BIRCWH Scholars

---

BIRCWH Alumni

• Soham Al Snih, MD, PhD
  

  Assistant Dean for Academic Programs
  Professor, Population Health and Health Disparities
  Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine
  Professor, Nutrition, Metabolism and Rehabilitation Sciences
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2008-2011

  Research Topics: Obesity, muscle strength, and disability in older Hispanics; sex differences.
  

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NIA; Grant ID: 5 R01 HD065702-20 ($125,460); Obesity, muscle strength, and disability in older Mexican Americans and elders from Latin American and the Caribbean (2009-2012). Markides K (PI), Al Snih (Co-I).
  • NIH/NIA; Grant ID: R03AG029959 ($541,799); Longitudinal study of Mexican American elderly health (2001-2013).

  Soham Al Snih's UTMB Health Research Profile  |   Soham Al Snih's Publications

  ---

• Ivonne-Marie Bergés, PhD

  

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2006-2008

  Research Topics: Disparities in stroke outcomes.
  

  Funding Obtained: 

  • NIH/NICHD; Grant ID: R03HD058216 ($151,000); Gender differences in home and community participation after stroke (2008-2011).
  • NIH/NIA; Grant ID: R01 AG031178 ($1,325,540); Psychological well-being and recovery among hospitalized older adults (2008-2014).
  • U Maryland Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center; Grant: $30,000; A home-based fall exercise intervention (2014).

  Ivonne-Marie Bergés' Publications

  ---

• Kanika Bowen-Jallow, MD, MMS, FACS, FAAP
  

  Medical Director, Bariatric Surgery Program
  Cook Children's Pediatric Surgery
  Prosper, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2018-2020

  Research Topics: Childhood obesity, health equity, and sex differences.

  Kanika Bowen-Jallow's Publications

  ---

• Egle Bytautiene Prewit, MD, PhD

  

  Associate Professor/Research
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Research
  UT Health San Antonio, Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine
  San Antonio, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2011-2015

  Research Topics: Effects of maternal pre-pregnancy obesity and preeclampsia on offspring health.

  Funding Obtained:

  • American Heart Association; Grant ID: 14BGIA20480229 ($140,000); Lactation, oxytocin, and maternal cardiometabolic health later in life (2014-2016).

  Egle Bytautiene Prewit's Publications

  ---

• Phillip Cantu, PhD
  

  Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine-Geriatrics
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2022-2024

  Research Topics: Dementia caregiving; Mexican Americans; and informant measures of cognitive decline.
  

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NIA; Grant ID: 1K01AG08589-01; Informant measures of cognitive decline in Mexico (07/15/2024-06/30/2029).

  Phillip Cantu's UTMB Health Research Profile  |   Phillip Cantu's Publications

  ---

• Celia Chao, MD
  

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2007-2009

  Research Topics: Gastrointestinal hormones and breast cancer.

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NCI; Grant ID: K08CA125209 ($642,535); Bombesin-activated carcinoma associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer (2009-2014).
  • Society of Surgical Oncology Clinical Investigator Award; Grant: $100,000; Stromal biomarkers and colorectal cancer recurrence (2009-2011).
  • John Sealy Memorial Endowment Fund; Grant: $50,000; Studies in metastatic phenotype of the colorectal cancer cell (2013-2014).
  • UTMB Institute for Translational Sciences; Grant: $150,000; Development of novel therapies for advanced colorectal cancer: Targeting cystathion-β-synthtase-mediated intratumor H2S biosynthesis (2013-2015). Project Manager.

  Celia Chao's Publications

  ---

• Erika Fuchs, PhD, MPH
  

  Senior Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist
  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Lincoln, NE

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2016-2020

  Research Topics: Prenatal and childhood vaccination; surrogate pregnancy.

  Erika Fuchs' Publications

  ---

• Maria Giraldo Giraldo, BSc, MSc, PhD
  

  Assistant Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2020-2022

  Research Topics: Immunity to virus infection; pattern recognition receptor signaling; mechanisms of viral infection and replication; role of Ubiquitin and E3- ubiquitin ligases replication of different viruses (ZIKV, DENV, WNV, Influenza, SARS-CoV-2); role of ubiquitination of ZIKV on reproductive biology (reproductive tissues tropism).

