Line Brotnow Decker is a Lecturer in the Child Study Center at Yale School of Medicine. She holds a BS in Psychology from Université de Paris (2011) and an MSc in Developmental Neuroscience and Psychopathology from University College London (2013). Her research focuses on intensive home-based treatments for youth with psychiatric conditions, family systems therapy, maternal mental health, and behavioral motivation measurement. Dr. Decker co-developed the CRAVE Scale for assessing motivation states related to physical activity and has published extensively on interventions targeting high-risk youth, parent-clinician collaboration, and prenatal stress impacts. Key Research Areas: Mentalization-based interventions, family therapy, school absenteeism interventions, and maternal-child health dynamics Notable Contributions: Evaluation of IICAPS home-based program, development of CRAVE Scale, studies on parent-clinician disagreement impacts Her work emphasizes practical clinical strategies for improving family mental health treatment outcomes through enhanced clinician-parent collaboration and tailored behavioral interventions. Dr. Decker collaborates with institutions like the Stephen & Denise Adams Center for Parkinson’s Disease Research on translational child psychiatry initiatives.
Dr. Mandi de Mestre is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine. As Director of the Baker Institute for Animal Health and holder of the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professorship of Equine Medicine, her research focuses on equine pregnancy biology, placental development, and fetal health. Director, Baker Institute for Animal Health Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine Affiliated with Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine Her laboratory investigates: Molecular mechanisms of placental development Genetic causes of early pregnancy loss Congenital musculoskeletal disorders in Thoroughbreds Non-invasive diagnostics for fetal health Comparative studies linking equine and human pregnancy pathologies Recent research trends show strong emphasis on genomic stability, immune interactions during implantation, and epidemiological factors affecting equine pregnancies. Collaborations with institutions like the University of Nottingham and Royal Veterinary College UK highlight her interdisciplinary approach. The Equine Pregnancy Laboratory employs molecular biology, immunology, and genetics to address critical gaps in placental biology, with implications for both veterinary and human medicine.
Brigitte Vollmer serves as Professor of Perinatal and Developmental Neurology at the University of Southampton within the Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences. She concurrently holds an Honorary Consultant position in Neonatal and Paediatric Neurology at Southampton Children's Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, collaborating extensively with neonatology and fetal medicine teams at Princess Anne Hospital. Her research program investigates critical relationships between brain development and long-term neurological outcomes in high-risk pediatric populations, with core expertise spanning: Perinatal and Developmental Neurology Advanced Neuroimaging methodologies Neurodevelopmental trajectory analysis Clinical applications in Paediatrics Vollmer leads research within the Institute for Life Sciences, Clinical Neurosciences, and Southampton Imaging groups, focusing on peri/neonatal brain injury mechanisms and neurodevelopmental consequences. Her work integrates quantitative MRI techniques with longitudinal functional assessments. Key professional roles include: Editorial Board Member, Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology (2018–present) Editor, Frontiers in Neurology (2017–present) External Advisor, Caritas Baby Hospital Bethlehem (2016–present) Invited Speaker at international symposia on fetal MRI and preterm neurodevelopment Her distinguished career features the Marie-Curie Fellowship supporting postdoctoral research at Karolinska Institutet. Vollmer actively supervises doctoral candidates including Marshall Jordan Mitchell in Mathematical Sciences and welcomes new PhD applicants.
Jessica Borelli is a Professor of Psychological Science at the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on developmental psychopathology, examining links between close relationships, emotions, health, and development, particularly anxiety and depression. She specializes in harnessing relationship science to develop interventions for mental health improvement. Her work emphasizes culturally adapted interventions for low-income and ethnic minority communities, often collaborating with community agencies. Education: B.A., UC Berkeley Ph.D., Yale University (Clinical Psychology) Clinical Internship: UCLA Semel Institute NIC Postdoctoral Fellowship: University of Arizona Research Interests: Dr. Borelli’s work spans clinical, developmental, and health psychology. Key areas include attachment theory, emotion regulation, maternal mental health, and interventions targeting psychopathology. She is renowned for her research on relational savoring—a technique to strengthen therapeutic relationships—and its application in diverse communities. Her lab, the THRIVE Lab at UCI, focuses on health, relationships, and intervention strategies. Labs/Teams: Director of the THRIVE Laboratory, dedicated to studying health, relationships, and interventions. Collaborates with community partners to design accessible mental health programs for underserved populations.
