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Kenneth Hugh PearceView profile

Research Professor

• Drug Discovery
• Chemical Biology
• Medicinal Chemistry
• +4 more

Dr. Kenneth Hugh Pearce is a Research Professor in the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , where he also serves as Director of the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (CICIBDD) and Director of Lead Discovery and Characterization . His research focuses on discovering small molecule and peptide modulators for therapeutic targets in cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. Education: PhD in Biochemistry Research Expertise spans protein biochemistry, biophysics, assay design, high-throughput screening, and medicinal chemistry optimization. With 18 years at GlaxoSmithKline , he led multidisciplinary teams for target-based and phenotypic drug discovery programs across antibacterials, antivirals, metabolic diseases, inflammation, and fibrosis. His lab at UNC develops chemical probes for methyl-lysine reader proteins (critical in chromatin regulation) and pioneered the first clinical candidate for reactivating innate immune response in cancer. Recent Publications highlight his cross-disciplinary impact: covalent inhibitors for Chikungunya protease, FERM domain PPI blockers for Alzheimer's, SETDB1 allosteric modulators in cancer epigenetics, and novel adjuvants for antibiotic-resistant bacterial persisters. Collaborations span immunology, virology, and orthopedics, reflecting his integrative approach to drug discovery. Leadership includes directing UNC's CICIBDD and Lead Discovery initiatives, fostering partnerships between academic researchers and pharmaceutical scientists.

Vivek RangnekarView profile

Professor

• Cancer Cell Biology
• Molecular Biology
• Cell Signaling
• +6 more

Vivek Rangnekar, Ph.D. , is a Professor in Radiation Medicine and Program Leader at Markey Cancer Center (University of Kentucky). He holds a joint appointment in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, with affiliations to the Cardiovascular and Diabetes & Obesity Research Priority Areas. As Associate Director of the Markey Cancer Center and holder of the Alfred M. Cohen M.D. Chair in Oncology Research , his work spans cancer molecular biology, cell signaling, and apoptosis. Education: Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Bombay (1983) His research focuses on cancer cell biology , apoptosis regulation , and cell signaling in prostate and lung cancers. Recent studies investigate the tumor suppressor Par-4 (PAWR) and its role in autophagy-dependent ferroptosis, adipogenesis, and obesity-related cancer progression. He explores precision medicine through 3D tumor models , liquid biopsy integration , and drug repurposing (e.g., hydroxychloroquine, crizotinib). Selected publications highlight Par-4 's therapeutic potential, GRP78 targeting, and Wilms tumor mechanisms. Current grants from the KY Cabinet for Health and Family Services address treatment resistance and obesity's impact on leukemia. As a scientific mentor , he collaborates across disciplines, including computational biology, pharmacology, and clinical oncology.

• Population Genetics
• Complex Disease Genetics
• Genetic Epidemiology
• +6 more

Scott Williams, PhD , is a Professor in the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences and the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine . He is also a Faculty member at the Cleveland Institute for Computational Biology . Dr. Williams is an internationally recognized population geneticist specializing in genetic susceptibility to complex diseases , host-pathogen co-evolution , and health disparities in global populations. PhD, Washington University (1981) BA, University of Chicago (1976) His research focuses on gene-environment interactions , epistasis , and statistical genetics to understand disease risk in diverse populations. He has directed PhD programs at Vanderbilt , Dartmouth , and now leads the Epidemiology and Biostatistics PhD program at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Williams has published 265 papers with 9,708 citations (H-index: 47) and serves as Section Editor for PLOS Genetics and Current Genetics Medicine Reports . Scientific Awards : Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2012) Professional leadership includes Founding Member and Executive Committee of the African Society of Human Genetics, Chair of the Preterm Birth International Collaborative, and Organizing Committee member of the North American Branch International Congress of Human Genetics.

