inga Erickson | RS1
Inga graduated from Colorado State University in 2022 with a BS in Biomedical Sciences and Zoology and a minor in Microbiology. She joined the Barker-Haliski lab in September 2022. Her project focuses on the interaction between the gut microbiome and infection-induced epilepsy, specifically the activity of antiseizure medicines. Fun Fact: She is a certified wilderness (and regular) EMT!
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Qian Wu, MD, PhD
Qian obtained her MD. and PhD from Central South University, China and joined the CEDD lab in April 2023. Qian’s research project is centered around epilepsy. Fun Fact: The pumpkin she carved was intended to resemble a shark for her first Halloween, but it ended up resembling an alligator instead.
Graduate Students
Jennie Fang | Pharmaceutics MS Student
Jennie received her B.S. in Pharmacology with a minor in Computer Science from the University of Toronto in 2023. She joined the Barker-Haliski lab as a Pharmaceutics Masters student, where she studies the interactions between epilepsy and Alzheimer’s Disease. Fun Fact: Outside of the lab, she loves to dance and has been dancing since age 5!
Larissa Robinson-Cooper | Neuroscience PhD Student
Larissa received her B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan before enrolling in the Graduate Program in Neuroscience at the University of Washington in 2022 and joining the Barker-Haliski lab the following summer. Her research aims to define the mechanisms of increased seizure susceptibility due to loss of Presenilin 2 function. Fun Fact: Outside of lab she enjoys playing video games and sewing.
Taryn Tieu | Pharmaceutics MS Student
Taryn is currently a Pharmaceutics Masters student at UW and joined the Barker-Haliski lab in Autumn 2023. Her project focuses on the in vivo characterization of novel investigational treatments for epilepsy. Fun Fact: Outside of work she plays and takes care of her 4 dogs!
Dan Swanson | Department of Comparative Medicine Veterinary Resident and MS Student
Dan received his B.S. in Biology from University of Massachusetts Boston and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Western University of Health Sciences. In July 2024, he joined University of Washington’s Department of Comparative Medicine as a Veterinary Resident. Dan joined the Barker-Haliski lab in September 2024 and his research focuses on assessing the effects of antiseizure medicines on behavioral comorbidities in rodent models of epilepsy. Fun Fact: Outside of the lab, Dan enjoys snowboarding and traveling.
Alumni
Aaron del Pozo, PhD
AES post-doctoral fellowship 2023-2024