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Research

Center of Excellence for Integrative Health

Expand Research-Driven Educational Opportunities for Medical Students

Research Grants List
Researcher in a white lab coat using a pipette to prepare samples in a laboratory.

Our Mission

Consisting of academic scholars committed to integrative health research, the Center of Excellence for Integrative Health seeks to support the strategic objectives and academic mission of School of Medicine and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in enhancing research and research-related education.

Our Vision

We strive to improve the health of individuals through integrative health research discoveries and high-quality education.

What We Do

Our focus includes: 

  • Fostering and facilitating synergistic, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, and interprofessional collaboration
  • Assisting the professional development of new researchers
  • Promoting thoughtful and compassionate healthcare at all levels by assisting supporters in conducting innovative research
  • Promoting research-associated educational opportunities for medical students.

Founding Director

Leslie Shen

Professor, Assoc Academic Dean

Learn More

  • To view our awarded Research Grants click below.

    Awarded Research Grants

  • To receive a copy of our CEIH Annual Report or Comprehensive Review, contact us.

Members

  • Michael Blanton, PhD.

    Co-Director of Center for Membrane Protein Research, TTUHSC
    Professor and Vice Chair of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, SOM
    Senior Associate Dean and MD/PhD Program Director
    Email: michael.blanton@ttuhsc.edu 
    Phone: 806.319.1778

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Structure/function of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; development of smoking cessation agents and for the treatment nervous system disorders.

    Betsy Jones, PhD.

    Email: betsy.jones@ttuhsc.edu 
    Phone: 806.743.6128

    • Medical Education, TTUHSC

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Medical education

    Naima Moustaid-Moussa, PhD. FTOS, FAHA

    Professor, Department of Nutritional Sciences
    Associate Professor and the Founding Director of Division of Integrative Medicine in the Department of Family and Community Medicine, SOM, TTUHSC
    Email: naima.moustaid-moussa@ttu.edu 
    Phone: 806.834.7946

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Basic and integrated nutrition and obesity research, endocrine function of adipose tissue and nutrient-gene interactions in metabolic diseases, mechanisms of anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds in metabolic and aging-related diseases; beta cell function in diabetes; and childhood obesity prevention.

    Volker Neugebauer, MD, PhD

    Professor and Chair, Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, SOM, TTUHSC
    Founding Director, Center of Excellence for Translational Neuroscience and Therapeutics (CTNT), TTUHSC
    Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Garrison Institute on Aging (GIA), TTUHSC
    Email: volker.neugebauer@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.3880 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Neurobiological mechanisms of brain dysfunction in preclinical setting related to chronically relevant disorders, such as chronic pain, comorbid conditions of anxiety, depression, alcohol use disorder, and epileptogenesis. 
    • Translational neurobiology and neuropharmacology of brain dysfunctions related to clinically relevant disorders such as chronic pain, comorbid conditions of anxiety and depression, and neurodegenerative disorders

    Yan Zhang, PhD., L.Ac.  

    Email: Yan.zhang@tcu.edu 

    • Professor of Professional Practice, Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX.

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Clinical trials-acupuncture and mind-body intervention, health services research-secondary data analysis on CAM related topics, complementary and integrative health education

  • Kembra Albracht-Schulte, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Sport Management, TTU
    Email: kembra.albracht@ttu.edu 
    Phone: 806.834.5786 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Lifestyle medicine, including diet and exercise interventions, and role of the microbiome, obesity and related metabolic diseases

    Mohamad Al-Rahawan, MD, MPH

    Tenure Full Professor and Division Chief of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, SOM
    Email: m.al@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.775.8600

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Pediatric Cancer treatment and prevention.
    • Vitamin deficiency and supplementation in survivors of childhood cancer. 

    Maggie Bennett-Brown, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Communication Studies, College of Media & Communication
    Email: margaret.bennett@ttu.edu

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Sexual health communication, patient-provider communication, sexual health behavior interventions, women’s healthcare

    Research Keywords:

    • Sexual health communication, women’s healthcare

    Michael P. Blanton, PhD

    Professor, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: michael.blanton@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.3496 
    Cell: 806.319.1778

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Structure/function of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors; development of smoking cessation agents and PAMs (positive allosteric modulators) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism, and other disorders of the nervous system. View more here.

    Jean-Michel Brismée, PT, ScD

    Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences-SHP-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: jm.brismee@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.3243 
    Cell: 806.789.0387

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Clinical trials, intervertebral disc hydration/height, musculoskeletal health including, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diagnostics, manipulative therapy, mind-body therapies including yoga, meditation, Tai Chi.

    Ming-Chien Chyu, PhD

    Professor, Mechanical Engineering, TTU
    Email: m.chyu@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.8982 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Non-pharmacological approaches in musculoskeletal issues-healthcare engineering approach- biomechanics.

    Ioana A. Coman, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Public Relations, College of Media and Communication
    Email: ioana.coman@ttu.edu 
    Office: 865.607.5406 
    Cell: 806.834.0936

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Health communication & promotion (vaccines, outbreaks/pandemics, health issues) in risk and crisis contexts, different levels (local, national, international) and different platforms (media, social media, visuals, etc). Stigma, advocacy and health communication/promotion.