  Maria Giraldo's UTMB Health Research Profile |  Maria Giraldo's Publications

  ---

• Fangjian Guo, MD, PhD
  

  Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2016-2018

  Research Topics: Breast cancer screening, cancer prevention, HPV epidemiology and vaccination.

  Funding Obtained:

  • J. Sealy Award/PI/2016
  • CA K07/PI/2018

  Fangjian Guo's UTMB Health Research Profile |   Fangjian Guo's Publications

  ---

• Gabriela Halder, MD, MPH
  

  University of Alabama at Birmingham, AL

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2022-2024

  Research Topics: Women's health' patient centered care; and preoperative preparedness.
  

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NICHD; Grant ID: K23HD115269-01; A telehealth intervention to increase patient preparedness for surgery in Latinas (04/01/2024-03/31/2029).

  Gabriela Halder's Publications

  ---

• Jacqueline Hirth, PhD, MPH
  

  Associate Professor, Family and Community Medicine - Chairman's Office
  Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2012-2016

  Research Topics: Cervical cancer prevention, women’s health disparities, and breast cancer screening trends.

  Funding Obtained:

  • Cervical Cancer Free America; Grant: $5,000; Association of region of residence with human papillomavirus vaccine uptake among 9-17 year old adolescents in the U.S. (2013-2014).
  • Institute for Translational Sciences; Grant $26,344; Mediation effects of HPV vaccination on regional variations in HPV types (2014-2015).
  • AHRQ 5 R24 HS022134-02; Grant $691,695; Patient centered outcomes research in the elderly (2013-2018). Multiple PIs: Goodwin J (PI), Hirth J (Co-I), Kuo YF (Subproject PI).

  Jacqueline Hirth's Publications

  ---

• Elizabeth Lyons, PhD, MPH
  

  Associate Professor and Chair, Nutrition, Metabolism, and Rehabilitation Sciences
  Assistant Professor, Population Health and Health Disparities
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCHW Scholar: 2011-2014

  Research Topics: Physical activity interventions, cancer survivorship, technology, video games, mobile devices.

  Funding Obtained:

  • UTMB Claud D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Center; Grant: $30,000; IMPACT: Inactivity monitoring and physical activity controlled trial (2013-2014).
  • American Heart Institute; Grant ID: 13BGIA17110021 ($139,840); STEP AND GO: A study of technology-based exercise promotion (2013-2015).
  • NIH/NCI; Grant ID: 1 K07 CA175141-01A1 ($496,992); LEVEL UP: Video games for activity in breast cancer survivors (2014-2018).
  • American Cancer Society; Grant ID: 127057-MRSG-14-165-01-CPPB ($658,817); Self-monitoring activity: A randomized trial of game-oriented applications (2015-2019).

  Elizabeth Lyons' UTMB Health Research Profile  |   Elizabeth Lyons' Publications

  ---

• Christine McGrath, PhD, MPH
  

  Associate Professor, Global Health
  Adjunct Associate Professor, Epidemiology
  University of Washington, Seattle, WA

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2013-2015

  Research Topics: HIV and maternal/child health, HPV infection, HPV vaccination.

  Christine McGrath's Publications

  ---

• Sadaf Milani, PhD, MPH
  

  Assistant Professor, Epidemiology
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2020-2022

  Research Topics: Epidemiology of aging; cognition and dementia; health disparities, minority health, and gender disparities; pain and prescription opioid use.

  Sadaf Milani's UTMB Research Profile  |   Sadaf Milani's Publications

  ---

   

• Tracy Nguyen-Oghalai, MD, PhD
  

  Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine (Clinician Educator)
  University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Health Sciences Campus
  Los Angeles, CA

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2006-2008

  Research Topics: Impact of rheumatic diseases on rehabilitation.

  Funding Obtained: 

  • American College of Rheumatology; Grant ID: R03 HD058216 ($151,000); Gender differences in home and community participation after stroke (2008-2010).

