Alexis Battle is an Associate Professor at Johns Hopkins University with appointments in Biomedical Engineering , Computer Science , and Genetic Medicine (secondary). She directs the Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare and serves as Deputy Director of the Data Science and AI Institute . Educated at Stanford University (PhD in Computer Science, 2013), Battle transitioned to academia after leadership roles at Google. Research Focus: Battle’s work bridges genomics and machine learning , emphasizing the impact of genetic variation on human health. Her lab develops tools like Watershed to predict functional effects of rare variants, aiming to enhance rare disease diagnosis. Key themes include non-coding DNA analysis , personalized genomics , and systems biology , with applications in cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disorders . Publications & Awards: Over 60 peer-reviewed articles in journals like Nature , Science , and Genome Biology , with recent emphasis on single-cell transcriptomics , multiomics integration , and telomere biology . Recipient of the President’s Frontier Award (2022), Microsoft Investigator Fellowship (2019), and Searle Scholar (2016). Scientific Awards: 2022 President’s Frontier Award 2019 Microsoft Investigator Fellowship 2019 Johns Hopkins Discovery Award 2017 Johns Hopkins Catalyst Award 2016 Searle Scholar Advising & Funding: Mentors 11 PhD students, 3 undergraduates, and postdoctoral fellows. Her research is funded by NIH, Searle Scholars, and institutional grants. The Battle Lab collaborates on projects like the GTEx Consortium , focusing on gene regulation and clinical genomics .
Lara Ferry is the Vice President of Research at Arizona State University (ASU), holding the title of President’s Professor. She is affiliated with the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, specifically the School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and serves as graduate faculty in the School of Life Sciences. Her roles include advancing research strategies, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, and enhancing partnerships with institutions, communities, donors, and industry. Ferry is also a PLuS Alliance Fellow, a Senior Global Futures Scientist at the Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, and affiliated with the Biodesign Institute and Global Security Initiative. She holds honors faculty status in ASU’s Barrett Honors College. Her academic background includes a B.S. in Biology from Cal Poly State University, M.S. in Marine Science from San Francisco State University, Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from UC Irvine, and postdoctoral work at UC Davis. Her research focuses on functional morphology, particularly the evolution of jaws and skeletal materials in aquatic organisms. She has contributed to understanding prey capture mechanisms in fish and the biomechanics of cartilage in elasmobranchs. Ferry’s awards include the 2016 Outstanding Faculty Mentor Award, 2014 Outstanding Research/Creative Activity Award, and the 2018 President’s Professor title. She has led initiatives in equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) and served on boards of professional societies like the American Elasmobranch Society and Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Her editorial roles include Senior Executive Editor of Functional Ecology and editorial board memberships in journals like Integrative & Comparative Biology . Her research activity spans functional morphology, biomechanics, and marine physiology, with grants focused on interdisciplinary education and diversity in STEM. Notable projects include studies on cartilage strength in sharks and collaborations on cultural change in professional societies.
Heather A Anaya, DO , is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University , specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology with a focus on Maternal-Fetal Medicine . She practices at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Delnor Hospital , and her clinical work centers on high-risk pregnancies. Education : Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) from Kirksville College Of Osteopathic Medicine (2004) Training : Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rush University Medical Center (2008); Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at University of Wisconsin Medical School (2011) Her research explores maternal-fetal physiology , particularly disruptions in calcium signaling and nitric oxide production in conditions like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes . She has published on ultrasound techniques for prenatal care and vascular dysfunction in pregnancy complications. Her publications highlight trends in diagnostic imaging for fetal anatomy assessment and molecular mechanisms in placental endothelial function. Key areas include ultrasound methodology , metabolic disorders during pregnancy , and vascular biology . She is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her clinical affiliations include Northwestern Medicine hospitals, and she adheres to strict professional integrity policies regarding industry disclosures.
