People

Sergio Baranzini, PhD

Professor in Residence

M_Neurology

Sergio E. Baranzini is Distinguished Professor of Neurology I at the University of California San
Francisco (UCSF). He is also a member of the Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, the Institute for
Human Genetics, the Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, ImmunoX, and the California
Institute for Quantitative Biology (QB3). He holds the Heidrich Friends and Family endowed chair in
Neurology. Dr. Baranzini earned his degrees in clinical biochemistry (1992) and PhD in human molecular

Jay Amayo, BA

Lab Manager

M_Neurology

Jay is a Reseach Associate/Lab Manager of the International Multiple Sclorosis Microbiome Study with the Baranzini Lab. As a proud San Francisco native, they decided to use their educational background in neurodevelopmental disability and neurodegenerative diseases to contribute to the meaningful research done at UCSF. Their tasks involve conducting DNA isolation and purification from participants around the globe, as well as assisting in the Sandler Gnotobiotic Animal Facility.

Gianmarco Bellucci, MD

Postdoctoral Scholar

Gianmarco is an Italian Medical Doctor whose clinical and research interests have centered on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) since the early stages of his medical training. During his Neurology residency in Rome, he deepened his focus on unraveling the clinical and pathobiological complexities of MS. His work integrates genetic and phenotypic insights, employing big data through SPOKE and AI-driven models to advance precision medicine in MS.

Hope Giron, BSBA

Clinical Research Coordinator

M_Neurology

Hope is a Clinical Research Coordinator for the International Multiple Sclerosis Microbiome Study at the Baranzini Laboratory. Being born at UCSF, she felt a strong connection to the institution and knew it was the perfect place for her to dedicate her learnings and passions. After earning her BS in Business Administration from San Francisco State University, she discovered her passion for helping others.

Wanjun Gu

Graduate Student

M_Neurology

Wanjun is a doctoral student in the Biological and Medical Informatics (BMI) program at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). He earned a dual degree in Chemical Engineering (B.S.) and Economics (B.A.) from the University of California, San Diego, and has a diverse research background in physiology, genetics, and epidemiology. His research interests focus on leveraging biological knowledge networks and multi-omics data to enhance our understanding of disease mechanisms and evolutionary processes.