About the PI - Josh Currie
I'm a cell biologist fascinated with how cells and tissues can work together to perform extreme acts of regeneration.
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I hail from the beautiful Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, USA. I grew up totally enamored with animals and the living world, which lead me to study biology at Tennessee Technological University. Afterwards working as a Research Assistant in the lab of Alissa Weaver at Vanderbilt University, I got my first glimpse of moving cells under a microscope and developed a somewhat overzealous appreciation for the molecular cytoskeleton. For a PhD, I ventured to an epicenter of cytoskeletal cell biology (and college basketball), the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC I studied microtubule plus tip proteins (+TIPs) with Steve Rogers, dissecting the structural components of Drosophila +TIPs that regulate microtubule dynamics during processes like cell migration.

At the end of my PhD, I decided to make a leap far afield from the climate and topic of my graduate work to study axolotl limb regeneration in the lab of Elly Tanaka at the Center for Regenerative Therapies in Dresden, Germany. It was a great match of expertise and question, since the axolotl system was poised to benefit from cutting edge molecular tools to study the cell biology of regeneration. 

Lab Members

Adline Metayer, M.Sc.

Julio Garcia

Rylee Kopchak

Landon Bradshaw

Sean Jones

Tommy Mehaffey
Adline is a native of beautiful Naples, Florida as well as having heritage in the country of Haiti. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Sciences with a minor in Biology at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. She then took part in a biology post-baccalaureate program at FSU before obtaining a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. During her Masters, she performed research in the lab of Raghunatha Yammani. In the Yammani lab, Adline investigated the role of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress in the pathogenesis of Osteoarthritis while exploring Obesity as a risk factor. Her long-term goal is to establish a medical facility in her native country of Haiti, in order to bridge the disparity between economically disadvantaged persons and optimal healthcare.
 
On a personal note, Adline speaks French-Creole and enjoys all of the associated cuisines. Her hobbies include learning new languages, community service, teaching, make-up artistry, and outdoor adventures.
Julio is a senior Biology major and Neuroscience and Chemistry minor at Wake Forest. He is originally from Miami, Florida and comes from a Cuban-American family. Julio became interested in regeneration after an independent study project with Bill Conner at Wake Biology, utilizing the agent-based simulation program NetLogo to model the movement of cells during limb regeneration. Julio is hoping to learn more about the wet-lab aspect of regeneration research. Julio’s future goal is to attend medical school and serve his local community as a doctor. He also hopes to one day be able to serve internationally, providing quality accessible healthcare to those unable to find it.

Rylee is a third-year undergraduate student at Wake Forest University pursuing a major in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and a minor in Economics. She is from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is a student-athlete on the Wake Forest Women’s Cross Country and Track team.  Rylee’s interest and research involves connecting regeneration-specific pathways between different regeneration paradigms in the axolotl. Her future goals include graduate or medical school, and involvement in medical research.
Landon is a Biochemistry & Molecular Biology major at Wake Forest University interested in the cellular mechanisms involved in tissue regeneration. He is a South Carolina native, with much love for the Carolinas. Landon has previously participated in two research internships with the Wake Forest School of Medicine, where he has been able to build a strong foundation in molecular biology and topics within tissue regeneration. He hopes to gain experience in advanced research techniques involving cell culturing and cellular visualization and learn more about research design. Landon’s ultimate goal is to become a physician-scientist, focusing on congenital heart disease and myocardium regeneration. His hobbies include hiking, cooking, and exploring Winston-Salem.
Sean is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Wake Forest, as well as Minors in Theatre and Japanese Language and Culture. Sean, who lives in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, is drawn to the vastness of biology and especially excited to study areas of genetics and regeneration. His interest in the Currie lab lies at the intersections of regenerative biology and cancer. After finishing his undergraduate, he plans on pursuing further graduate studies in the life sciences. Outside of the sciences, Sean has a passion for art and can frequently be found spending his free time painting or drawing.​
Tommy is a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology student at Wake Forest University with a minor in Bioethics, Humanities, and Medicine. He is from Fairfax, Virginia, and has had a love for science his entire life. Tommy’s project in the lab is focused on building new tools to manipulate cells and molecules during axolotl regeneration. In the future, he hopes to pursue a career in clinical research. Outside of the lab, Tommy is a dedicated musician, playing trumpet in many musical ensembles at Wake.

Lab Alumni

Teija Bily
4th year project student
Research Technician, Cohn Lab, Hospital for Sick Kids
Anastasia Liu
​4th year project student
Matriculating medical student, Western University
​Qiuyuan Zhu
​4th year project student
 
Christine Shan
Co-supervised Master's student in Biomedical Communications
Professional Science Illustrator (Portfolio website)

We're hiring!

If you're excited about regeneration research, get in touch! We're looking for diverse, interdisciplinary group members at all levels - undergraduate, Masters, PhD, postdoctoral, and research technicians.