The Johns Hopkins Hospital
600 North Wolfe Street
Phipps 446
Baltimore, MD 21287
Current Team Members
Rhea Charles, MSPH
Lead Research Coordinator
Rhea Charles is a Research Assistant in the Johansen Lab. She earned her MSPH in computational genomics, from the University of South Florida. She is passionate about translational research, precision medicine, and using clinical data to better understand health outcomes. Her research has focused on neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, including PTSD and Alzheimer’s disease. She currently supports the D-ACTS study, which explores how cardiac CT imaging can help identify the cause of acute ischemic stroke.
Nicole L. Williams, MS
Nicole Williams is a Project Manager for the DISCOVERY Study Statistical/Cognitive Core (http://discoverystudy.org). She received her M.S. in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland and is currently a research psychologist at the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS). Within DISCOVERY, Nicole has worked since 2020 in training, certification, and quality control monitoring of cognitive assessment examiners. Her research area of interest includes cognitive decline, specifically focused on associations with vascular risk factors. Prior to DISCOVERY, she worked for over 5 years at Johns Hopkins University enrolling acutely decompensated heart failure participants in a study examining cognitive change using an extensive battery of neuropsychological assessments.
Sandra Kong, MD
Sandra Kong earned her M.D. from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She received her B.S. in Computational Biology and M.S. in Biomedical Informatics at Stanford University. As part of the Scholarly Concentrations program, she investigated cognitive outcomes of congestive heart failure patients with the Johansen Lab. She is currently studying the association of echocardiographic features with long-term outcomes of stroke patients. Outside of lab, she has a vested interest in health equity innovation, quality improvement, and health policy advocacy.
Kate Petitt
Kate Petitt is a junior at Johns Hopkins University studying Neuroscience and Psychology. She is from Tampa, Florida, and is a member of the Hopkins swim team. Kate is extremely interested in studying how the brain influences different behaviors, and she hopes to go to medical school to further her studies. Outside of competitive swimming, Kate stays involved in the Hopkins community through being a learning assistant and through her membership in the Alpha Phi chapter.
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Adam Kabbaj
Adam Kabbaj is a junior at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. He is intrigued by the potential of neurostimulation techniques to enhance cognitive function and promote recovery in patients with neurological disorders. In addition to his academic pursuits, Adam is an Emergency Medical Technician from New York, where he provides 911 Basic Life Support services. He is deeply committed to community service, spending his free time tutoring children in Baltimore and contributing to local health initiatives aimed at underserved populations.
Estee Marcus
Estee Marcus is a junior at Johns Hopkins University studying Medicine, Science, and the Humanities with a minor in Spanish for the Professions. She is passionate about interdisciplinary research that integrates multiple fields, including neurology and cardiology, to promote comprehensive patient care. Through her research, she especially values opportunities to engage directly with patients. Estee is also a student-athlete on the Johns Hopkins Women’s Soccer Team and contributes to physical rehabilitation programs in the Baltimore community.
Katie Koo
Katie Koo is a junior at Johns Hopkins University studying molecular and cellular biology and public health studies. Katie is from New Jersey, and she hopes to go to medical school in the future to further her interest in neuroscience. Katie is passionate about learning about neurological disorders and how they affect different parts of the body as well. Besides studying, Katie spends her time teaching children K-12 in Baltimore and helping out at a foster children organization.
Grace Lee
Grace Lee is a junior at the University of Maryland, College Park, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience. She is passionate about understanding the complexities of the brain and how advances in neuroscience can improve patient care. Grace plans to attend medical school to pursue a career as a physician. Through her academic and research experiences, she hopes to contribute to the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders. Outside of the lab, she enjoys creating opportunities for students to develop as leaders, engage in service, and build meaningful connections that prepare them for careers in medicine.