Clinical Team

Melanie Burton joined the lab in 2021. She gained an interest in the pathophysiology of neurological disorders from her previous work in a psychiatric hospital. Now, Melanie works in the Bateman lab helping develop and implement study processes, driven by her passion to make a difference in the future of Alzheimer's disease. Outside of the lab, her passions lie in outdoor activities like camping, hiking, traveling and music festivals.

Rickey George received his BS in psychology in December of 2019. During his education, he became drawn to the prospect of research but decided to pursue other areas of work to broaden his experience. However, research was his true passion, which eventually brought him to the Bateman lab. He is currently working on the SUNBIRD project and is passionate in aiding the fight against Alzheimer’s disease through the progression of research aimed at improving diagnostic techniques. This involves screening participants and working closely on blood draws, as well as sample processing.

McCrae graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology and then continued her education with a Master of Science in Nursing from Xavier University. After graduation, she worked at St. Elizabeth Edgewood Hospital in Cincinnati as an inpatient oncology nurse before joining the Bateman Lab in April 2024. Currently, she is focused on recruiting participants for various Alzheimer’s research studies, managing fluid samples and blood collection, and performing clinical procedures alongside principal physicians. Outside the clinic and office, McCrae is an avid runner and is always training for her next big race. She also enjoys reading, traveling, hiking, and discovering new restaurants and bakeries.

Costi Karakousis graduated from WashU in the spring of 2024 with a bachelor’s in classics and a minor in psychology. He joined the clinical team in the summer of 2024 and works primarily on SUNBIRD. He developed an interest in neuroscience after taking Biological Psychology at WashU, and the pathology and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases is an area of research that he finds particularly fascinating. Outside of the clinic he is an avid fan of the Buffalo Bills, Milwaukee Bucks and Baltimore Orioles and he loves playing soccer with friends.

Olivia Kersting graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and then received her Master’s Degree in Clinical Child Psychology at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Following graduation, she switched paths and earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the Goldfarb School of Nursing. Olivia Joined the Bateman Lab in July 2024 to combine her passions of nursing and psychology. Her work in the lab focuses on our newest clinical study SUNBIRD. Outside of the lab, Olivia enjoys international travel, as well as trying new restaurants and gardening.

Matthew Larsen graduated from Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology in the fall of 2023. He joined the Bateman Lab as a sophomore undergraduate student to gain clinical experience and now works full-time as a research assistant. His work in the lab is with the clinical team and will be centered around the SUNBIRD study. Outside of the lab, Matthew spends his free time swimming and enjoying photography.

Andrea Peterson-Brown has been assisting with Bateman’s research studies for over 15 years. While working in the clinical trials research unit (CTRU), she helped with a multitude of studies. Services included blood and CSF collection, infusion administration, LP assistance and routine nursing services. Peterson-Brown has been a registered nurse for over 26 years, receiving degrees from Jewish College of Nursing and Allied Health and Barnes College of Nursing at University of Missouri-St. Louis. She works on several studies with a primary concentration on the DIAN observational study. She enjoys interacting with patients and is extremely excited to be a part of Bateman’s world-wide, important and innovative research projects.

Diane Salamon is a research nurse coordinator who joined the Bateman Lab in 2021. She has been with WashU since 2007 and has worked in the Departments of Surgery, Medicine, Psychiatry, and Nephrology. Her priority is the DIAN-Obs study, but she has helped with other AD studies over the past 3 years. She finds the work is very rewarding and is excited to contribute towards AD research. Outside of work she likes spending time with family and friends the most, cooking & baking, reading, puzzling and walking her dog.

Wendy Sigurdson is a clinical research nurse in neurology and has been with Bateman since April 2007. Her prior work experience includes research for the Department of Neurosurgery. She received her BScN at McMaster University in Canada and her MHSc at Washington University. Her focus is DIAN and DIAN-TU but also assists with the ongoing A-beta and Tau studies. She enjoys working with Bateman and the team because of the amazing, cutting edge research.

Lisa Soke has been at Washington University since December 2019, working in the psychiatry department before joining the Bateman lab in May 2022. She has a BA in psychology from University of Missouri – St. Louis where she worked in a neuropsychology lab researching Alzheimer’s disease. She tutored students in general psychology, biopsychology, hormones and behavior and French. She manages the clinical team for several studies, including SUNBIRD, and is thrilled to be a part of such groundbreaking projects. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys playing kickball, making art, hiking and traveling.

Britt Wagner started at the Bateman lab as a clinical research nurse in April 2024, where she works on various studies recruiting participants and assisting with blood collection and LPs. She graduated with a BS in biological sciences from SIU Carbondale in 2021, where she worked in a neuroscience research lab on campus, and she obtained her BSN from Goldfarb School of Nursing in 2022. She worked on an inpatient BMT/hematology oncology floor until joining the lab, where she now enjoys combining her passion for patient care with being a part of impactful, life-changing AD research. Outside of the lab, Britt enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing sand volleyball, cooking and baking.