Our Team and Mission
Axiom Brain Health is a clinical research site that has been providing exceptional, concierge-level attention to residents in the Tampa-area for 30+ years. We specialize in conducting Phase II-IV neurological clinical trials, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Multiple Sclerosis, in a comfortable outpatient setting.
Mark C. Cascione, M.D.
Dr. Cascione received his Doctorate in Medicine in 1991 from University of Vermont College of Medicine. After completing residencies at Maine Medical Center, Portland, Maine (1992) and Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (1995), he received his Board Certification in Neurology & Psychiatry in 1997 and in Electrodiagnostic Medicine in 1998. Dr. Cascione joined Tampa Neurology Associates and Axiom Clinical Research of Florida in 1996, subsequently becoming a partner in both companies. He is on staff at St. Joseph’s, Memorial Hospital of Tampa, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and Tampa General. Dr. Cascione is a national and international thought-leader and educator for treatment and research topics in Multiple Sclerosis.
Susan J Steen, M.D.
Dr. Steen graduated from the University of Florida Medical School in 1978, served her residency in University of South Florida and affiliated hospitals and completed her Neurology residency at the University of Florida, Gainesville, receiving Board Certification in Medicine & Surgery in 1979 and in Neurology and Psychiatry in 1991. She joined Tampa Neurology Associates in 1983, becoming a partner shortly thereafter, and is a co-founder (1993) and president of Axiom Clinical Research of Florida Dr. Steen is a renowned speaker for Alzheimer’s Disease, and is the medical advisor to multiple memory loss facilities. She is on staff at St. Joseph’s, Memorial Hospital of Tampa, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital and Tampa General.
Nikki Boyd, BS, CCRP
Nikki began her career in research at a private, multi-specialty research center. Focusing on neurology, internal medicine, and dermatology trials, she began working with marketing and clinical teams to enhance recruitment efforts including advertising and promoting Alzheimer’s and dementia clinical research studies in various media platforms, outreach event planning and execution, patient recruitment with targeted eligibility criteria, and working with sponsors/CROs and advertising vendors. She also has experience with website content design, patient-facing materials including newsletters, and budget management for clinical trials.
Prior to being site director at Axiom Brain Health, Nikki served on GAP’s Participant Service (GPS) team as a liaison at the Global Alzheimer’s Platform Foundation (GAP), supporting GAP-Net sites to meet their screening and randomization goals through various strategies including community outreach, physician and community partnerships, and advertising. Liaisons share best practices in GAP-enabled trials and help sites address obstacles as they operationalize studies. She served sites along the east coast, across the midwest and in Florida.
Kerry Conboy
Kerry graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.A. in business administration, and with her MBA from Webster University in 2006. Her experience is local to the community in various community outreach positions such as: Director of Community Relations at her alma mater Webster University, the Director of Student Services at Everglades University, and Director of Outreach and Development at South University in Tampa.
She loves being out in the Tampa Bay community promoting Axiom Brain Health, educating residents on research, and discussing how clinical trials can help us find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. When Kerry isn’t working, she enjoys the beautiful beaches (especially Anna Maria Island and Siesta Key), being in book clubs, and cooking.
Isabel Dalence, APRN
Isabel earned her Master’s in Nursing from Vanderbilt University and spent eight years working in primary care as a Nurse Practitioner. She has always been passionate about caring for patients with chronic diseases across the lifespan, and Alzheimer’s disease stood out to her as one of the most challenging, medically, emotionally, and socially. This led her to clinical research as a meaningful way to contribute to finding answers and improving care.
Since June 2025, Isabel has been part of the team at Axiom Brain Health, where she hopes to expand access to memory screenings, community resources, and clinical trials for individuals in the Tampa Bay area, particularly those who are medically underserved. She finds it especially rewarding to meet with people during consultations about their memory concerns, offering compassion and guidance during what is often a scary and uncertain time.
Outside of work, Isabel loves visiting the beach, and staying active through running, yoga, and soccer. She also enjoys exploring new restaurants in the Tampa area.
Johannes Dessoy
Johannes is originally from Germany and studies at Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen and is a German Board Certified Anesthesiologist. A desire to make a bigger impact on patient lives, in the last year he switched to clinical research and has been at Axiom Brain Health for several months. He hopes that the network of different professionals at ABH makes a change in the lives of those in the community.
At Axiom, Johannes supports clinical ratings for trials for Alzheimer’s and multiple sclerosis, supports the SNAP (Swift Neurological Assessment Program) free memory screening program, and supports community-based screening programs
Johannes enjoys spending time outside, particularly at the beach with his wife and daughter or playing rugby.
Analie Herbert, RN
Analie is a Clinical Research Nurse with a dual Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and Biomedicine. She brings a strong foundation in both clinical care and scientific research, with a passion for advancing patient care through high-quality research. Her background combines hands-on nursing expertise with a deep understanding of biomedical science, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to clinical studies.
Outside of work, Analie is an adventurer at heart. She enjoys traveling, discovering new places, trying different cuisines, and embracing new cultures. She also deeply values time with her family, whether exploring the world together or enjoying everyday moments at home.
Annie Martin
Annie is a 2023 graduate of Washington and Lee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, along with a minor in French. Following graduation, she began her career at the University of South Florida as a Research Assitant, working on behavioral trials in a sleep lab focused on dementia caregivers and children with behavioral challenges. She later continued her work in Alzheimer’s research as a Clinical Research Coordinator on the PACT (Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training) study.
Her passion for Alzheimer’s research is deeply personal, inspired by her grandfather who lost his life to the disease. Annie is driven to make a meaningful impact and is especially excited to contribute to advancements through clinical drug trials. She joined Axiom Brain Health in January 2026 and is committed to providing patients with hope while working toward meaningful and optimistic outcomes.
Outside of work, Annie enjoys staying active through running and playing soccer. She also loves exploring Tampa with her friends and boyfriend and finding new experiences around the city.
Marina Prickett
Marina earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Fine Arts from Washington State University in Pullman, WA. She joined the Axiom Brain Health team in September 2025 and serves as the first point of contact for participants and visitors, welcoming individuals and families as they arrive at the site and guiding them through the clinical research process.
She is passionate about clinical research and the opportunity to contribute to the development of new therapies for neurological diseases. She enjoys connecting with participants and their families, supporting them throughout the research process, and continuously expanding her knowledge of clinical trials and neuroscience.
Outside of work, she enjoys being out on the water, fishing, boating, and soaking up the Florida sun. At home, she unwinds with her cat, Mouse.
Brianna Rolon, BS, RN, AGACNP-S
Bri is a Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator and Registered Nurse with a degree in Biomedical Science and Nursing. She brings a strong foundation in both clinical care and scientific research, with experience spanning critical care, specialty surgery, orthopedics, and neurology. Her background combines hands-on nursing expertise with a deep understanding of biomedical science, allowing her to contribute meaningfully to clinical research. Driven by a desire to give patients hope and deliver positive outcomes, Bri is excited to grow long-term with the Axiom team. As she advances her education as an AGACNP Master’s Student, her goal is to transition into a Sub-Investigator Role, continuing to bridge cutting-edge clinical research with exceptional, compassionate patient care.
Outside of work and her studies, Bri loves making the most of her free time with her boyfriend, a vascular surgery resident at USF. Together, they enjoy exploring Tampa, staying active, and spending time with their puppy, Wynnie.