Wedemeyer Lab Staff
Michelle A. Wedemeyer, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator
Michelle.Wedemeyer@NationwideChildrens.org
Michelle A. Wedemeyer, MD, PhD, is a pediatric neurosurgeon at Nationwide Children's Hospital, the principal investigator of a basic science laboratory in the Institute for Genomic Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital, and an assistant professor of Neurosurgery at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests are focused on the interplay of developmental neurobiology and pediatric neurosurgical diseases including brain tumors, vascular malformations, and hydrocephalus. Ongoing projects in the lab include the creation of a single nuclei multiomic analysis of the developing human brain, single cell investigations of common disease processes in the pediatric neurosurgical populations, a longitudinal investigation of the effects of radiation on the growing pediatric brain, and the development of liquid biopsy genomic assays for brain vascular malformations. Overall, the laboratory seeks to apply state of the art genomics technologies to better understand common neurosurgical disease processes in children and improve the overall neurosurgical care for the children in our community.
Tianli (Sheldon) Ding
Bioinformatics Analyst
Tianli.Ding@NationwideChildrens.org
Sheldon Ding is a bioinformatics analyst working in the Wedemeyer Lab. His work in the lab mainly focuses on building a map of cell types and gene expression changes that drive the growth and maturation of the pediatric brain, with an emphasize on pediatric brain tumor. He has specialized experience in developmental neuroscience, single cell RNA-sequencing and analysis, histology, the use of R language, command line programming in Linux and cell culture models, particularly using induced pluripotent stem cells. He also plays the role as a lab manager helping the PI oversee lab maintenance. Sheldon obtained his bachelor's of science in psychology with a minor in neuroscience from The Ohio State University where he worked as an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Elizabeth Kirby’s lab. He then obtained his master’s degree in stem cell biology and regenerative medicine form the University of Southern California where he worked with Dr. Michael Bonaguid
Gary Schweickart
Bioinformatics Analyst
Gary.Schweickart@NationwideChildrens.org
Gary Schweickart is a bioinformatics analyst in the Wedemeyer Lab. His current work centers on the analysis of cellular diversity of pediatric brain tumors and the characterization of the developing hindbrain to identify novel targets for pediatric brain tumors at the single-cell level using R, python, and Linux. Gary earned his bachelor's degree from Miami University, where he studied Mathematics and Statistics.
Aaron Varghese
Clinical Research Coordinator
Aaron.Varghese@NationwideChildrens.org
Aaron Varghese joined the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine in May 2023 as a research intern in the Wedemeyer Lab. He is from Hilliard, OH, and is currently pursuing a bachelor of science in Biology and Premedical Studies at Miami University. Previously, he attended The Ohio State University and served as a research associate, working on cardiac fibroblast mutations.
Nicholas Marchal
Undergraduate Research Student
Nicholas.Marchal@nationwidechildrens.org
Nick is an undergraduate student working in the Wedemeyer Lab. His work focuses on using rodent and cell models to understand how key genetic mutations in Diffuse Midline Gliomas contribute to its pathogenesis, specifically through their inhibitory effect on axon myelination in the developing brain. He is pursuing a bachelor's of science in biomedical science with a minor in pharmaceutical sciences and a certificate in clinical trials sciences at The Ohio State University, where he expects to graduate in Spring 2026 with hopes to attend medical school in the future.