Anastassios Karistinos, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. He holds clinical roles at Ben Taub Hospital, Baylor Clinic, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas. Dr. Karistinos completed his medical degree (MD) at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (1993), followed by residency at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center (2005) and a fellowship in Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine (2005). His professional interests focus on complex musculoskeletal conditions including multi-ligament knee injuries, meniscal transplantation, cartilage restoration techniques (OATS, ACI), knee osteotomies, shoulder instability, rotator cuff injuries, and shoulder arthroplasty. He emphasizes patient safety and critical evaluation of emerging medical technologies, prioritizing evidence-based treatments. Dr. Karistinos is certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and specializes in sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, and trauma care. His research integrates anatomical insights with clinical outcomes to improve surgical techniques and patient recovery processes.
Nida Latif is a Research Fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. Her work focuses on understanding coronary microvascular dysfunction and ischemic heart disease in patients with nonobstructive coronary arteries, particularly in women. She is a key contributor to the DISCOVER INOCA multicenter registry, evaluating invasive coronary function testing protocols and diagnostic strategies. Her research integrates clinical, anatomical, and physiological data to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. Key areas of investigation include coronary vasoreactivity testing, risk factor analysis in ischemic syndromes, and the impact of diabetes on angina pathophysiology. Latif's publications highlight advancements in coronary flow reserve measurement, comparison of diagnostic modalities (e.g., PET vs thermodilution), and the clinical utility of vessel-specific analysis. Her work emphasizes translational outcomes, bridging basic science insights with clinical practice improvements. While no specific awards are listed, her contributions to high-impact clinical registries and peer-reviewed publications reflect her active role in advancing cardiovascular medicine.
Dr. Ryan Carney is an Associate Professor of Digital Science at the University of South Florida's Department of Integrative Biology (College of Arts and Sciences). His research bridges paleontology and epidemiology, using cutting-edge technologies like 3D imaging, AI, and VR/AR. He studies dinosaur biomechanics (e.g., Archaeopteryx flight mechanics) and mosquito-borne diseases (e.g., malaria, Zika) through NSF/NIH-funded collaborations with agencies like NASA and the CDC. His work integrates citizen science platforms (iNaturalist, Mosquito Alert) for disease surveillance and develops AI tools for mosquito classification. Education: PhD (Brown), MPH/MBA (Yale), B.A.'s in Biology & Art (UC Berkeley) Lab: SCA 107 (focuses on digital paleontology and disease modeling) Research interests span dinosaur functional morphology, epidemiological modeling using GIS/remote sensing, and translating science through immersive technologies. He received awards like the National Geographic Emerging Explorer and multiple USF teaching/research accolades. Awards: CAS Liberal Arts Teaching Award, Outstanding Research Achievement, etc. Grants include NSF funding for AI-driven mosquito surveillance and NIH support for disease control. His lab's innovations include the Global Mosquito Observations Dashboard (GMOD) and VR reconstructions of prehistoric species.
Dr. Megan Ware is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Incarnate Word. She holds a PT. DPT from Hardin Simmons University (2010) and a ScD in Physical Therapy from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (2018). Her clinical expertise includes outpatient orthopedics and neurological rehabilitation, complemented by certifications as a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist. She teaches functional anatomy, patient management, and psychosocial considerations in physical therapy. Her research focuses on nociplastic pain and student success strategies. Education: Bachelor’s in Exercise Sports Science, Abilene Christian University (2007) Doctor of Physical Therapy, Hardin Simmons University (2010) Doctor of Science in Physical Therapy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (2018) Affiliations: Member of APTA, Education and Orthopedic Academies; former delegate for Heart of Texas region in APTA House of Delegates. Her teaching spans five years, emphasizing hands-on patient management and interdisciplinary approaches. She advocates for student engagement through innovative pedagogy in clinical skills education.
