Lab Members

Toni Blair directs all clinical aspects of our human studies. These include the development of study protocols, the maintenance of regulatory approvals, and recruitment and retention efforts.  She also leads aspects of project management, such as database design and data analyses, and grant and manuscript preparation and submission.

Dr. Campbell’s work is focused on mechanisms underpinning inflammation-induced thrombosis.  Specific projects include understanding how aging alters platelet and megakaryocyte gene expression to promote thrombosis and elucidating new triggers of sepsis-associated thrombosis. He is also the recipient of the 2018 ATVB Kenneth M. Brinkhous Award.

Mr. Tolley leads our lab management operations. He has been working with Drs. Rondina and Weyrich for more than a dozen years and plays a key role in developing new protocols, including platelet RNA-sequencing and ribosomal footprinting, pathogen-based model systems, translational interrogation of platelets and megakaryocytes, and cell culture.

Dr. Middleton is an exceptional early-stage physician-scientist and the Associate Director of the University of Utah Health’s Medical Intensive Care Unit., Division of Pulmonary Medicine. Her research interests are focused on understanding platelet and megakaryocyte reprogramming in the setting of sepsis and acute lung injury and the contribution of these cells to the pathophysiology of these clinical syndromes.

Dr. Schwertz is a board-certified Occupational Medicine Physician at Billings Clinic in Bozeman and an Adjunct Faculty Member of the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine. His research interests are focused on understanding platelet and megakaryocyte biology under inflammatory and “stress” situations. He recently was awarded a NASA Space Biology Program Research grant, with the ultimate goal to expand the laboratory’s experimental capabilities to Space and the International Space Station.

Abigail’s work is focused on examining the role mitochondrial calcium flux has on platelet function. She is currently investigating how the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) mediates platelet function and procoagulant platelet formation She is mentored by Dr. Rondina and Dr. Campbell.

Dr. Leardini-Tristão’s work is focused on the role of platelets during pregnancy complications, such as pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction. The goal of our research is to understand changes in platelet function alter pregnancy outcomes. She is also interested in the pathophysiological mechanisms related to the brain and placental microcirculation. She is mentored by Dr. Rondina and Dr. Campbell.

Dr. Guo’s work is focused on understanding platelet interactions in health and inflammatory syndromes. Specific projects include identifying how platelets regulate T cell responses during sepsis and mechanisms underpinning platelet-endothelial cell interactions. She is mentored by Dr. Rondina and Dr. Weyrich.