People

Jose Angel Nicolas-Avila, PhD
Assistant Professor
Smith Cardiovascular Research Institute
UCSF Department of Microbiology and Immunology

Dr. Nicolas-Avila is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at UCSF and a principal investigator in the Cardiovascular Research Institute. His research focuses on understanding how immune cells support normal tissue function and how the loss of these protective functions contributes to disease. His lab combines advanced imaging, flow cytometry, molecular approaches and physiological measurements to uncover the mechanisms by which immune cells communicate with and support the tissues in which they reside.

Laura Pena-Couso, PhD
Specialist

Dr. Pena-Couso began her scientific career studying the genetics of cancer before pursuing postdoctoral research on the cellular mechanisms of muscle biology and aging. In the Nicolas-Avila Lab, she investigates how macrophages interact with tissue metabolism and contribute to cardiovascular health and disease. She also plays a central role in keeping the lab organized and running smoothly.

Magdalena Makuch, M.Sc.
Assistant Specialist

Magdalena Makuch is passionate about science—and life in general—and brings an infectious energy to the lab. She studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which cardiomyocytes dispose of damaged cellular components, packaging them into large extracellular vesicles that are subsequently transferred to macrophages for degradation. Her work aims to understand how this intercellular communication contributes to cardiac homeostasis and health. 

Kyler Lin
Undergraduate Researcher

Kyler Lin is an undergraduate student studying Microbial Biology at UC Berkeley. In the Nicolas-Avila Lab, he investigates how macrophages support cardiomyocyte function, with a particular interest in their role in maintaining mitochondrial and metabolic health. His project uses cardiomyocyte–macrophage co-culture, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy to explore how these cells communicate under normal and stress conditions. 

Avni Sachdev
Undergraduate Researcher

Avni Sachdev is an undergraduate student studying Molecular and Cellular Biology at UC Berkeley. In the Nicolas-Avila Lab, she investigates biological sex differences in cardiac macrophage populations and the mechanisms that regulate these differences. Her work combines mouse models, immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, and quantitative image analysis to understand how sex influences macrophage abundance and phenotype in the heart.

Gagandeep Kaur 
Junior Specialist, 2025–2026

Now pursuing a Master’s degree at UC Irvine.

Brandon Ma 
Undergraduate Researcher, 2026

Now pursuing undergraduate studies in the Vagelos Life Sciences & Management Program at the University of Pennsylvania, where he studies Biology and Economics.

Caitlyn Dang
PhD Rotation Student, 2025

Now pursuing a PhD at UCSF-BMS program at Isha Jain laboratory.