Hong LiView profile

Teaching Professor

• Chinese Language Pedagogy
• Second Language Acquisition
• Discourse Analysis
• +3 more

Hong Li is a Teaching Professor of Chinese in the Department of Russian and East Asian Languages and Cultures at Emory University, and Director of the Emory College Language Center. She holds a Ph.D. in Chinese Linguistics from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her expertise lies in Chinese language pedagogy, second language acquisition, and Chinese syntax. She teaches courses ranging from elementary to advanced Chinese, Classical Chinese, and Chinese linguistics, and directs Emory’s summer study abroad program at Peking University. Her research focuses on language pedagogy and sociolinguistics, with publications in journals such as the Journal of Chinese Teachers Association and Modern Language Association volumes . She is the first author of the Access China textbook series and the book Fun with Chinese Grammar: 35 Humorous Dialogues and Comics . Her work emphasizes discourse and conversational analysis, integrating cultural studies with linguistic principles. Dr. Li’s contributions extend to curriculum development and educational innovation. Her courses include Modern Chinese Language , Introduction to Classical Chinese , and Buddhism: Readings in Chinese . She actively engages in professional service through her role at the Emory College Language Center, promoting language education and cross-cultural exchange.

Randi L. WolfView profile

Professor

• Dietary Assessment Measures
• School Nutrition Programs
• Celiac Disease and Gluten-Free Diets
• +5 more

Randi L. Wolf is the Ella McCollum Vahlteich Professor of Human Nutrition at Teachers College, Columbia University, where she directs the Program in Nutrition. She is affiliated with Health Studies & Applied Educational Psychology and Health Promotion and Education. B.S., Cornell University M.P.H., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh Randi Wolf’s scholarly work focuses on developing dietary assessment tools, measuring school lunch consumption via digital photography, and evaluating nutrition interventions for celiac disease and early childhood caries. Her research emphasizes practical, cost-effective strategies for urban minority populations. Her publications span colorectal cancer screening, dietary assessment methodologies, renal nutrition, and health education tools. Key themes include public health disparities, behavioral nutrition, and technology-driven dietary interventions.

Nadia ZainuddinView profile

Senior Lecturer

• Social Marketing
• Behavioral Change
• Value Theory
• +5 more

Dr. Nadia Zainuddin is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at the University of Wollongong, specializing in behavior and social change research. Her work focuses on leveraging marketing principles to drive social and behavioral change, particularly for marginalized groups such as women, older adults, people with disabilities, and culturally diverse communities. She is a mixed-methodologist with expertise in value theory, exploring frameworks for value creation and destruction across healthcare, wellness, and transportation contexts. Dr. Zainuddin has extensive collaboration experience with government and industry partners, including the Australian Research Council, Queensland Health, and the Australian Red Cross Blood Service. She holds leadership roles in academic governance, serving as President of the Australian Association of Social Marketing and chairing major conferences like the World Social Marketing Conference. Her editorial contributions include roles at the Journal of Social Marketing and Journal of Services Marketing . Her research interests span decolonizing market systems, intersectional approaches to marginalization, and the application of social marketing for societal well-being. She has undertaken visiting fellowships at the University of Glasgow and the University of Coventry’s Centre for Business in Society, furthering her global academic impact. Dr. Zainuddin’s teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate levels, covering Marketing Principles, Social Marketing, Consumer Behavior, and Marketing Research. She actively supervises higher-degree research students, contributing to the next generation of scholars in these fields.

Cheryl KnottView profile

Professor

• Implementation Science
• Cancer Control
• Behavioral Interventions
• +3 more

Cheryl Knott is Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health and Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center. As an inaugural MPower Professor, she directs the Community Health Awareness, Messages, and Prevention (CHAMP) research lab and serves as Editor-in-Chief of Translational Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Knott's research focuses on implementation science approaches to cancer control interventions, particularly addressing disparities affecting African Americans. She develops and evaluates community-based cancer communication strategies and examines multi-level influences on cancer prevention behaviors. Her social epidemiology work investigates neighborhood-level factors in cancer control through community-engaged approaches. Recent publications demonstrate her focus on neighborhood disadvantage impacts on cancer outcomes, global cancer prevention initiatives in Nigeria, and methodological advances in community-engaged basic science. Her work frequently employs retrospective cohort designs to examine socioeconomic impacts on cancer treatment and survival.