  Tracy Nguyen-Oghalai's Publications

  ---

• Ricardo Rajsbaum, PhD
  

  Adjunct Associate Professor, Microbiology and Immunology
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2017-2018

  Research Topics: Innate immunity and host-virus interactions, role of host factors, ZIKA virus and pregnancy outcomes.

  Ricardo Rajsbaum's Publications

  ---

• Lauren Richardson, PhD
  

  Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  Division of Basic Science and Translational Research
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2022-2024

  Research Topics: Bridging the gap between bench-to-bedside research by merging advanced engineering and biology concepts; utilizing microfluidic devices to collect underutilized biological fluids for biomarker screening; and developing novel organ-on-chip devices that physiologically recreate in utero organs and organ systems.

  Funding Obtained:

  • UTMB IHII Pilot Richardson (PI) 3/2022-08/31/2022 Neutrophil activation and immune homeostatic imbalance at the feto-maternal interface are causal factors in premature birth. The goal of this study is to design experiments to elucidate the chorion HLA-G – Neutrophil axis responsible for regulating the immune status of the feto-maternal interface.
  • UTMB CIRWH Seed Grant Richardson (PI) 12/2021-08/15/2022 Modeling drug kinetics and metabolism across the feto-maternal interfaces utilizing a novel fetal membrane- placenta organ-on-chip The goal of this study is to adapt the validated FMi-PLAOOC device to contain dynamic fluid flow in the decidua compartment and test a previously studied drug, Rosuvastatin, to determine the effects of dynamic flow in this system.

  Lauren Richardson's UTMB Health Research Profile |  Lauren Richardson's Publications

  ---

• Erik Rytting, PhD, MS
  

  Associate Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology
  Associate Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2009-2013

  Research Topics: Drug transport across the placenta during pregnancy.

  Funding Obtained:

  • John Sealy Memorial Endowment Fund; Grant ID: 67019 ($50,000); Nanomedicine for anticancer therapy during pregnancy (2013).
  • NIH/NICHD; Grant ID: 5 U10 HD0478910-10; ($5,171,677); Obstetric-fetal pharmacology research units network (2013-2015) Co-I.
  • NIH/NIDA; Grant ID: 5 R01 DA030998-05; ($4,139,785); Bupropion for smoking cessation (2013-2015) Co-I.
  • Institute for Translational Sciences; ($29,856); Targeted nanomedicine to improve antiepileptic drug therapy during pregnancy (2014).
  • Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE); ($49,951); Targeted delivery of carbamazepine for improved antiepileptic drug therapy during pregnancy (2015).
  • NIH/NICHD; Grant ID: 1R01HD083003-01 ($2,498,673); Pharmacokinetic & pharmacogenomics approach to indomethacin therapy in pregnancy (2015-2019). Multiple PIs: Gary Hankins & Erik Rytting.

  Erik Rytting's UTMB Health Research Profile  |   Erik Rytting's Publications

  ---

• Navkiran Shokar, MD, MPH
  

  Associate Dean for Community Affairs, Dell Medical School
  Professor and Chair, Department of Population Health
  The University of Texas at Austin, Dell Medical School, Austin, TX

  Adjunct Professor, HSCEP, Family Medicine El Paso
  Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2006-2006

  Research Topics: Cancer prevention.

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NCI; Grant ID: K07CA107052 ($630,929); Colorectal cancer screening in a diverse population (2006-2012).
  • Sponsor: Susan G. Komen Foundation; Grant: $91,174; Awareness of breast cancer and screening (2012-2013).
  • Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas; Grant ID: PP110156 ($2,683,123); ACCION: Against Colorectal Cancer in our Neighborhoods (2011-2014).
  • Paso Del Norte Health Foundation; Grant: $110,292; Institute for health living (2013-2014).
  • Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas; Grant ID: PP130083 ($1,096,011); De casa en casa: Preventing cervical cancer in El Paso and Hudspeth County program (2013-2016).
  • Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas; Grant ID: PP130068 ($1,098,920); El Paso and Hudspeth County breast cancer education, screening, and navigation program (BEST) (2013-2016).
  • Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas; Grant ID: PP140164 ($1,499,438); ACCION 2 (2014-2017).
  • NIH/NCI; Grant ID: R21 CA178506-01A1 ($367,182); Colorectal cancer screening: A new web-based decision-making strategy for low literacy and Hispanic populations (2014-2016).
  • Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas; Grant: $1,499,150; Es tiemp de vacunarte! Time to get vaccinated! (2014-2017).

