University of California -San Diego, School of Medicine
Changing women’s lives by uncovering the complexities of the female pelvic floor
Research
Dr. Alperin’s expertise as a practicing, board-certified female pelvic medicine specialist places her in a unique position, in which her clinical and surgical understanding help guide the directions of the Alperin Lab’s basic science and translational studies to answer the most relevant questions. Alperin laboratory uses a multi-prong approach to study the impact of pregnancy, birth injury, and aging on the structure, function, plasticity , and regenerative potential of the female pelvic soft tissues. The results of our studies, facilitated by the interdisciplinary approach, will improve our understanding of the transition of female pelvic soft tissues from a physiological to a pathological state, which in turn will have major implications on the development of effective preventative and mitigating strategies. Ultimately, we hope that this research will help reduce the epidemic of pelvic floor disorders and improve the lives of millions of women.
Marianna Alperin, MD MS. Professor and Vice Chair for Translational Research in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Diego; and a Faculty member of Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, La Jolla, CA. The mission of the Alperin lab is to discover scientifically rational treatment and prevention strategies for women’s health, with special focus on the disorders of pelvic floor and lower urinary tract. As a practicing urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery specialist, Dr. Alperin applies her clinical and surgical understanding to help guide the directions of her discovery science and translational studies to answer the most relevant clinical questions. Her NIH- and CIRM-funded laboratory uses a multi-pronged approach, including in vitro and in vivo experimental models, cadaveric tissues, biospecimens from living women, and computational modeling to study the impact of pregnancy, injury, radiation, menopause, and aging on the structure and function of pelvic soft tissues. Dr. Alperin is also actively engaged in the interdisciplinary translational studies focused on the application of acellular biomaterials to potentiate endogenous regeneration of pelvic and lower urinary tract soft tissues.
Francesca Sesillo Boscolo, PhD Project Scientist
Francesca obtained her PhD in Biomedical Sciences at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, after which she had joined the Alperin lab as a postdoc in 2018. She is interested in investigating the role of muscle stem cells in the pelvic floor muscles’ plasticity during pregnancy. When out of the lab, Francesca loves cooking for her friends and enjoys outdoor activities in beautiful San Diego.
Megan Routzong, PhD Post-Doctoral Scholar
Megan is currently funded by an NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) to study pregnancy-induced remodeling of pelvic floor muscles at multiple biological scales. She joined the Alperin lab in Fall of 2021 after obtaining her PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh in Summer of 2021 where she applied computational modeling to study female pelvic floor biomechanics and variation in pelvic morphology. Outside of the lab, Megan enjoys reading, writing, photography, and spending time outdoors with her husband and their dog.
Axelle Bouche, PhD Post-Doctoral Scholar
Axelle received her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Geneva (Switzerland) in 2024, where she studied human muscle stem cells for their potential use in muscle stem cell therapy. She then joined the Alperin lab to study female pelvic floor stem cells in the context of aging and pregnancy. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and horseback riding.
Bianca Pena PhD Student
Bianca obtained her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. She is currently a PhD student in the UCSD Bioengineering Department. Her research is focused on advancing minimally invasive injectable biomaterials to mitigate childbirth injury. On her free time she likes to hang out with friends and family, visit the beach, and try new restaurants in San Diego.
Maria Samaritano PhD Student
Maria is a current PhD student in the UCSD Bioengineering Department. She obtained her B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Her research is focused on advancing biomaterials for vaginal tissue regeneration. In her free time, Maria enjoys hanging out with friends, exploring San Diego, and listening to Taylor Swift.
Laila Hayes PhD Student
Laila attended Spelman College and the Georgia Institute of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering, respectively. She is a PhD student in the Shu Chien-Gene Lay Department of Bioengineering. Her research focuses on maternal mortality and morbidity prevention through biomaterial innovation. Outside the lab, Laila loves to travel, listen to live music/go to concerts, spend time with friends and family, and plan trips she hopes to take one day.
Celeste Lintz PhD Student
Celeste is a current PhD student in the UCSD Bioengineering Department. She obtained her B.S. in Bioengineering from the University of Pittsburgh, graduating with minors in Chemistry and Public Service. Her research focuses on the development of biomaterials for targeted treatment of pelvic floor disorders. Outside of the lab, Celeste enjoys surfing, going to concerts, and trying new coffee shops around San Diego.
Hannah Manoochehri Masters Student
Hannah is a current Masters student in the UCSD Biology Department. She obtained her B.S. in Biology from UCSD while volunteering at the Alperin lab. Her current project focuses on the effect of the immune system on the regenerative potential of the muscle stem cells in the female pelvic floor. In her free time, she enjoys baking and exploring San Diego’s beaches and coffee shops.
Tatyanna Henderson, MD Urogynecology Fellow
Tatyanna is a current Fellow in Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at UC San Diego. She completed residency at UC San Diego, medical school at Duke University and prior to that earned her Bachelor of Science at Eckerd College.
Jolene Rudell, MD PhD Assistant Professor
Jolene is a board-certified pediatric ophthalmologist and a clinician scientist, bringing her research background in neuromuscular junctions in skeletal muscles into the field of pediatric eye disease and extraocular muscle disease including strabismus, or eye misalignment. She is currently an Assistant Professor at UCSD in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Shiley Eye Center. She graduated from Stanford University as an undergraduate, and then did basic science research with Nobel laureate David Baltimore at Caltech before completing her MD PhD degree and ophthalmology residency at UC Davis, and clinical fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus at Seattle Children’s Hospital/University of Washington. In addition to her research background, she utilizes and applies the lab techniques in muscle in the Alperin lab into the field of extraocular muscles to answer clinical questions and to help understand and treat diseases in her patients.
John Rudell, PhD Laboratory Assistant
John earned his Ph.D. at UC Davis where he studied the molecular mechanisms of neuromuscular junction formation and stabilization. He is excited to be back in the lab studying pelvis floor muscles and associated muscle stem cells. In his free time John enjoys paddle-boarding, trying to surf, and being outside with his wife, daughters and dog.
Khushi Diwakar
Khushi is a 4th year Human Biology major at UC San Diego. She is interested in studying the immune response involved in pelvic floor muscle regeneration, particularly in relation to hormonal changes postpartum. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends, exploring new restaurants around San Diego, and binge-watching TV dramas on Netflix.
Sneha Velaga
Sneha is a 3rd year Human Biology Major at UC San Diego. She is interested in studying female pelvic floor stem cells in relation to pregnancy and aging and hopes to attend medical school in the future. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places in San Diego and listening to music.
Alperin M, Abramowitch S, Alarab M, Bortolini M, Brown B, Burnett LA, Connell KA, Damaser MS, de Vita R, Gargett CE, Guess MK, Guler Z, Jorge RN, Kelley RS, Kibschull M, Miller K, Moalli PA, Mysorekar IU, Routzong MR, Shynlova O, Swenson CW, Therriault MA, Northington GM. Foundational Science and Mechanistic Insights for a Shared Disease Model: An Expert Consensus. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2022 Jun 1;28(6):347-350. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000001216. Epub 2022 May 24. PubMed PMID: 35609252; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9248017.
Baah-Dwomoh A, Alperin M, Cook M, De Vita R. Mechanical Analysis of the Uterosacral Ligament: Swine vs. Human. Ann Biomed Eng. 2018 Dec;46(12):2036-2047. doi: 10.1007/s10439-018-2103-x. Epub 2018 Jul 26. PubMed PMID: 30051246; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6249056.
Alperin Lab 