Dr. Richard Holliday is a researcher at Newcastle University with expertise in Dental Public Health, Periodontics, and Tobacco Cessation . His work focuses on the intersection of oral health, smoking/vaping impacts, and policy development within dental care systems. Key affiliations include collaborations with Professor Nicholas Jakubovics and Professor Philip Preshaw . He has contributed to 15+ peer-reviewed publications between 2025 and 2010, emphasizing evidence-based approaches to periodontal disease, dental aerosols, and tobacco-related oral conditions. Research trends reveal a focus on: E-cigarettes and Oral Health (toxicity, policy, patient education). Smoking Cessation in Dental Practice (NHS interventions, behavioral science). Dental Public Health Policy (global tobacco cessation, dental education, health disparities). Periodontal and Restorative Dentistry (dental staining, biofilm formation, root canal techniques). His methodological strengths span systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, and qualitative studies addressing clinical, epidemiological, and educational challenges in dentistry.
Myra Glajchen, D.S.W., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Family and Social Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She currently serves as Director of Medical Education at the Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care at MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care. Her roles include curriculum development, educational program oversight, and clinical training for hospice and palliative medicine fellows. Dr. Glajchen has led initiatives such as the Family Caregiver Initiative, focusing on caregiver burden assessment and support, and has developed culturally tailored programs for Chinese immigrant families. Her research spans caregiver well-being, palliative care access, and interdisciplinary clinical practice. Notable contributions include the Brief Assessment Scale for Caregivers (BASC) and the Caregiver Resource Directory. She has trained over 100 physician fellows and oversees clinical electives for international medical teams. Dr. Glajchen’s work emphasizes cross-cultural healthcare equity, with a focus on improving pain management, end-of-life communication, and caregiver support systems. Her leadership extends to expert panels, invited lectures, and peer review roles in palliative care. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on caregiving, pain management, and palliative care education.
Dr Amanda Fox is an Associate Professor and Academic Lead of Education at Queensland University of Technology's Faculty of Health, School of Nursing. She holds a joint appointment at Metro North Health-Redcliffe Hospital where she supports clinicians in building research capability. With extensive clinical nursing experience across acute and community settings, Dr Fox is deeply committed to developing future nursing professionals and advancing the nursing profession through strong industry connections. Dr Fox's educational background includes a PhD from Queensland University of Technology and a Graduate Diploma in Health from the same institution. Her formal qualifications reflect her commitment to both academic rigor and practical healthcare application. Her research program focuses on advanced practice nursing roles, health services research, and care of older adults with cognitive impairment. Dr Fox led an NHMRC Capacity Building in Care Research Fellowship from 2019-2021, implementing cognitive impairment support programs in acute care settings and exploring weighted blankets for patients experiencing agitation. Her current work centers on Registered Nurse prescribing under supervision, examining RN preparedness, nurse practitioner perspectives, and systems-level barriers to implementation. As CIA on an NHMRC collaborative health services grant (2024), she's evaluating consumer perspectives and co-designing implementation plans for Designated RN prescribing across healthcare settings. Dr Fox's publication record shows a clear trajectory from foundational work in nursing education and cognitive impairment care to her current focus on expanding nursing scope of practice through prescribing rights. Her research bridges clinical practice, health policy, and systems thinking, with increasing emphasis on implementation science to translate research into practice. Recent publications demonstrate strong interdisciplinary collaboration across nursing specialties, healthcare settings, and professional roles. NHMRC Capacity Building in Care Research Fellowship (2019-2021) NHMRC Collaborative Health Services Grant 2024 (as CIA) Dr Fox has extensive experience supervising honours, dissertation students, and clinicians in research and quality improvement projects. She led successful internal and professional re-accreditation of postgraduate courses in 2016/17, 2021/22, and 2025, and serves as Academic Lead of the Queensland Health Nurse Practitioner - Endoscopy Corporate Program. Her educational leadership spans undergraduate, postgraduate, and higher degree research programs, with particular expertise in curriculum development and accreditation processes. As Academic Lead of Education at QUT School of Nursing, Dr Fox oversees delivery of all award and professional development courses. Her leadership in the Queensland Health Nurse Practitioner - Endoscopy Corporate Program demonstrates her commitment to innovative clinical pathways and advanced practice roles. Through her NHMRC-funded work on RN prescribing, she's building collaborative networks across healthcare settings to implement practice changes that expand nursing scope while ensuring patient safety.