Dr. Abeer Omar is an Assistant Professor at Trent University's Trent/Fleming School of Nursing. She holds a PhD from Case Western Reserve University (USA) and a post-doctoral fellowship from the University of Windsor (Canada). Her research focuses on women's health, activity restriction, and the integration of technology in nursing care. She has received multiple awards for teaching excellence, including the Dean’s Award (2022) and the Trent Excellence in Teaching Award (2019–2020). Dr. Omar's educational background includes a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master's degree from Alexandria University (Egypt), followed by doctoral studies in the United States. She is passionate about advancing nursing education and improving mental health support for students. Her current projects include evaluating academic advising tools and studying Lyme disease in pregnancy. Her research spans maternal health, rehabilitation outcomes for older adults, and healthcare utilization patterns. Notable work includes analyzing non-urgent emergency department visits and the impact of dementia on post-fracture care. Dr. Omar is actively involved in mentoring students and accepts graduate and honours thesis students.
Dr. David T Wong is a Professor in the Dentistry Department and Head and Neck Surgery at the University of California Los Angeles. With dual appointments across departments, he leads groundbreaking research at the intersection of molecular biology, diagnostics, and oral medicine. His work has established UCLA as a global leader in salivary diagnostics research. Dr. Wong earned his BSc in Biochemistry from Simon Fraser University in 1977, followed by a DMD in Dental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in 1981. He completed advanced training at Harvard with a DMSc in Molecular Biology (1985) and a Certificate in Oral Pathology from Harvard School of Dental Medicine (1985). His research focuses on salivary diagnostics for disease detection, particularly in oral/head and neck cancer. Dr. Wong pioneered the field of "Salivaomics" - the comprehensive study of saliva as a diagnostic fluid containing proteomic, genomic, transcriptomic, metabolomic, and microbiome information. His laboratory spearheads high-throughput technologies to identify genomic and proteomic determinants of oral cancer progression, with emphasis on developing non-invasive diagnostic tools. Key areas include liquid biopsy technologies (particularly saliva-based), extracellular RNA communication, and the development of point-of-care diagnostic devices like the Oral Fluid NanoSensor Test (OFNASET). Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward clinical translation of salivary biomarkers, with increasing focus on Sjögren's Syndrome diagnostics, liquid biopsy applications for cancer detection, and the development of novel technologies like EFIRM (Electric Field-Induced Release and Measurement) for ultra-sensitive detection of biomarkers in saliva. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications, particularly in early cancer detection and monitoring. Dr. Wong has received extensive NIH funding as Principal Investigator for numerous projects, including multiple R01, U01, and T32 grants focused on salivary diagnostics, oral cancer biomarkers, and dentist-scientist training programs. His research funding spans over two decades, demonstrating sustained impact and relevance in the field. He leads the Wong Lab, which functions as an interdisciplinary research hub bringing together experts in molecular biology, engineering, dentistry, and oncology. The lab has been instrumental in establishing saliva as a viable biofluid for liquid biopsy applications, particularly for detecting actionable mutations in human cancers. Current research directions include refining EFIRM technology for clinical implementation and expanding the applications of salivary diagnostics to systemic diseases beyond oral conditions.
Dr. Dina Ferdman is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine, serving as Director of the Pediatric Echocardiogram Program and Co-director of the Yale Fetal Care Center. She practices pediatric cardiology at Yale Pediatric Specialty Centers in Trumbull and Greenwich, providing comprehensive care for congenital heart disease from prenatal diagnosis through adolescence. Education & Training: MD: University of Massachusetts Medical School (2008) Pediatrics Residency: Columbia University Medical Center (2011) Chief Residency: Columbia University Medical Center (2012) Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship: Columbia University Medical Center (2015) Her research focuses on advancing diagnostic techniques in fetal and pediatric cardiology, particularly through echocardiography innovations. She investigates prenatal detection of congenital heart defects, ventricular strain analysis, and quality improvement initiatives for high-risk infant care. Her work integrates clinical practice with translational research to optimize outcomes for children with structural heart disease. Dr. Ferdman's publications demonstrate consistent focus on echocardiography techniques, prenatal diagnosis, and pediatric cardiac management. Recent work explores the application of high-sensitivity biomarkers for myocarditis diagnosis and quality improvement in preventive cardiology. Her longitudinal studies provide valuable insights into cardiac complications of inflammatory conditions like MIS-C. As Co-director of the Yale Fetal Care Center, she leads interdisciplinary teams providing comprehensive care for pregnancies complicated by fetal heart anomalies. She also directs the Pediatric Echocardiogram Program, implementing advanced imaging protocols and quality standards. She contributes to multicenter collaborative studies through the Fetal Heart Society Research Collaborative.
