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Pauliina DamdimopoulouView profile

Professor

• Reproductive Biology
• Toxicology
• Environmental Exposure
• +5 more

Professor Pauliina Damdimopoulou is a leading researcher in reproductive biology at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Women's and Children's Health. She leads the "Chemicals and female fertility" research group, investigating how environmental chemicals impact female fertility and ovarian function. With over 15 years of experience in endocrinology, reproductive biology and toxicology, she has established herself as an expert in reproductive toxicology and currently serves as ERC ambassador and Professor since 2025. Her educational background includes: Docent (Associate Professor) in endocrine physiology (2015, University of Turku, Finland) Docent in toxicology (2021, Karolinska Institutet) Professor Damdimopoulou's research focuses on environmental exposures like industrial chemicals and air pollution and their links to reduced fertility in women. She's particularly interested in how these exposures affect ovaries and oocytes, which form before birth and represent a finite, non-renewable resource. Her work combines epidemiological studies with controlled in vitro exposure studies to unravel molecular mechanisms by which chemicals affect ovarian function, with the ultimate goal of developing better tools for reproductive toxicity testing. Her recent publications (2023-2025) show a strong interdisciplinary focus on how specific chemical classes (phthalates, PFAS, persistent organic pollutants) affect ovarian function, follicular development, and female fertility. There's a clear trend toward developing better in vitro models for reproductive toxicity testing, mapping molecular pathways affected by environmental chemicals, and translating these findings into improved regulatory frameworks. Her work bridges epidemiology, molecular biology, toxicology, and clinical reproductive medicine. Her scientific awards include: ERC Consolidator Grant (2023) - EUR 2 million for the SAFER project (SAfeguarding female FERtility-development of human-relevant in vitro tools for reproductive toxicity) Professor Damdimopoulou has extensive experience in academic mentoring, having supervised numerous undergraduate students through laboratory training, MSc thesis projects, and served as main supervisor for multiple PhD students. She has formal training in higher education pedagogy and doctoral student supervision. Her research is supported by significant grants including the ERC Consolidator Grant for the SAFER project, which aims to develop human-relevant in vitro tools for reproductive toxicity testing to replace current animal-based methods. She leads the "Chemicals and female fertility" research group at Karolinska Institutet and co-leads the Environmental Endocrinology Focus Area of the European Society of Endocrinology. Her lab develops advanced tissue culture models including 3D spheroid systems and works with human ovarian tissue samples to study chemical effects on reproductive function. The group maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe and participates in major research initiatives focused on endocrine disruption and reproductive health.

• Cancer epidemiology
• Nutritional epidemiology
• Environmental health
• +7 more

Anne Tjønneland is a Professor in the Department of Public Health, specifically in the Section of Environmental Health at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. She also serves as Head of Research at the Danish Cancer Society, a position she has held since December 1, 1988. Her work is deeply integrated with the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study, one of the largest cohort studies in the world examining the relationships between diet, lifestyle, environmental factors and cancer risk. Her research interests center on cancer epidemiology with particular focus on nutritional factors, environmental exposures, and their interactions with genetic susceptibility in cancer development. She investigates how dietary patterns, food processing levels, and specific food components influence cancer risk across different populations. Her work spans methodological innovations in dietary assessment, analysis of long-term dietary patterns, and examination of social determinants of dietary behavior and cancer outcomes. Professor Tjønneland's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on the relationship between food processing and health outcomes, dietary patterns and specific cancer sites, and the integration of metabolomic approaches to understand diet-cancer relationships. Her work shows consistent interest in translating epidemiological findings into practical cancer prevention strategies with consideration for environmental sustainability. Her research has garnered significant attention, with multiple publications being highlighted by numerous news outlets and widely disseminated through social media platforms. The extensive collaborative nature of her work is evident in the multinational author lists across her publications, reflecting her leadership in European cancer research networks. Professor Tjønneland has supervised numerous researchers and collaborated extensively across European institutions, contributing to the training of the next generation of cancer epidemiologists. Her leadership role at the Danish Cancer Society complements her academic position, allowing her to bridge research findings with cancer prevention initiatives.