Dr. Faith Brennan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences at Queen's University, Canada, leading the Neurotrauma Laboratory. She holds academic appointments in the Faculty of Health Sciences and is affiliated with the Translational Institute of Medicine (TIME). Her research focuses on neuroinflammation and peripheral complications post-neurotrauma, particularly spinal cord injury. Brennan completed her Ph.D. in Physiology at the University of Queensland (2015) and post-doctoral work at The Ohio State University, supported by prestigious fellowships. Her educational background includes a B.Sc. Hons (Class I) and a B.Sc. in Medical Science from the University of Queensland. She has secured significant funding, including grants from the NSERC, CFI, and Wings for Life Foundation. Her lab investigates microglial roles in neural repair, autonomic plasticity, and systemic immune interactions post-injury. Key achievements include awards such as the EBIC Sir Graham Teasdale Award (2021) and recognition for mentorship. The Brennan Lab actively recruits students and researchers in neuroscience, immunology, and genomics. Their work bridges basic science and clinical applications, aiming to improve outcomes for neurotrauma patients. Labs/Teams: Neurotrauma Laboratory (Queen's University), part of the Department of Biomedical & Molecular Sciences. Lab location: 7th floor of Botterell Hall.
Samin Yasar is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Computer Science at Rice University, working under Professors Lydia Kavraki, Vaibhav Unhelkar, and Vicente Ordonez. His research focuses on enabling robots to collaborate effectively with humans, emphasizing human intent understanding, motion prediction, and closed-loop decision-making systems. He holds a PhD in Computer Engineering from the University of Virginia (2024) and a BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from BRAC University (2015). Research Interests: Robotics Human-Robot Interaction Representation Learning Generative Models Machine Learning Awards: UVA Endowed Fellow (2023-2024) UVA Distinguished Mentor Award (2023, 2024) HRI Pioneer Award (2022) Double Hoo Award (University of Virginia, 2022) DSN Travel Grant (2020) ISMR Travel Grant (2019) Experience: Research Intern at Microsoft (2024) Graduate Research Assistant, Collaborative Robotics Lab (University of Virginia, 2020-2024) Graduate Research Assistant, Dependable Systems and Analytics Lab (University of Virginia, 2017-2019) Assistant Manager at MGH Group (Bangladesh, 2015-2017) Grants & Funding: Recipient of multiple travel grants for top-tier robotics and AI conferences Contributor to projects funded by NSF and industry collaborations Labs/Teams: Collaborative Robotics Lab (Rice University) Dependable Systems and Analytics Lab (University of Virginia)
Huihui Yu, PhD, is a Researcher in the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Research Methods, Measurement, and Evaluation from the University of Connecticut and dual Master/Bachelor degrees in Electrical Engineering. Her research focuses on advanced statistical methodologies including structural equation modeling, longitudinal analysis, and Bayesian approaches applied to public health and healthcare outcomes. Dr. Yu collaborates extensively with clinicians and epidemiologists on studies related to SARS-CoV-2 long-term effects, healthcare equity, and surgical outcomes. She has contributed to over 20 peer-reviewed publications since 2015, with recent emphasis on Long COVID symptom trajectories and hospital performance metrics. Education: PhD (2017) - University of Connecticut; MS/BS (Electrical Engineering) - unspecified institution Key Collaborations: INSPIRE Group (longitudinal cohort studies), Chronic Disease Outcomes Research Team Key Projects: INSPIRE Group's longitudinal SARS-CoV-2 studies, Medicare claims analysis for hospital quality measures, COPD mortality documentation patterns Her work bridges statistical rigor with clinical relevance, addressing critical issues in healthcare equity and patient outcomes through innovative methodological approaches.
