Elena Kozina

Elena Kozina, PhD, is a faculty research associate at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pa., dedicated to the exploration of neuro-immune interactions and cell biology of Parkinson's disease. She earned her MS in physiology from Kazan State University and her PhD in neuroscience from the Russian Academy of Science in Moscow. Upon completing her PhD, she joined the lab of Richard Smeyne, initially at St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., and later at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pa., focusing on neuro-immune modulation of the CNS effects in both sporadic and familial Parkinson's disease. Currently, her work centers on unraveling the intricate interplay between viral and bacterial infections, innate immunity, and the development of Parkinson's disease.