Vivian Li is a Senior Group Leader and Assistant Research Director at The Francis Crick Institute in London, UK, leading a research group focused on intestinal stem cell biology and colorectal cancer mechanisms. Dr. Li earned her PhD from the University of Hong Kong's Department of Pathology in 2008, researching molecular mechanisms of human colonic development and tumorigenesis, for which she received the Gold Medal Prize. She then completed postdoctoral training with Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute in the Netherlands, funded by the Croucher Foundation Fellowship, focusing on Wnt pathway proteomics and intestinal stem cell genes using transgenic mouse models. Her research program investigates how stem cells maintain healthy gut tissue and what goes wrong during cancer development, with particular emphasis on Wnt signaling pathways. Dr. Li's laboratory utilizes advanced organoid technology ('mini-guts') to study stem cell behavior in three-dimensional cultures, gene editing techniques, and state-of-the-art imaging approaches. Her work spans developmental biology, stem cell research, and cancer biology with significant translational implications. Analysis of her recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a strong focus on cancer stemness mechanisms, intestinal regeneration pathways, Wnt signaling components, and innovative organoid modeling approaches for colorectal cancer. Her research consistently bridges basic science with potential clinical applications in gastrointestinal medicine. Gold Medal Prize for PhD thesis Croucher Foundation Fellowship Dr. Li established her independent laboratory at the MRC National Institute for Medical Research in February 2013 and transitioned to the Francis Crick Institute in 2015. Her research aims to develop tumor-specific therapies for bowel cancer and grow replacement human gut tissue for transplantation or drug testing platforms. She leads a multidisciplinary team utilizing cutting-edge techniques including reverse mouse genetics, ex vivo organoid cultures, and advanced genomic and proteomic analyses to investigate stem cell regulation in health and disease. Her laboratory at the Crick Institute operates within the Biological Research Facility and collaborates extensively with other research groups both within the institute and internationally, contributing significantly to understanding intestinal stem cell niche dynamics and cancer development mechanisms.
Judith E Carroll, PhD, is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA's School of Medicine, where she holds the George F. Solomon Professorship of Psychobiology. She directs the Aging Biology & Behavior Lab and co-leads the Infrastructure for Research in Equity, Aging, Cancer and Health initiative. Her research bridges psychoneuroimmunology, geroscience, and oncology, with continuous NIH funding since 2013. Education: PhD in Biological & Health Psychology, University of Pittsburgh (2010) MA in Biopsychology & Aging, Sonoma State University (2003) BA in Psychology, Sonoma State University (2002) Her research examines biological mechanisms linking stress, sleep, and aging in cancer populations. Primary interests include: Accelerated aging biomarkers in breast cancer survivors Sleep health interventions to reverse cellular aging Impact of early-life adversity on lifelong health trajectories Social determinants of cognitive decline in oncology Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate: Dominant focus on epigenetic aging and inflammation in oncology Longitudinal studies of cancer-related cognitive decline Methodological innovation in transcriptomic biomarker discovery Health disparities framework across 80% of publications Awards: American Psychosomatic Society Young Scholar Award (2012) American Sleep Medicine Foundation Bridge to K Award (2013) American Cancer Society Research Scholar Award (2015) STOP CANCER Career Development Award (2016) PNIRS Robert Ader New Investigator Award (2019) Active Grants (NIH): R01AG082348: Patterns of Biological Aging in Cancer Survivors (MPI, 2023-2028) R56AG068086: Heterogeneity in Aging Among Breast Cancer Survivors (PI, 2021-2022) R01CA237535: Accelerated Aging in Breast Cancer (PI, 2020-2023) She mentors through the TLC (Thinking and Living with Cancer) Study consortium involving 15+ institutions. Leads the Aging Biology & Behavior Lab researching stress-sleep-aging mechanisms and co-directs the Infrastructure for Research in Equity, Aging, Cancer and Health (REACH) initiative, fostering multi-institutional collaborations on health disparities.