Nicholas Koemel is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney's Sydney School of Health Sciences, affiliated with the Charles Perkins Centre. His primary role involves integrative behavioral science at the Mackenzie Wearables Hub, focusing on leveraging wearable technology to study lifestyle behaviors in health research. He co-leads the ProPASS Consortium, an international collaboration analyzing accelerometry data from 24 countries to understand movement behaviors' health impacts. His research emphasizes synergistic effects of physical activity, sleep, and nutrition on chronic diseases like cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and mortality. Key projects include developing solutions for translating research into community-based health initiatives. Koemel has contributed to over 50 peer-reviewed articles, with recent work appearing in European Heart Journal , Circulation , and BMC Medicine . Awards include the 2025 Jenny Mackenzie Funding Award and 2024 Charles Perkins Seed Funding. He serves as Deputy Editor for the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology and reviews for top journals like British Journal of Sports Medicine . Professional memberships span organizations such as the International Society of Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) and the Nutrition Society of Australia. Current research focuses on maternal nutrition's epigenetic effects, device-measured sleep patterns, and the role of incidental physical activity in cardiovascular risk reduction. Koemel collaborates with global networks like the ProPASS Consortium and Sydney Vietnam Network to advance population health strategies.
Associate Professor Jacob Dijkstra is affiliated with the Department of Sociology at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences. His research focuses on game theory, exchange networks, and collective decision-making, with a particular emphasis on mathematical sociology and community energy initiatives. He holds a PhD and has contributed significantly to understanding social networks' role in collective action and policy outcomes. Affiliations: University of Groningen, Department of Sociology. Education: PhD in Sociology (implied by research profile). Research Interests: Dijkstra's work bridges theoretical models and empirical analysis, addressing topics like herding behavior, moral objectivity, and the socio-technical dynamics of community energy projects. His recent studies highlight the importance of social ties and network structures in fostering cooperation and sustainability. Article Trends: His publications emphasize interdisciplinary approaches, blending sociology with network science and mathematical modeling. Key themes include the impact of social networks on community engagement, the dynamics of cumulative advantage, and the ethical dimensions of moral beliefs. Awards: RVO STEM Project Eensgezind Energie Neutraal (2016). Grants & Advising: Supervised five academic works, including studies on energy transition and public policy. His research has been cited in policy analyses and interdisciplinary journals. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects like the Eensgezind Energie Neutraal initiative, focusing on community-driven sustainability solutions.
Associate Professor Austin Ng is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, affiliated with the Concord Clinical School under the Faculty of Medicine and Health. He serves as a Staff Specialist and Director of the Population Research (CHC-PORSH) unit at Concord Hospital's Cardiology Department. His academic credentials include MBBS, BSc(Med), MMed(USyd), and Fellowships with the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (FCSANZ). Ng’s research focuses on cardiovascular outcomes, thromboembolism, chronic heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and cardiac imaging. Notable projects include establishing Australia’s largest pulmonary embolism cohort database and investigating long-term impacts of thromboembolic events. He has contributed to studies on iron deficiency in heart failure patients, device-related complications, and demographic-specific outcomes like tricuspid valve surgery in older populations. His teaching roles include coordinating the Cardiovascular Integrated Clinical Attachment Program and Cardiology Enhancement Program for medical students. He has directed physician education (2010–2015) and currently oversees graduate and post-graduate student co-supervision. Ng holds awards such as the 2015 Teaching Award from Concord Clinical School and was a finalist for the 2009 Ralph Reader Prize. He also received a Pfizer grant in 2009. Ng’s work integrates epidemiology and clinical practice, with ongoing collaborations in cardiovascular imaging and population health studies. His research emphasizes risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and age-related comorbidities. He participates in the ANZAC Research Institute’s Vascular Biology Laboratory and co-leads projects on heart failure and valve surgery outcomes. He actively engages in clinical education initiatives and community health awareness programs.
