Research Personnel
Dr. Maria Nagel
Principal Investigator
Dr. Nagel is a clinician-scientist in the Departments of Neurology and Ophthalmology. She is a world expert on the neurological and systemic manifestations of VZV disease. She directs her VZV lab with an energetic and creative team of scientists at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, Colorado. Dr. Nagel also sees patients with VZV and other herpesvirus infections, as well as complex "mystery" patients. Outside the lab, she enjoys being with her family, glamping, traveling, and reading.
Brenna "Bee" Brown
Brenna, or 'Bee', is the lead Research Services Professional in the Nagel lab. She explores the impact of mesenchymal stem cell treatment on active and latent herpesvirus infections and investigates general VZV pathogenesis in varying cell types, animal models, and in clinical settings. She attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where she received her BS in Neuroscience in 2025. As an undergrad, she interned in labs exploring mechanisms of neurovascular dysfunction in CADASIL and vascular remodeling in VZV. Now, Bee aims to strengthen the connection between the patient's bedside and the research bench by pursuing a career in medicine. Outside of the lab, Bee finds joy in almost anything (reading, running, hiking, camping, volunteering - you name it)!
Research Services Professional
Arianna Gentile Polese
Arianna is a senior research services professional. She leads projects on how alphaherpesviruses contribute to dementia using a mouse model of HSV-1 infection and human olfactory organoid cultures. With her fantastic art skills, Arianna also serves as the lab illustrator for our publications and website.
Research Services Professional
Jaden Nagel
Jaden is a senior at University of Colorado Boulder, majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Honors Finance. He assists with budget reviews for grant proposals to government and pharmaceutical firms and also participated in post-award meetings to ensure responsible budgeting for personnel and lab expenses. Jaden is striving for a future role as a finance executive - potentially in the healthcare industry. Outside of work and academics, Jaden enjoys playing card and board games such as Magic The Gathering and Terraforming Mars.
Undergraduate Research/Finance Intern
Caroline Gardner
Caroline is a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder, majoring in Chemical and Biological Engineering and is Neuroscience Certificate candidate. Caroline’s career interests center on pharmacokinetics and drug delivery systems, with the goal of developing therapeutics that meaningfully improve patient care. In the lab, she has spearheaded projects investigating the role of the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) in viral replication, including determination of nuclear proteins complexed with NK-1R during infection. She has also assisted Bee with research on varicella-zoster virus (VZV) pathogenesis and supported a variety of ongoing laboratory projects. Independently, Caroline has explored strategies for the reformulation and commercialization of a repurposed antiviral drug. Outside the lab, she enjoys skiing and working on small sewing projects.
Undergraduate College Intern
Miriam Tsai
Miriam serves as a research intern in the Nagel lab. She is a sophomore at the University of Washington, majoring in business, with the goal of going to medical school. In the lab, she assists Bee on projects looking at VZV pathogenesis. Miriam is also assisting clinical cases for publication as a co-author. Outside the lab, Miriam enjoys playing volleyball and traveling. www.linkedin.com/in/miriamtsai
Undergraduate College Intern
Research Projects
VZV as an Accelerator of Dementia
Investigating how VZV reactivation contributes to established Alzheimer's disease pathologies, including amyloid deposition, neuroinflammation, and brain ischemia.
VZV Vasculopathy
Examining the clinical, epidemiological, and pathological characteristics, as well as molecular mechanisms, of VZV vasculopathy in stroke, dementia, and giant cell arteritis using human data, biopsy/autopsy samples, and primary human cells.
Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists
Investigating mechanisms by which neurokinin-1 receptor antagonists act as novel antiviral agents against herpesviruses
Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Investigating the potential antiviral effects of mesenchymal stem cells in VZV and HSV-1 keratitis and in HSV-1 encephalitis.
Biomarkers in the Aging Brain
Characterizing gene expression changes associated with cognition in the aging brain across lifespan with dietary interventions.
Selected Publications
Varicella Zoster Virus Infection
Bubak AN et al. | Nature Reviews Disease Primers | 2026
Nagel MA and Bubak AN | Journal of Infectious Diseases | 2024
Bubak AN et al. | Journal of Infectious Diseases | 2020
Central Nervous System Infections Produced by VZV
Nagel MA et al. | Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases | 2020
VZV in biopsy-positive and -negative giant cell arteritis: Analysis of 100+ temporal arteries
Gilden D et al. | Neurology Neuroimmunology and Neuroinflammation | 2016