Andrea Megela Simmons is a Professor at Brown University in the Department of Cognitive, Linguistic, and Psychological Sciences with a secondary appointment in the Department of Neuroscience . She is a member of the Carney Institute for Brain Science and serves as a Principal Investigator on an ONR MURI project. Education : A.B. from the University of Pennsylvania (1973), Ph.D. from Harvard University (1978), Postdoctoral research at Cornell University Simmons specializes in cognitive and neural mechanisms of sound perception and communication across species including frogs, bats, dolphins, and humans. Her work bridges behavioral neuroscience, comparative neurology, and developmental studies to explore auditory processing, echolocation, and sensory integration. Her recent publications highlight interdisciplinary trends in auditory neuroscience, focusing on sound exposure effects, metamorphic neurodevelopment, and sensory-motor coordination in cluttered environments. Key subfields include echolocation, lateral line function, tectal connectivity, and acoustic adaptation across species. Scientific Awards : Fellow, Acoustical Society of America Simmons has received grants from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) for MURI projects and has taught courses such as Animal Behavior , Evolution and Development of the Brain , and Auditory Perception Laboratory .
Lawrence Staib is Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Biomedical Engineering, and Electrical Engineering at Yale University. He serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Biomedical Engineering and is a member of Yale's Bioimaging Sciences division, Image Processing & Analysis Group, Yale Biomedical Imaging Institute, and Yale-BI Biomedical Data Science Fellowship program. Dr. Staib earned his A.B. in Physics from Cornell University (1982), followed by a Ph.D. in Engineering and Applied Science from Yale University (1990), and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale School of Medicine (1991). His research focuses on developing advanced medical image analysis methods using machine learning and model-based approaches. Key research areas include neuroimaging applications for autism spectrum disorder classification, cardiac imaging analysis for strain and motion assessment, prostate cancer diagnosis and risk mapping, and innovative techniques for medical image segmentation with limited labeled data. Dr. Staib's work emphasizes uncertainty estimation in deep learning models, multi-modal image registration, and domain adaptation techniques to improve clinical decision support systems. His recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward developing interpretable AI models for clinical applications, with particular emphasis on fMRI analysis for neurological conditions, cardiac motion analysis, and prostate cancer diagnosis. His work frequently addresses the challenge of limited labeled data in medical imaging through innovative self-supervised, semi-supervised, and few-shot learning approaches. Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) (2015) Distinguished Investigator Award from the Academy for Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Research (2017) MICCAI Fellow (2022) Medical Image Analysis Second Best MICCAI Paper Award (2005) ASNR Cum Laude Scientific Exhibit Award (2003) Dr. Staib serves on the editorial board of Medical Image Analysis and as Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering. His research is supported by NIH grants including the Autism Center of Excellence program. He leads the Image Processing & Analysis Group within Yale's Bioimaging Sciences division, collaborating extensively with James Duncan, John Onofrey, Xenophon Papademetris, and other Yale researchers on applications spanning neuroimaging, cardiology, and oncology. Current projects focus on developing robust AI models for clinical decision support with emphasis on uncertainty quantification and interpretability.
Stephen Parada is a Professor at the Medical College of Georgia, with academic appointments in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. He is actively involved in clinical education and research, contributing significantly to orthopedic surgery, particularly in shoulder and elbow arthroplasty and biomechanics. Research Interests: His work spans orthopedic surgery, biomechanics, surgical outcomes, and the application of artificial intelligence in patient education. He focuses on improving clinical outcomes in total joint replacement, understanding shoulder instability, and evaluating publication trends in orthopedic research. The recent publications indicate a strong trend toward evidence-based orthopedics, with emphasis on predictive modeling of surgical outcomes, implant longevity, and the role of digital tools in patient communication. His research bridges clinical practice with academic scholarship. Scientific Awards: AAOS Kappa Delta Award, AAOS, 2025 Resident Research Award, Georgia Orthopaedic Society, 2022 GME Exemplary Teaching Award, Medical College of Georgia, 2021 GME Exemplary Teaching Award, Medical College of Georgia, 2020 Teaching and Service: Dr. Parada teaches key surgical clerkships and orthopedic externships. He serves on the AAOS Exhibits Committee and holds leadership roles in the Georgia Shoulder & Elbow Society. His professional service includes roles in ASES, AANA, and AAOS annual meetings, reflecting active engagement in national orthopedic communities. Laboratories and Research Teams: He is involved in Orthopaedic Research at the Medical College of Georgia (2023–present), contributing to a collaborative environment focused on advancing musculoskeletal care through innovation and education.