Dr Christina Watts is a Research Fellow at The Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health, collaborating with Cancer Council NSW. She is a leading early-career researcher specializing in tobacco control, focusing on tobacco and vaping industry strategies to influence policy and product promotion. Her work bridges academic research with policy impact, contributing to national reforms such as Australia’s 2024 vaping policy changes. Prior to academia, she worked in public health advocacy and program development, leveraging this experience to deliver actionable research. She actively contributes to teaching tobacco control in the Master of Public Health program. Her research examines covert tobacco marketing tactics, youth vaping behaviors, and the interplay between industry lobbying and government policy. Notable projects include revealing the 'revolving door' between government and industry, analyzing vaping’s gateway effects to smoking, and studying parental perceptions of vaping laws. She collaborates with the Charles Perkins Centre and leads initiatives like the National E-cigarette Monitoring Consortium. Watts’ findings have influenced policy reviews on lobbying transparency and tobacco strategy, emphasizing the need for stricter regulations. She advocates for evidence-based approaches to reduce tobacco harm and shape public health outcomes at a population level.
David Cort is Professor of Sociology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, specializing in social demography, health disparities, and labor stratification. His research examines HIV stigma dynamics, occupational hierarchies, and migration outcomes. Key publications analyze how stigma beliefs influence sexual behaviors across 22 African countries, workplace inequality in Sweden, and top-earner segregation in capitalist economies. Methodological work addresses biases in international field research. Current projects include NSF-funded studies on economic inequality and global health interventions. Teaches graduate courses in quantitative methods and social stratification.
Arne Rietsch, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He also serves as the Associate Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program at the School of Medicine. His research focuses on bacterial pathogenesis, particularly studying how Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes disease through its type III secretion system. Dr. Rietsch's laboratory investigates three main aspects of the type III secretion system (T3SS): translocator protein secretion, the control mechanisms that prevent effector secretion prior to cell contact (involving PcrG/PcrV and the PopN complex), and the mechanism by which cell contact triggers effector secretion. His work has revealed that translocation of effector proteins can be feedback inhibited by the type III effector ExoS. His research spans bacterial pathogenesis, molecular microbiology, host-pathogen interactions, and bacterial secretion systems, with important implications for treating infections caused by this opportunistic pathogen. Dr. Rietsch's recent publications (2022-2025) demonstrate continued research productivity across multiple areas including bacterial pathogenesis, immunology, and regenerative medicine. His work shows consistent focus on Pseudomonas aeruginosa mechanisms while expanding into related fields like STING pathway regulation and liver fibrosis. Small molecule induced STING degradation facilitated by the HECT ligase HERC4 (2024) The transcription factor ZNF469 regulates collagen production in liver fibrosis (2025) A biofilm-tropic Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteriophage uses the exopolysaccharide Psl as receptor (2025) NLRP3 selectively drives IL-1β secretion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infected neutrophils and regulates corneal disease severity (2023) PopB-PcrV Interactions Are Essential for Pore Formation in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Secretion System Translocon (2022) As Associate Director of the Medical Scientist Training Program, Dr. Rietsch plays a significant role in training the next generation of physician-scientists. His laboratory provides research opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows interested in bacterial pathogenesis and molecular microbiology, with collaborations particularly strong with Dr. Eric Pearlman on ocular infections. The Rietsch lab combines genetic, biochemical, and cell biological approaches to understand how P. aeruginosa interacts with host cells at the molecular level. Their work addresses important questions in infectious disease research with relevance to public health, particularly for immunocompromised patients, burn victims, and those with cystic fibrosis.
Carla Nye, D.N.P., RN, CPNP-BC, CNE, CHSE, serves as a Clinical Professor in the Department of Adult Health and Nursing Systems at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Nursing. Her academic career spans teaching, research, and national leadership in advancing nurse practitioner education through evidence-based practices and innovative clinical training models. She maintains active roles in curriculum development and professional service at institutional and national levels. Dr. Nye's educational background includes: Primary Care Post-Professional Certificate (Pediatric Nurse Practitioner) from the University of South Florida Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.) from the University of South Florida Master of Nursing (M.N.) from the University of Washington Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.) from the University of Delaware Her research centers on simulation-based pedagogy, communication skill development, and creating positive learning/work environments in healthcare. Current projects include leading an HRSA-funded initiative to improve provider wellness through organizational change and validating the Nurse Practitioner Student Competency Assessment Tool (NPSCA). Her work addresses critical gaps in clinical education, competency evaluation, and burnout prevention across academic and practice settings. Analysis of Dr. Nye's recent publications reveals dominant themes in simulation methodology, competency assessment frameworks, and innovative clinical education models. Her research consistently bridges theory and practice, with significant contributions to national guidelines for nurse practitioner simulation and the development of tools like the NPSCA. The publications demonstrate increasing focus on organizational wellness, leadership strategies for burnout reduction, and structural innovations like the Dyad/POD clinical education model. Dr. Nye mentors both D.N.P. and Ph.D. students in doctoral research and serves as Principal Investigator for the HRSA-funded "Strength in Caring" grant (2022-2024). Her professional service includes: VCU School of Nursing Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee Advisory Council for Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association's Caring for Virginia's Caregivers Initiative National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties Simulation Committee Sigma Theta Tau, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, and International Association of Clinical Simulation & Learning memberships She leads a national research consortium validating the NPSCA assessment tool and collaborates on studies of the Dyad/POD clinical education model. Her work with the Langston Center for Innovation in Quality and Safety and National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties drives evidence-based standards for simulation implementation and competency evaluation in advanced practice nursing programs.