• Thrombosis
• Platelet Biology
• Vascular Diseases
• +3 more

Professor Niamh Moran is a leading academic at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), serving as a Professor in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences and a member of the Molecular & Cellular Therapeutics department. Her academic roles have included Academic Director of the HEA Postgraduate Training Programme (2001–2007) and Head of the School of Postgraduate Studies (2013–2017). She holds a BSc (1983) and PhD (1987) from University College Dublin. Her research focuses on thrombosis, platelet biology, and vascular diseases, with contributions to integrin activation mechanisms, bioactive peptide delivery systems, and platelet secretome analysis. Key areas include understanding arterial thrombosis, platelet modulation in clinical scenarios like stroke and pregnancy, and cancer-cell-induced platelet activation. Her work aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). Recent studies explore platelet activation in COVID-19, vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia, and the role of platelets in cancer metastasis. Over 97 publications and numerous grants highlight her impact, including funded projects on platelet function in cardiovascular systems and collaborations across disciplines. Professor Moran has supervised multiple PhD theses, including projects on vitamin D’s role in platelet function and cancer-cell-induced platelet secretion. She has pioneered educational initiatives, such as a unique PhD program in Biomedical Sciences and a Science Art initiative. Her lab and teams are integral to RCSI’s research ecosystem.

• Healthcare Disparities
• Public Health
• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• +4 more

Oluwasegun Akinyemi, MD, MSc, PhD (expected 2025), is a Senior Research Fellow at the Clive O Callender Outcomes Research Center, Howard University College of Medicine, and a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. His academic journey includes foundational medical training in Nigeria, residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and advanced public health degrees focused on health services research. Education highlights: MBBS in Medicine and Surgery, Obafemi Awolowo University (2007) Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College (2017) MSc in Public Health, Western Illinois University (2020) PhD in Health Services Research, University of Maryland (ongoing) Akinyemi's research explores critical intersections of healthcare disparities, public health, and clinical outcomes. His work spans maternal-neonatal health, cancer survival inequities, firearm violence epidemiology, mental health crises, and policy impacts like the Affordable Care Act. Using large databases (SEER, NEDS), his studies reveal systemic inequities affecting minority populations and propose data-driven interventions. His publications emphasize three themes: (1) socioeconomic drivers of health outcomes (e.g., firearm injuries linked to community deprivation), (2) structural barriers in healthcare access (e.g., racial disparities in cancer survival), and (3) clinical-public health interventions (e.g., policy impacts on bariatric surgery utilization). Awards and honors: Western Illinois University Graduate Research Conference recognition Drew Walker Symposium presenter, National Medical Association Southeastern Surgical Congress commendation Akinyemi mentors medical students and residents, coordinating journal clubs and research collaborations. He develops educational programs on research methodology and public health topics. He leads projects at the Clive O Callender Outcomes Research Center, focusing on health disparities affecting underserved communities. Future work includes expanding studies on Medicaid policy impacts and global health equity.

Helen MaddockView profile

Professor

• Cardiovascular Pharmacology
• Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity
• Mitochondrial Function
• +3 more

Helen Maddock is a Professor at Coventry University where she leads the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences. Her research focuses on cardiovascular biology with particular expertise in cardiac contractile dysfunction, mitochondrial function, drug-induced cardiotoxicity, and cardioprotective therapies. She holds a PhD in Cardiovascular Pharmacology from Cardiff University and has held postdoctoral positions at the Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, UCL. Her research program spans basic and translational cardiovascular science, including the development of human cardiac tissue models for drug safety assessment and mechanisms of myocardial stress adaptation. Her work has received funding from the British Heart Foundation, Heart Research UK, Innovate UK, and pharmaceutical industry partners. Her publication record demonstrates consistent focus on cardiac safety pharmacology, particularly the mechanisms and prevention of drug-induced cardiotoxicity from cancer therapies. Recent work explores COVID-19 cardiovascular sequelae and ventricular assist device effects on myocardial function.

Gabriel PiconeView profile

Professor

• Health Economics
• Applied Econometrics
• Development Economics
• +3 more

Gabriel Picone is a Professor of Economics and Chair of the Department of Economics at the University of South Florida , where he leads academic initiatives in health economics, applied econometrics, and development economics focusing on Sub-Saharan Africa. His career spans decades of research and teaching excellence. Academic Background: Ph.D. in Economics, Vanderbilt University (1993) Research Focus: Health Economics: Analyzing disease prevention, healthcare utilization, and policy impacts Applied Econometrics: Developing statistical models for health and economic outcomes Sub-Saharan Africa Development: Investigating economic growth, health interventions, and demographic trends Industrial Organization: Studying retail market behaviors and alcohol industry economics Publication Trends: Over 25 years, his work spans diverse fields including malaria prevention economics, healthcare policy analysis, econometric methodology, alcohol consumption patterns, and pharmaceutical market regulation. Geographic focus remains strongly on Sub-Saharan Africa with parallel research in U.S. and EU health systems.