Michele Jonsson-Funk, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and Director of the Center for Pharmacoepidemiology. She leads the Pharmacoepidemiology Program within the Department and serves as an Affiliate Faculty member at the Injury Prevention Research Center. Dr. Jonsson-Funk is also a Fellow of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and holds leadership roles in several professional organizations, including the Board of the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology and advisory roles in epidemiology and clinical research networks. Dr. Jonsson-Funk holds a PhD in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2003), a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Epidemiology from UNC Chapel Hill (2000), and a BA in Psychology from Reed College (1994). Her research focuses on pharmacoepidemiology, methods for estimating treatment effects in observational data, and women’s health. She examines topics such as sex differences in medication safety and efficacy, maternal and child health outcomes, and the application of electronic health records for population-level analyses. Her work integrates data from Medicare, Marketscan, and the Carolina Data Warehouse for Health to evaluate treatment effectiveness and safety. Dr. Jonsson-Funk has received several honors, including: Fellow, International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (2018–present) Research Fellow, Sheps Center for Health Services Research, UNC Chapel Hill (2005–present) Member, Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society, Theta Chapter (2004–present) Her research portfolio includes grants such as an R01 evaluating treatment effect heterogeneity in cardioprotective medications. She advises on interdisciplinary teams through her leadership roles in the Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health (BIRCWH) Program and the Observational Pharmaco-Epidemiology Research & Analysis (OPERA) network. She also leads the Pharmacoepidemiology Research Lab Network under BIRCWH. Dr. Jonsson-Funk collaborates with clinical colleagues on studies addressing pelvic floor disorders, medication use during pregnancy, and diabetes-related cancer risks. Her methodological contributions include improving propensity score techniques and addressing confounding by frailty in observational studies.
Heather R. Christofk is a Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Her research focuses on the intricate relationship between cellular metabolism and various biological processes, particularly in the contexts of cancer development, stem cell function, and viral infections. Education: PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University (2007) BS in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA (2001) Dr. Christofk's research program centers on understanding how metabolic pathways regulate cellular processes in both normal physiology and disease states. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to support rapid growth and proliferation, with particular focus on glucose metabolism, amino acid utilization, and metabolic adaptations in tumor microenvironments. She has also pioneered work on the metabolic regulation of stem cell function, especially in hair follicle stem cells, demonstrating how metabolic pathways control stem cell activation and differentiation. Her research has important implications for developing novel therapeutic approaches that target cancer metabolism while preserving normal tissue function. Analysis of Dr. Christofk's recent publications reveals a strong focus on metabolic heterogeneity across different biological contexts. Her work spans cancer metabolism (particularly in liposarcoma, melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma), stem cell metabolism (especially hair follicle stem cells), viral metabolism (including Epstein-Barr virus and Zika virus), and developmental metabolism (fetal development and organogenesis). A recurring theme is how metabolic pathways serve as regulatory nodes that control cell fate decisions, tumor progression, and therapeutic responses. Selected Research Funding: Metabolic Control of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Homeostasis and Tumorigenesis (NIH R01AR070245, 2018-2023) - Co-Principal Investigator Nutrient regulation of cancer cell growth (NIH R01CA215185, 2017-2022) - Principal Investigator Regulation of the Warburg Effect in Cancer (NIH DP2OD008454, 2011-2016) - Principal Investigator Dr. Christofk's laboratory maintains active collaborations across multiple disciplines, working with clinicians, basic scientists, and computational biologists to address complex questions in metabolism and disease. Her team employs a range of cutting-edge techniques including metabolomics, stable isotope tracing, molecular biology, and in vivo models to investigate metabolic regulation in health and disease.
Kushal Dey, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Computational and Systems Biology Program at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). His research develops machine learning models that integrate genetic, genomic, and epigenomic data (e.g., RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, Perturb-seq, spatial transcriptomics) to decode the causal functional architecture of heritable complex diseases, including immune-related disorders like Alzheimer’s and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as heritable cancers such as breast and prostate cancer.