Dr. James Ashton-Miller is a prominent faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Michigan, where he directs the Biomechanics Research Laboratory. He serves as a Center Member of the University of Michigan Injury Prevention Center and maintains affiliations with the Institute of Gerontology. His interdisciplinary work bridges engineering principles with medical applications, focusing on injury prevention across sports medicine, obstetrics, and geriatrics. Dr. Ashton-Miller's educational background includes: PhD from the University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (1978-1983) MSME from M.I.T., Cambridge, MA, U.S.A (1972-1974) B.SC. (Hons) from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England (1967-1972) His research focuses on the biomechanics of injury prevention across multiple critical domains. In sports medicine, he has demonstrated that some ACL injuries are overuse injuries resulting from too many sub-maximal loading cycles that prevent healing of collagen damage. In women's health, his work on childbirth injuries addresses conditions that affect more women than breast cancer. His research on fall-related injuries in older adults reveals the dual threat of physical and cognitive factors. He also investigates sciatica, disc degeneration, and develops new medical devices for screening, diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Ashton-Miller's recent publications show a strong trend toward developing practical clinical applications from fundamental biomechanical research, with emphasis on advanced imaging methods, wearable sensors, and computational modeling for pelvic floor function assessment. His work consistently aims to translate engineering insights into clinical solutions for injury prevention. His research insights have earned him numerous national and international research awards, though specific awards aren't detailed in the available information. His work involves close collaboration with clinicians and surgeons who meet weekly to discuss progress and next steps. Dr. Ashton-Miller is deeply committed to mentoring, working with NIH K-series fellows along with 1-2 post-doctoral fellows, 3-5 PhD students, 2-4 M.S. students, 4-5 undergraduate students, and 2-4 young clinicians. His research is generously supported by the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, National Basketball Association, Fortune 500 companies, and startup companies including Procter & Gamble and Hologic, Inc. He directs the Biomechanics Research Laboratory and co-leads the Pelvic Floor Research Group, where his teams develop new medical devices to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment of various biomechanical conditions. These laboratories maintain strong clinical connections, ensuring research remains grounded in real-world medical challenges.
Matthew B Potts, MD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, with secondary appointments in Neurology (Ken and Ruth Davee Department) and Radiology. His clinical expertise spans cerebrovascular surgery, neurointerventional/endovascular procedures, and management of brain aneurysms, vascular malformations, stroke, and spinal vascular disease across multiple Northwestern Medicine hospitals including Shirley Ryan AbilityLab. Dr. Potts completed his BS at MIT (2000) and MD at UCSF (2007), followed by surgical internship (2008), neurological surgery residency (2013), and cerebrovascular fellowship at NYU (2015). BS: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2000) MD: University of California, San Francisco (2007) Internship: University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, Surgery (2008) Residency: University of California-San Francisco Medical Center, Neurological Surgery (2013) Fellowship: New York University Medical Center, Endovascular/Cerebrovascular Surgery (2015) His research program centers on chronic subdural hematoma pathophysiology, emergency stroke thrombectomy process optimization, and aneurysm treatment outcomes. He employs clinical-translational approaches to improve cerebrovascular disease management through advanced surgical techniques and rigorous outcomes assessment. Recent 2025 publications reveal strong focus on hydrocephalus diagnostics, hematoma expansion biomarkers, vertebrobasilar anatomy, and dolichoectatic aneurysm natural history. These works demonstrate multidisciplinary collaboration across neurosurgery, neurology, and radiology to advance diagnostic precision and treatment efficacy in complex cerebrovascular disorders. Dr. Potts has received exceptional recognition for medical education, including three consecutive Outstanding Teacher Awards (2019-2021) and the John X. Thomas, Jr. Best Teachers Award (2020). His research contributions are honored by the NIH Rush L. Kirschstein Award (2012) and Howard Hughes Fellowship (2005). Outstanding Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2021) Outstanding Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2020) John X. Thomas, Jr. Best Teachers of Feinberg Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2020) Outstanding Teacher Award, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (2019) Ivan Ciric Resident Teaching Award, Northwestern University Department of Neurological Surgery (2017) Best Scientific Presentation, UCSF Department of Neurological Surgery (2013) NIH Rush L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health (2012) UCSF School of Medicine Alumni Scholarship Award, University of California, San Francisco (2006) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Medical Student Research Fellow, Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2005) UCSF Quarterly Research Fellowship, University of California, San Francisco (2005) MIT-Germany Program Research Fellowship, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2001) As an educator, Dr. Potts mentors medical students and residents through Feinberg's neurological surgery program, evidenced by his resident teaching award. His research is supported by institutional resources and prior NIH funding, with current industry relationships including ownership in Rhaeos, Inc. He serves as Assistant Editor for Neurosurgery and Associate Editor for Operative Neurosurgery. He operates within Northwestern's integrated neurovascular team across multiple hospital sites, collaborating with neurologists, neuroradiologists, and rehabilitation specialists to deliver comprehensive care for complex cerebrovascular conditions, with ongoing work focused on improving health equity in stroke treatment and minimally invasive surgical innovation.
