iTHRIV Scholars Program

A cornerstone of the integrated Translational Health Research Institute of Virginia is the iTHRIV Scholars Program.  This competitive program prepares trainees to excel in a transformed biomedical research environment in which digital data drives health care hypotheses, interventions, and health quality evaluation.

The program also contributes to the growth and development of team science culture created by the marriage of data-driven approaches with robust clinical translational research across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The iTHRIV Scholars Program is a mentored, career development award over a two-year period.  A request for applications is released in the fall each year and requires an NIH-like submission process with study section review and assessment.  Finalists are interviewed in person; awards are announced in the spring, and awards begin on July 1st.  Attendance and participation in weekly curriculum and activities are a required part of the program and offers an opportunity for each cohort to develop a community of practice within their own group as well as with the other Scholar cohorts and greater iTHRIV community.

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Click Here to Learn about the iTHRIV Scholars Curriculum

Laurie Brenner, PhD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine Department of Neurology, NeuroNEXT Scholar

Primary Mentor:  Kevin Pelphrey, PhD

Research Project:  Is autism-plus-epilepsy an autism subtype with a focal neurobiological basis?

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Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, PhD

Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC

Assistant Professor

Primary Co-Mentors: Warren Bickel, PhD and Matthew Hulver, PhD

Research Project: Neural and metabolic correlates of carbohydrate reward

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Brittany Howell, PhD

Frailin Biomedical Research  Institute

at VTC

Assistant Professor

Primary Mentor: Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD

Research Project: A pilot study of the role of gut dysbiosis in the neurodevelopmental consequences of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS)

Lisa Letzkus, PhD, RN

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics

Primary Co-Mentors: Karen Fairchild, MD, and Doug Lake, PhD

Research Project: Neurodevelopmental infant cardiorespiratory evaluation (NICE)

Nicole Long, PhD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Sciences

Primary Mentor: Carol Manning, PhD

Research Project: Mnemonic brain states and selective memory deficits in healthy aging

Kaitlin Love, MD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine Department of Endocrinology

Primary Mentor: Zhenqi Liu, MD

Research Project: Effect of Glucagon Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonism on Microvascular Perfusion, Cardiorespiratory Fitness, and Glycemic Variability in Type 1 Diabetes

Sora Shin, PhD

Frailin Biomedical Research  Institute at VTC

Assistant Professor

Primary Mentor: Warren Bickel, PhD

Research Project: Deciphering the role of leptin receptor neural circuits in mediating early life trauma-induced binge eating behavior

Kara Wiseman, MPH, PhD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, School of Medicine Department of Public Health Sciences and Neurobehavioral Sciences

Primary Mentor: Lee Ritterband, PhD

Research Project: Establishing the effectiveness of publicly available smoking cessation resources:  Does rurality matter?

Silas Culver, MD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Primary Mentor: Helmy M. Siragy, MD

Research Project: The (Pro)renin Receptor Promotes Renal Injury in the Aging Kidney through Increased Cellular Senesence

Tanya Evans, PhD

University of Virginia

Research Assistant Professor, Center for Advanced Study of Teaching and Learning

Primary Mentor: Kevin A. Pelphrey, PhD

Research Project: Parent-Child Brain Synchrony in Autism Spectrum Disorders

William (Ben) Horton, MD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Primary Mentor: Eugene J. Barrett, MD, PhD

Research Project: Examining the effect of glycemic excursions on cardiac function and myocardial perfusion in type 1 diabetes

Daniel Levin, MD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery

Primary Mentor: Sean R. Moore, MD, MS

Research Project: Role of Enteric Neuronal Glucagon Like Peptide 2 Receptor Agonist Augmentation of Tissue Engineered Intestine for the Treatment of Short Bowel Syndrome

Amanda Nguyen, PhD

University of Virginia

Research Assistant Professor, YouthNex: The UVA Center to Promote Effective Youth Development

Primary Mentor: Catherine P. Bradshaw, PhD

Research Project: Development of Decision and Implementation Supports for a Rural School-Based Prevention Program

Kelly Shaffer, PhD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences

Primary Mentor: Lee M. Ritterband, PhD

Research Project: Improving the Understanding of Depression among Cancer Caregivers Using Ecological Momentary Assessment

Jeffery Sturek, MD, PhD

University of Virginia

Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Primary Mentor: Coleen A. McNamara, MD

Research Project: The Role of B-1 Cells and Natural IgM in Lung Inflammation and Fibrosis