Deborah Ehrenthal is a Professor in the Department of Biobehavioral Health at The Pennsylvania State University and serves as Director of the Social Science Research Institute (SSRI). Her research leverages large administrative datasets to investigate maternal and child health outcomes, with particular focus on prenatal opioid exposure, birth complications, and healthcare system interactions within Medicaid populations. Her primary research spans maternal and child health epidemiology, utilizing Wisconsin Medicaid data (2010-2019) to examine opioid exposure trajectories, neonatal abstinence syndrome, infant mortality, and spillover effects on sibling development. She investigates modifiable factors like treatment continuity and prenatal care coordination, while addressing health disparities through implementation science frameworks. Her work bridges clinical outcomes with social determinants of health, emphasizing policy-relevant findings for vulnerable populations. Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal consistent focus on opioid-related pregnancy outcomes, demonstrating how exposure timing/duration affects neonatal withdrawal and child welfare involvement. She pioneers analyses of Medicaid enrollment gaps across pregnancy stages and explores broader implications like metabolic syndrome risks following adverse birth outcomes, while extending research into pandemic-era community health responses. Scientific Awards: Lloyd Prize for Innovative Health Research (2025) Dr. Ehrenthal's research program is sustained through federal and state grants supporting large-scale data analysis of Medicaid populations, though specific funding mechanisms aren't detailed in current profiles. As Professor and SSRI Director, she mentors graduate students in biobehavioral health and public health, supervising research on substance use disorders and implementation science. Her leadership cultivates interdisciplinary collaboration across Penn State's research ecosystem. As Director of SSRI, she spearheads initiatives including the Climate, Society, and Health program launched in November 2023. She leads cross-institutional teams analyzing Wisconsin administrative data, with strong partnerships in public health departments and medical schools. Her work integrates epidemiological methods with health services research to address the opioid epidemic's impact on maternal-child health systems.
Dr. Jessica Grieger is a Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide, affiliated with the Adelaide Medical School under the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on maternal diet, metabolic health, and reproductive outcomes, with a particular emphasis on gestational diabetes, fertility, and developmental origins of disease. Her research program includes systematic reviews and meta-analyses on gestational diabetes prevention, intervention components, and the impact of preconception diet on fertility. She has contributed to high-impact studies in journals like Communications Medicine and Human Reproduction Update . Dr. Grieger's scientific work has been recognized through her NHMRC Externally-Funded Research Fellow position, and her findings have informed clinical guidelines and public health strategies. She supervises honors and higher degree research students in dietary analysis, qualitative methods, and metabolic syndrome studies. Her collaborations span institutions like the Australian Pathogen Genomics Program and involve developing genomic tools for pathogen tracking. She also explores telomere biology in offspring and the implementation of precision medicine approaches for maternal health.
Dr. Raj Rajakumar is an Associate Professor at Western University's Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, cross-appointed with the Department of Psychiatry. His work focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia symptoms and autism neurobiology, employing animal models to study drug effects and neural signaling. He holds a PhD from the University of Western Ontario, with prior degrees in M.B.B.S. (University of Peradeniya) and M.Sc. (University of Western Ontario). Educations: Ph.D., Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario M.Sc., Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario M.B.B.S., Medicine, University of Peradeniya Research Interests: Molecular pathways in schizophrenia symptom manifestation Neurobiological basis of autism spectrum disorders Pharmacological interventions using antipsychotics and psychotropic drugs Neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, MRS) to study brain connectivity His research combines molecular biology, neuroanatomy, and behavioral assays in animal models to explore schizophrenia pathophysiology. Recent work includes maternal immune activation effects on fetal brain development, cannabinoid impact on executive function, and white matter inflammation in Alzheimer's models. Collaborations with Dr. W.J. Rushlow and others highlight translational research in neuropsychiatric disorders. Key contributions include automated MRI algorithms for medial temporal lobe analysis and longitudinal studies of glutamatergic deficits in schizophrenia. His work bridges basic science with clinical applications in mental health. Dr. Rajakumar's lab focuses on understanding brain circuitry disruptions in psychiatric disorders, with implications for novel therapeutic targets. No formal advisees are listed, but his research team actively engages in interdisciplinary collaborations.
