Team
2002Kate Wofford, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery
Dr. Wofford grew up in Tennessee, graduated from Austin College with B.A. in Psychology and Biophysics, and graduated from Drexel University with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. She completed her postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania. Her work has been recognized with receipt of multiple awards including the K99 Career Development Award, F32 National Research Service Award, Koerner Award, Outstanding Scholar in Neuroscience Award, Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Research Excellence Fellowship, Anthony Marmarou Award, Sanjeev Kumar Memorial Award, and the Wan Shih Translational Research Award.
Dr. Wofford and her team use advanced preclinical models to study behavioral, neuropathological, and immunological consequences of brain injury. Her scientific interests include neurotrauma, regenerative medicine, and immunotherapies. Outside of lab, Kate loves to spend time hiking, biking, playing games, and spending time with family.
Ahmed Altaf
Ahmed Altaf is a Research Specialist in the Wofford Neurotrauma Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Neurosurgery and the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center. After graduating from medical school in Pakistan, he worked closely with neurosurgery teams caring for patients in the aftermath of traumatic brain injury and other neurosurgical conditions, an experience that left him with as many questions as it did convictions. Seeing firsthand how little could be offered to patients beyond acute stabilization, he became driven to understand what was happening at the cellular level long after the initial impact, and what that might mean for recovery. That pursuit brought him to Penn, where his research focuses on the microglial response to TBI, uncovering how these innate immune cells sustain neuroinflammation and drive progressive neurodegeneration. His broader interests lie in translating these cellular insights into clinical advances, closing the gap between what the science reveals about TBI and what patients actually receive in the clinic. His long-term goal is to pursue a career as a physician-scientist in neurosurgery, where he can bridge the bench and bedside to improve outcomes for those affected by brain injury. When not on the bench, he still likes to experiment with Pakistani cuisine in the kitchen or ride his bike exploring trails across Pennsylvania.
Caela Long, Ph.D.
Caela grew up in Latrobe, PA and graduated with a B.A. in Honors Neuroscience from Swarthmore College, where she played varsity soccer and lacrosse. She earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from University of Pennsylvania. During her Ph.D., her work was honored with a F32 National Research Service Award and numerous travel awards to present oral presentations at conferences across the country.
In the Wofford Lab, she aims to investigate the role of glia following a traumatic brain injury and develop a potential therapeutic to mitigate impairment following a traumatic brain injury.
Outside of lab, Caela loves to spend time with her partner and their pets, either exploring local trails with the dogs or relaxing at home with the cats. You’ll also find her playing ice hockey, competing in triathlons, or racing in outrigger canoe races.
Susan Shin
Susan is a senior at the University of Pennsylvania from Brookline, MA. She is studying Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry, Healthcare Management, and Medical Sociology. She is interested in neurotrauma and the neuroimmune responses. Outside of the lab, Susan loves to spend time dancing, volunteering, and exploring the city.
Adrina Tiju
Adrina is a Vagelos MLS student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Neuroscience and Biochemistry with a minor in Chemistry('28). She's interested in the cellular mechanisms of neuroinflammation and brain injury. Outside of the lab, Adrina is an EMT with Penn's Medical Emergency Response Team(MERT) and enjoys dancing, crocheting, and reading.