Meet the Team

Dr. Ganesh Babulal’s research interests lie in investigating the relationship between cognition and mental health and its impact on instrumental activities in populations with chronic neurological diseases, specifically, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and stroke. Additionally, Dr. Babulal researches driving performance via road tests and driving behavior via naturalistic driving methodologies to understand changes and decline in healthy and clinical populations. He holds dual Bachelors (UMN), Masters (UMN, WUSM), and Doctorates (WUSM, Rush) degrees and has holds affiliate faculty appointments at the University of Johannesburg (South Africa) and George Washington University (DC, USA).

ResearchGate Profile

Dr. Yiqi Zhu holds a PhD in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Dr. Zhu’s research focuses on developing community-based interventions that address environmental and social determinants of health, particularly their impact on neurological conditions among older adults. Dr. Zhu has published extensively on the links between multidimensional poverty, food security, and cognitive impartment.

In the United States, Dr. Zhu’s work centers on racial disparities in cognitive impairment among older adults and explores social and psychological factors associated with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementia (ADRD). This includes examining how depression and neuropsychological symptoms increase the risk of dementia using national datasets (e.g., NACC) and studies within marginalized communities in St. Louis and New York. Dr. Zhu also employs community participatory approaches to investigate social determinants influencing dementia research globally. With a strong background in data science, Dr. Zhu’s current research aims to explore the relationship between naturalistic behaviors and the development of ADRD, leveraging machine learning to improve human health outcomes.

Kaylin Taylor is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the DRIVES lab. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, and her Master’s degree in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Kaylin has worked in clinical research at Washington University School of Medicine since 2017.

Alexis Walker is a Clinical Research Coordinator for both the DRIVES Project and ARCHES Study. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in cognitive neuroscience and African and African-American studies at Washington University in St. Louis in May of 2021. This project contributes to her interest in the intersection between various neuropsychological topics and vulnerable communities (i.e. geriatric, pediatric, racial minorities, etc.).

Maeve Intagliata is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the DRIVES lab. She completed her bachelor’s degree in child and Family Studies with a minor in Social Work at Southeast Missouri State University and recently earned her Master’s degree in Prevention Science from Kansas State University. Her research focused on understanding the relationship between food insecurity and mental health among low-income mothers and their children and if resilience factors mediated that relationship. Maeve is passionate about promoting optimal health and well-being for all individuals across the life course.

Kayla Mills is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the DRIVES Lab. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Biology at Truman State University then completed her Bachelor’s in Nursing at Goldfarb School of Nursing at Barnes-Jewish College. She graduated in 2020 and worked in the ICU/critical care setting before joining clinical research at Washington University School of Medicine in 2024. She joined to pursue her interest in Neurology and specific passion for understanding Alzheimer’s Disease which inspired her career in healthcare. She is particularly interested in how pre-existing neurological and psychological conditions are linked to the development of Alzheimer’s Disease and how this knowledge can improve treatment with hopes of prevention. Outside of the lab, she enjoys experiencing the world through food adventures and life with her two cats, Sherlock and Nola. 

Katie Prinkey is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the DRIVES lab. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Neurobiology with minors in Computer Science and English Literature at the University of California, San Diego. Before joining Washington University School of Medicine, she utilized molecular neuroscience to research post-translational modifications in Alzheimer’s disease at the University of California, San Diego. She joined the DRIVES lab to continue her research in neurodegeneration and is passionate about contributing to the clinical understanding of prevention and development of Alzheimer’s disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading and hanging out with her cat, Bella.