• Telemedicine
• Telehealth
• Health Equity
• +3 more

Dr. Mirna Becevic is Assistant Professor in Dermatology at University of Missouri, focusing on telemedicine applications to improve healthcare access for rural and underserved populations. As lead evaluator for Show-Me ECHO, she develops virtual learning networks for primary care providers. Education includes doctoral training in health informatics. Research evaluates telehealth implementations for dermatology, pediatric care, and chronic disease management. Recent projects examine AI applications for skin lesion classification and telehealth impacts on opioid prescribing patterns. Awards include Ann K. Covington mentoring award (2021) and MU Top Faculty Achiever (2017). Research outcomes inform telehealth policy and implementation frameworks for improving specialty care access.

Donna TurnerView profile

Associate Professor

• Cancer Epidemiology
• Health Services Research
• Population Health
• +3 more

Dr. Donna Turner serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba's Max Rady College of Medicine and holds the position of Chief of Population Oncology at CancerCare Manitoba since 2007. In this dual role, she oversees the Department of Epidemiology, Manitoba Cancer Registry, Prevention and Screening programs, System Performance Unit, Quality & Patient Safety initiatives, and Cancer Standards while leading the Manitoba Tomorrow Project as Scientific Lead. Her educational credentials include: Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiology from the University of Alberta (1997) Master of Science in Community Health Sciences (Epidemiology focus) from the University of Calgary (1991) Bachelor of Science in Health Information Science from the University of Victoria (1988) Dr. Turner's research centers on population-based cancer data analysis for cancer control, utilizing provincial cancer registries and linked administrative databases. Her work spans cancer surveillance, etiology, prevention, screening, and outcomes with emphasis on translating epidemiological findings into health services improvements. She actively contributes to national cancer strategy through affiliations with the Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology (RIOH), Canadian Cancer Society's Cancer Statistics Publication Committee, and Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC). Professional leadership roles include: President Elect of the International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) Member of Canadian Council of Cancer Registries Member of North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Scientific Lead for Manitoba Tomorrow Project within CanPath Cohort Consortium Though currently not accepting new graduate students despite welcoming Masters and PhD candidates historically, her research program continues to shape Manitoba's cancer control landscape through epidemiological leadership and health systems research.

Daniel FringsView profile

Professor

• Social Identity
• Addiction
• Mental Health
• +3 more

Professor Daniel Frings is an academic and practicing psychotherapist affiliated with London South Bank University , where he serves as Associate Dean for Research and Enterprise in the School of Applied Sciences . He earned his PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Kent in 2008, followed by a visiting researcher role at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Education : PhD in Social Psychology (2008), University of Kent. Frings’ research spans social identity processes, addiction, mental health, psychophysiology, and AI-driven healthcare solutions . His work often intersects with commercial mental health product development, including apps and online platforms, and has been funded by entities such as the Economic and Social Research Council and Cancer Research UK . Recent studies focus on AI applications in cardiac care, identity dynamics in addiction recovery, and the psychological impact of dietary identities like veganism. His academic contributions include over 98 research outputs, with recent emphasis on AI-driven appointment systems, problematic social media use, and alcohol/vaping cessation . He also maintains a private psychotherapy practice in Faversham, UK, integrating person-centered therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy for clients dealing with anxiety, depression, and trauma.

Sadanandan E. VeluView profile

Professor

• Medicinal Chemistry
• Anti-cancer Agents
• Anti-infective Agents
• +6 more

Sadanandan E. Velu is a tenured Professor of Chemistry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) , with co-appointments at the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center and other UAB research institutes. His career spans over two decades at UAB, including promotions from Assistant (2004) to Full Professor (2020). Education : PhD in Organic Chemistry (University of Madras, 1993), Postdoctoral training (University of Alabama, Clemson University). Research : Focuses on drug discovery for cancer and infectious diseases , targeting voltage-gated ion channels , biofilm formation , and marine-derived therapeutics . Funded by NIH, AHA, and other agencies. Awards : Recipient of the National Award for Excellence in Teaching (2010). Serves on NIH/AHA study sections and journal editorial boards. Teaching : Offers courses in Organic Chemistry , Medicinal Chemistry , and Cancer Biology , and co-directs UAB’s Undergraduate Program in Cancer Biology . Lab : Trains PhD, MS, and undergraduate students in medicinal chemistry , organic synthesis , and drug development , with projects on biofilm inhibitors , marine alkaloids , and ion channel blockers .