Students
Amanda Lucas (4th Year) – Amanda obtained her B.S. degree in Human Biology at the University of Texas at Austin. She began work as a microbiologist in the tuberculosis reference laboratory at the Texas Department of State Health Services and became interested in the biology and epidemiology of infectious disease. She is pursuing her PhD in the Basic Science Research Track, currently working in the laboratory of Baek Kim, Ph.D. Amanda’s projects encompass the eradication of HIV-1 from natural viral reservoirs and the neurocognitive effects of HIV-1 infection. Her translational work is evident in the collaborative environment in which she is studying the toxicology and efficacy of a novel ribonucleoside inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase in human macrophages. The goal of this project is to formulate a gel microbicide containing the ribonucleoside analog to be used as a topical application in women to prevent HIV-1 transmission.
Research Mentor: Baek Kim, PhD
Abeer Abu Zeitone (3rd Year) –Abeer obtained her B.S degree in Pharmacy and M.S degree in Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Jordan. She is pursuing her PhD in the Clinical Research Track, studying Long QT syndrome (LQTS) which is an inherited cardiac channelopathy disease. Her translational biomedical research project involves utilizing the clinical information obtained from LQTS patients to investigate and find effective strategies to treat and reduce the risk of cardiac events in this group of patients.
Research Mentor: Arthur J Moss, MD
Daniela Geba (2nd Year) – Daniela obtained her MD degree from University of Medicine and Pharmacy Gr. T. Popa, Iasi, Romania and received training in epidemiology at University at Buffalo. Her research interest is in the broad area of cardiovascular disease, with a focus on diabetes mellitus.
Research Mentor: Thomas Pearson, MD, MPH, PhD
Lesley M. Chapman (2nd Year) – Lesley obtained her B.S. degree in Biology at Duke University. She completed an undergraduate research project in the Duke University Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy where she became interested in the genetics of infectious disease. She is pursuing her Ph.D. in the Basic Research Track, and is currently working in the laboratory of Craig Morrell, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Research Mentor: Craig Morrell, DVM, PhD
Cindi Lewis (2nd Year) – Cindi obtained her BSc. degree in Biotechnology at Claflin University, followed by a year in the field of Cancer Biology Genomics at the Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic. This experience combined with a background in mammalian molecular virology research during undergrad led her to choose the Clinical Research Track of the TBS program where her focus is on bridging the gap between clinical interventions in HIV prevention and greater intervention efficacy in the wider community. Currently Cindi is working under the directorship of Dr. James McMahon (UR School of Nursing) and Dr. Janie Simmons (National Drug Research Institute, NYC). She will be examining the role of substance abuse as a coping mechanism for HIV positive heterosexual men upon receiving their diagnosis. Additionally in order to broaden her experience in community based research Cindi will be embarking on a 5-year summer tobacco control project in Leh, India under the guidance of Dr. Nancy Chin.
Research Mentor: James McMahon, PhD