• Pharmacokinetics
• Health Outcomes Research
• Pharmacoepidemiology
• +5 more

Ronald Hall, PharmD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Pharmacy. He serves as program director for the Dose Optimization and Outcomes Research (DOOR) program, which generates evidence for optimizing medication dosing and outcomes in obese patients. His work bridges clinical pharmacy, pharmacokinetics, and health outcomes research to address critical gaps in special population pharmacotherapy. Education: MSCS with distinction: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2009 PharmD: St Louis College Pharmacy, 2000 BS: St Louis College Pharmacy, 1999 Dr. Hall's research centers on pharmacokinetics, health outcomes, pharmacoepidemiology, and evidence synthesis with specific focus on dose optimization for obesity. His DOOR program investigates antimicrobial stewardship, vaccine effectiveness in rheumatoid arthritis, and drug safety using real-world data. His methodology emphasizes retrospective cohort studies, database analyses, and scoping reviews to translate findings into clinical practice guidelines for complex patient populations. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications (2021-2024) reveals dominant themes in infectious diseases pharmacotherapy and obesity-related dosing challenges. Key trends include antimicrobial optimization in obesity, Clostridioides difficile management, pneumococcal vaccination efficacy, and pharmacovigilance using large databases like Cerner Health Facts and VA records. His work consistently addresses evidence gaps for special populations through rigorous epidemiological methods. Scientific Awards: NIH Clinical Research Scholar (2006) P2 Teaching Team of the Year, TTUHSC SOP (2007) Young Alumni Award from St. Louis College of Pharmacy (2008) As DOOR program director, Dr. Hall leads NIH-funded research initiatives and mentors students in pharmacokinetic modeling and outcomes research. His grants focus on antimicrobial dosing optimization, obesity pharmacotherapy, and health outcomes methodology. He has secured significant funding through the NIH Clinical Research Scholar program and institutional awards, supporting his team's work on real-world evidence generation. The DOOR program operates as a multidisciplinary research hub collaborating with infectious disease specialists, epidemiologists, and data scientists. It utilizes advanced analytical methods including LC-MS/MS quantification, database mining, and pharmacokinetic modeling to develop evidence-based dosing recommendations for obese patients across therapeutic areas.

Heather E. WebberView profile

Assistant Professor

• Psychophysiology
• Reward Functioning
• Addiction Neuroscience
• +5 more

Dr. Heather E. Webber is an Assistant Professor at the Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction (CNRA) within the Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth Houston). She earned her doctorate in psychology with a concentration in cognitive neuroscience from the University of South Florida in 2017 and joined UTHealth Houston initially as a postdoctoral research fellow, where she received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research. Dr. Webber's research focuses on the neural mechanisms of motivation, reward sensitivity, emotional functioning, trauma, and sleep as they relate to addiction. She employs human electrophysiological methods , particularly event-related potentials (ERPs), to investigate how these processes contribute to substance use disorders. Her current NIH-funded work aims to identify ERP targets for brain stimulation to develop new treatments for cocaine and other substance use disorders. Her publication record demonstrates significant contributions to the field, with over 25 peer-reviewed articles focusing on electrophysiological biomarkers in addiction, reward processing, and the neural mechanisms underlying substance use disorders. Her work frequently employs meta-analytic approaches to synthesize findings across studies. Scientific Recognition: Dean's Award for Excellence in Postdoctoral Research Award NIDA K01 Award recipient for research on event-related potential targets for brain stimulation Active research program with significant NIH funding As an early-career faculty member, Dr. Webber is enthusiastic about training the next generation of scientists and has mentored several visiting undergraduate and medical students. Her research program bridges basic cognitive neuroscience with clinical applications, aiming to translate neurophysiological findings into novel treatment approaches for substance use disorders. The Center for Neurobehavioral Research on Addiction provides a collaborative environment for her work, connecting basic science with clinical treatment development.

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Dual-Energy CT
• +4 more

Peter Sommer Ulriksen serves as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine at the University of Copenhagen, specializing in Radiology within the hospital system of the Capital Region of Denmark (Region Hovedstaden) at Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N. His research focuses on advanced CT imaging techniques, particularly dual-energy and spectral CT, with applications in pulmonary embolism diagnosis, bowel ischemia detection, and AI-assisted quantification. He pioneers iodine density mapping and deep learning reconstruction methods to enhance diagnostic precision in acute care settings. Analysis of his 2021-2025 publications reveals a cohesive trajectory in optimizing CT protocols for emergency radiology, emphasizing quantitative biomarkers and multi-center clinical validation. His work consistently bridges engineering innovation with clinical implementation across pulmonary and abdominal imaging domains.