Frank E. Garcea, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. His research focuses on the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying tool use, apraxia, and stroke recovery. He employs neuropsychological testing, fMRI, and lesion-symptom mapping to study brain injury effects on functional connectivity and action knowledge. Education: Bachelor of Science in Psychology, St. John Fisher College (2006–2010) PhD in Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester (2012–2017) Research Interests: Dr. Garcea investigates how brain regions like the parietal cortex and dorsal/ventral streams mediate object manipulation and tool use. His work explores stroke-related disconnection syndromes, motor speech coordination networks, and translational brain mapping to preserve neural function during surgery. He collaborates on projects involving epilepsy patients undergoing electrocorticography to study action-related neural pathways. Labs & Affiliations: Principal Investigator of the Garcea Lab at URMC, focusing on tool use deficits in brain tumor/stroke survivors. Affiliated with the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and the Neurobiology & Anatomy Program. His lab integrates neuroimaging, lesion analysis, and clinical care to advance personalized brain mapping strategies.
Stacy Farina is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Howard University, affiliated with the College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on functional morphology, biomechanics, and evolutionary biology, particularly in fish systems. She holds a B.S. in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of New Hampshire (2010) and a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University (2015). Her work examines skeletal morphology, respiratory systems, and functional adaptations in diverse fish species, including flatfishes, snailfishes, and elasmobranchs. Recent studies investigate remote research methodologies during the pandemic, deep-sea adaptation, and biomechanical integration in feeding systems. She directs a research lab in Just Hall, Room 410, and maintains a Google Scholar profile. Publications span topics like ventilation mechanics, acoustic signaling evolution, and skeletal density patterns in deep-sea environments. Her research emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, combining anatomical analysis, computational modeling, and experimental biomechanics. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided texts. She advises no listed students, though her research involves undergraduate participation. Her lab focuses on fish morphology, ecology, and evolutionary processes.
Dr. Teresa Puthussery is an Associate Professor in the School of Optometry & Vision Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research focuses on retinal neurobiology and neurophysiology, investigating how visual signals are encoded in healthy retinas and disrupted during degeneration. She uses advanced techniques like patch-clamp electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy to study retinal circuits, neurotransmitter receptors, and ion channels. Dr. Puthussery teaches courses on vision science anatomy, physiology, and problem-based learning, including VISION SCIENCE 206B/C and 260C. Her research explores questions such as how retinal neurons extract motion/spatial details, how photoreceptor mutations cause degeneration, and how inner retinal circuits adapt post-photoreceptor loss. Recent work includes studies on ON-type direction-selective ganglion cells, optogenetic therapy for vision restoration, and calcium dynamics in foveal ganglion cells post-degeneration. She collaborates on projects involving primate and rodent models, contributing to understanding retinal disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Dr. Puthussery’s lab (retinalab.berkeley.edu) emphasizes translational research, bridging basic science and clinical applications. Her work has been published in journals like Nature and Cell Reports , with a focus on retinal degeneration, synaptic plasticity, and optogenetic interventions. She actively participates in training future vision scientists through Berkeley’s Optometry program and oversees GSI affairs as a faculty advisor.
