Meet the 2020-2022 iTHRIV Scholars
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?
Meet the 2019-2021 iTHRIV Scholars
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