Arie S. BelldegrunView profile

Professor

• Urologic Oncology
• Kidney Cancer
• Prostate Cancer
• +4 more

Dr. Arie S. Belldegrun is a Professor and Chief of the Department of Urology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, holding the Roy and Carol Dumani Chair in Urology. He serves as Surgical Director of the Genitourinary Oncology program and Director of the Institute of Urology Oncology at UCLA. As a member of the Tumor Immunology & Immunotherapy program, Dr. Belldegrun maintains clinical appointments at both Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center. MD, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, 1974 Surgical Oncology Fellowship, National Institutes of Health, 1985-1988 Research Fellowship, Weizmann Institute of Science, 1976-1979 Urology Residency, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 1982-1985 Dr. Belldegrun's research focuses on targeted specific therapy and immunotherapy of kidney and prostate cancers. His laboratory reported on the cloning of a tissue specific and androgen responsive novel 620 bp PSA promoter sequence, providing the foundation for developing tissue specific vectors for prostate cancer gene therapy. He has also studied the feasibility of isolating functional dendritic cells from renal cell carcinoma patients and compared their transduction efficiency using various gene transfer methods. His clinical interests span a broad range of urologic conditions including kidney cancer, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, and numerous other urologic malignancies and conditions. Analysis of Dr. Belldegrun's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on renal cell carcinoma research, particularly in genomic characterization, biomarker development (especially carbonic anhydrase-IX), and immunotherapy approaches. His work spans clinical trials, genomic analysis, and translational research bridging laboratory findings to clinical applications. The research demonstrates consistent focus on improving diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of urologic cancers, with particular attention to personalized medicine approaches. Top Doctors, Los Angeles Magazine, 2018 Dr. Belldegrun has been instrumental in developing clinical trial protocols for kidney cancer treatment, including the high-dose aldesleukin "select" trial for metastatic renal cell carcinoma. His research has secured substantial grant funding supporting translational work in immunotherapy and targeted therapy. His laboratory investigations into dendritic cell-based immunotherapy have contributed significantly to understanding immune responses in renal cell carcinoma. Dr. Belldegrun leads the Institute of Urology Oncology at UCLA, which integrates clinical care, research, and education in urologic malignancies. The institute focuses on developing innovative treatment approaches for kidney, prostate, and bladder cancers, with particular emphasis on immunotherapy and precision medicine strategies. Under his direction, the institute has established comprehensive clinical trials programs and translational research initiatives bridging laboratory discoveries with patient care.

• Physical Therapy
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Pain Management
• +5 more

Jodi L. Young is a researcher and academic affiliated with Bellin College in Green Bay, United States. Her work focuses on physical therapy, musculoskeletal disorders, and pain management, with numerous publications in high-impact journals related to rehabilitation science. She collaborates extensively with researchers across multiple institutions to investigate evidence-based practices in physical therapy. Dr. Young's research interests span several critical areas in physical therapy and rehabilitation: Clinical Practice Guidelines: She investigates the quality and implementation of guidelines, particularly for low back pain management. Exercise Therapy: Her work examines the effectiveness, dosing, and reporting of exercise interventions for various musculoskeletal conditions. Patient Adherence: She explores factors affecting patient compliance with home exercise programs and reasons for treatment discontinuation. Pain Management: Her research investigates the relationship between pain, comorbidities, and functional outcomes. Physical Therapy Education: She studies learning strategies and educational approaches in physical therapy programs. Analysis of Dr. Young's recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on improving evidence-based practice in physical therapy. Her work consistently addresses methodological issues in clinical research, particularly regarding the reporting quality of interventions and the pragmatic application of research findings to clinical practice. She has made significant contributions to understanding barriers in implementing clinical practice guidelines, especially for low back pain. Her research also highlights important gaps in how sleep is assessed in osteoarthritis trials and how predatory journals might influence clinical guidelines. A recurring theme in her work is the need for better reporting standards and more pragmatic research designs that reflect real-world clinical settings. Dr. Young has collaborated on numerous research projects investigating patient factors that influence treatment outcomes, including smoking history, pain-related comorbidities, and adherence to home exercise programs. Her work demonstrates a commitment to understanding the complex interplay between patient characteristics, treatment approaches, and clinical outcomes in musculoskeletal care.