  Navkiran Shokar's Publications

  ---

• Venkataraman Sriraman, PhD
  

  Senior Scientist
  Molecular Pharmacology
  EMD Serono, Billerica, MA

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2006-2008

  Research Topics: Progesterone receptor function in ovarian angiogenesis.

  Venkataraman Sriraman's Publications

  ---

• Jeffrey Temple, PhD, MA
  

  Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
  Associate Dean of Clinical Research, School of Behavioral Health Sciences
  UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2007-2009

  Research Topics: Sexual violence/date rape prevention in adolescents.

  Funding Obtained:

  • UTMB Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women's Health; Grant: $25,000; Adolescent dating violence (2007-2008).
  • NIH/NICHD; Grant ID: K23HD059916 ($521,877); Longitudinal investigation in the risk and protective factors of dating violence (2009-2014).
  • John Sealy Memorial Endowment Fund; Grant: $50,000; Teen dating violence (2009-2010).
  • Hogg Foundation for Mental Health; Grant: $15,000; Impact of teen dating violence on mental health (2010-2011).
  • National Institute of Justice; Grant ID: 2012-WG-BX0005 ($746,181); Continuation of dating it safe: A longitudinal study on teen dating violence (2012-2015).
  • Childbuilders; Grant: $34,743; Evaluation of Parents Under Construction (2015).
  • UT Health Science Center-Houston CDC/ National Center for Injury Prevention & Control; Grant ID: 5 R01 CE002135-03 ($44,874); It's your game: An innovative approach to preventing teen dating violence (2013-2015) Subcontract Co-I.
  • Galveston Foundation; Grant: $32,146; Community project on Central American children (2015).

  Jeffrey Temple's Publications

  ---

• Sarah Tom, PhD
  

  Assistant Professor, School of Pharmacy
  Epidemiology and Public Health
  University of Maryland

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2010-2012

  Research topics: Sleep behavior in women.

  Funding Obtained:

  • PhRMA Foundation; Grant: $60,000; Started grant in health outcomes: Sleep medication use and physical function and mortality in older women (2013-2014).

  Sarah Tom's Publications

  ---

• Patricia van den Berg, MD, MPH
  

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2008-2010

  Research Topics: Body image, weight control behaviors in adolescent girls.

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NICHD; Grant ID: K23HD063261 ($552,186); Unhealthy weight control behaviors and obesity in Hispanic and non-Hispanic girls (2010-2014).
  • CIRWH Seed; Grant: $15,000; Effect of injectable and oral contraceptives on glucose and insulin levels (2009).
  • Hogg Foundation for Mental Health; Grant: $17,500; Disordered eating and body dissatisfaction in adolescents (2012-2013).
  • Childbuilders; Evaluation of Parents Under Construction (2015).

  Patricia van den Berg's Publications

  ---

• Timothy Walker, PhD
  

  Assistant Professor, Health Promotion and Behavioral Science
  University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, School of Public Health, Houston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2018-2020

  Research Topics: Physical activity; cancer prevention; health disparities, and sex differences.

  Timothy Walker's Publications

  ---

• Karen Williams, PhD, MHSA
  

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2008-2011

  Research Topics: Community partnerships in women's health.

  Funding Obtained:

  • NIH/NCI; Grant ID: R03CA139569 ($142,062); Community and research: Equal partners in health (CAREPH) (2009-2011).
  • St. Lukes Foundation; Grant: $105,620; United Methodist/Episcopal Mental Health Initiative Research Phase One (2009-2011).

  Karen Williams' Publications

  ---

• Xiaoying Yu, MD, PhD
  

  Director, Office of Biostatistics
  Associate Professor, Biostatistics and Data Science
  UTMB Health, Galveston, TX

  BIRCWH Scholar: 2020-2022

  Research Topics: Longitudinal data analysis; epidemiology studies and outcome research; and HIV.

  Xiaoying Yu's UTMB Health Research Profile |  Xiaoying Yu's Publications

  ---