Prof. Dr. Silvia Daun is a Professor for Computational Neuroscience - Modeling Neural Network Function at the Zoological Institute of the University of Cologne and the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine - Cognitive Neuroscience at Research Center Juelich. She leads the AG Daun research group focusing on mathematical modeling and numerical simulations of neural network functions related to motor control and locomotion. Her work bridges theoretical neuroscience with clinical applications, particularly in stroke rehabilitation. Her research interests center on understanding how rhythmic motor activity in the nervous system generates locomotion and movement control. Using a multi-level approach spanning from single cell modeling to whole-limb mechanics, she has made significant contributions to understanding intra- and inter-limb coordination during multi-legged locomotion. More recently, she has expanded her research to high-level motor control mechanisms in humans, with applications for stroke patients. Her work combines mathematical modeling with experimental techniques including EEG, MEG, fMRI, and TMS to analyze complex neural network dynamics. Daun's publication record shows consistent output across computational neuroscience, with recent papers focusing on cortical dynamics, locomotion mechanisms, and clinical applications. Her work demonstrates a clear progression from basic insect locomotion studies to human motor control applications, with increasing emphasis on clinical translation in recent years. Her scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous awards including the prestigious Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Award in 2014, Heisenberg Fellowship from DFG, and recognition as one of Germany's top 40 researchers under 40 by Capital Magazine. She is also a member of AcademiaNet, highlighting her position among leading women scientists. As an academic leader, Daun serves as Core PI in the Center for Data and Simulation Science and Co-PI in a DFG-funded Research Training Group. She has received significant grant funding including BMBF-NSF US-German Collaboration and University of Cologne's Emerging Group CONNECT. Her research group includes multiple postdoctoral fellows and doctoral students working on various aspects of computational neuroscience. Her laboratory work focuses on developing mathematical models and numerical simulations that bridge multiple levels of neural organization, from molecular interactions to whole-body movement. The group maintains strong collaborations with the University Hospital of Cologne and Jülich Research Center, facilitating the translation of basic research findings into potential clinical applications.
Samantha Lew Fretz is a Program Manager at the Global Health Leadership Initiative within the Department of Health Policy and Management at Yale School of Public Health. She concurrently serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saint Joseph in the Department of Social Work and Equitable Community Practice. Her expertise lies in legislative advocacy, policy analysis, and strategic advising on critical health issues such as child abuse prevention, addiction recovery, and prenatal substance exposure. She holds a BS in Psychology from Eastern Connecticut State University and an MSW with a concentration in public policy from the University of Connecticut, where she conducted policy analyses on state-level healthcare initiatives. Her research focuses on healthcare access disparities, policy implementation, and equity in clinical research. Notable contributions include evaluating pediatric urgent care access tools and advancing diversity in clinical trials through the Equitable Breakthroughs in Medicine model. She has also explored Medicaid continuity in Connecticut and state policies addressing substance-exposed infants. Ms. Lew Fretz’s work bridges academic research and practical policy solutions, emphasizing community engagement and health systems improvement. She actively contributes to peer-reviewed publications and maintains affiliations with organizations like the Yale Global Health Leadership Initiative and the Health Policy & Management department at YSPH.