    Research Keywords:

    • Health promotion, Social Media, Vaccines, Outbreaks, Mis/disinformation, Stigma, Advocacy

    Jeff Dennis, PhD

    Associate Professor, Public Health
    Email: jeff.dennis@ttuhsc.edu 
    Phone: 806.743.6812 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Social epidemiology, including racial and ethnic disparities in health outcomes, immigrant health, and disparities in birth outcomes.
    • Complementary and alternative medicine, mental health diversion in correctional facilities, sleep disturbance, and life satisfaction among medical students

    Research Keywords:

    • population health and demography

    Chathurika Samudani Dhansekara, MD, MS, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Pharmacology & Neuroscience/SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: samudani.dhanasekara@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.2378

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Utilizing Data Science for Precision Health and Health Outcomes Research: examining how biological, metabolic, environmental and social factors affect disease outcome

    Research Keywords:

    • Nutrition, Obesity, Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, Brain health, Cognition, Meta-analysis, Secondary data analysis

    Jannette Dufour, PhD

    Professor, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: jannette.dufour@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.2616 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Use of immunoprotective Sertoli cells in transplantation. Specifically, mechanisms of Sertoli cell immune privilege, transplantation of genetically modified, immune privileged Sertoli cells and co-transplantation of Sertoli cells and pancreatic islets.

    Research Keywords:

    • Sertoli cells, Immune privilege, Transplantation, Diabetes, Islets, Gene therapy, Cell Therapy

    Christopher A. Enakpene, MD

    Associate Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, SOM, TTUHSC Midland, Permian Basin
    Email: christopher.a.enakpene@ttuhsc.edu 
    Cell: 347.217.5127 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Diabetes in pregnancy and obesity. On going clinical trial on randomization of early diabetes screening in obese pregnant women.
    • Impact of gestational diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance on short and long-term maternal and child health.
    • Multimodal approach in the prevention of preterm birth.

    Research Keywords:

    • Clinicaltrial.gov.REDSOAP Study:NCT03116009.Clinicaltrial.govARABIN StudyNCT03052270

    Arturo Figueroa, MD, PhD

    Professor, Kinesiology and Sport Management, TTU
    Email: arturo.figueroa@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.5587 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Arterial function and skeletal muscle health (mass and strength) in middle-aged and older adults, especially in women. Aging, hypertension, obesity, type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia/dynapenia, and cardiovascular diseases. Resistance exercise training and dietary supplements with vascular effects.

    Research Keywords:

    • Arterial stiffness, aortic hemodynamics, wave reflection, blood flow, endothelial function, L-citrulline supplementation, resistance exercise, muscle metaboreflex

    Shannon Galyean, PhD, RDN, LD

    Assistant Professor, Nutrition, TTU 
    Email: shannon.galyean@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.2286 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, vitamin & mineral supplement

    Research Keywords:

    • Nutrition, clinical trial, chronic disease, bariatric surgery

    Christine Garner, PhD, RD

    Assistant Professor, InfantRisk Center, Pediatrics, SOM TTUHSC Amarillo
    Email: christine.garner@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.414.9587 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Maternal and child nutrition, Breastfeeding, Lactation, Obesity, Food insecurity, Maternal mental health, Mixed methods research, Clinical research

    Research Keywords:

    • Nutrition, breastfeeding, food insecurity

    Wanda Hilliard, DNP, MBA, APRN, PMHNP

    Associate Professor, Nursing TTUHSC
    Email: whilliar@ttuhsc.edu 
    Cell: 713.416.9220 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Child/adolescent mental health, AI in education/mental health,  vicarious trauma in healthcare professionals, Substance abuse in child/adolescents and other populations

    Kulsawasd (Bo) Jitkajornwanich, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Professional Communication, College of Media and Communication, TTU
    Email: kulsawasd.jitkajornwanich@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.2010 
    Cell: 682.414.9164

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Health informatics, Natural Language Processing (NLP), health communication, Big Data Analytics, early detection and diagnosis through data-driven approaches, Medical AI, GIS

    Research Keywords:

    • Big data, medical AI, NLP, health informatics

    Betsy Jones, PhD

    Professor, Medical Education, TTUHSC
    Email: betsy.jones@ttuhsc.edu

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Medical education

    Kwanghee Jung, PhD

    Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, TTU
    Email: kwanghee.jung@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.0023 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Multivariate Statistics and Functional Data Analysis, Psychological Measurement and Testing Theory, Data Analytics and Big Data Analytics, Bio-medical Data and Patient-Reported Outcomes Research, Human Brain and Mental Health Research, Statistical Software Development, Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality Development

    Chanaka Kahathuduwa, MBBS, MPhil

    Residency, Neurology, SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: chanaka.kahathuduwa@ttuhsc.edu 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Neurophysiological mechanisms underlying human cognitive and neurophysiological mechanisms. Obesity and metabolic derangements-related human ingestive behavior.
    • Developmental disorders such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders.

    Gurvinder Kaur, PhD

    Associate Professor, Medical Education, SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: gurvinder.kaur@ttuhsc.edu 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Diabetes (both type 1 and type 2)
    • Transplantation immunology (allo and xeno-transplantation, rodents)
    • Islet isolation (from rodents and pigs)
    • Immune cell (T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells) analysis by immunostaining and flow cytometry
    • Amyloid formation in beta cells

    J. Josh Lawrence, PhD

    Associate Professor, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: john.lawrence@ttuhsc.edu 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • nutritional deficiencies, excitation/inhibition balance in disease states, hippocampal neuromodulation, aging, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, autism

    Research Keywords:

    • Autism, Epilepsy, Late onset of AZ

    Jaehoon (Jason) Lee, PhD

    Associate Professor, Educational Psychology, TTU
    Email: jaehoon.lee@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.5907 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • high dimensional data analysis, experimental design and sample size calculation, as well as multiple testing adjustments

    Sue Ann S. Lee, PhD, CCC-SLP

    Professor, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences, SHP, TTUHSC
    Email: sueann.lee@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.734.9051 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Speech and language in children with hearing loss and cleft palate, Bilingual speech and language development, treatment effectiveness using ultrasound and telepractice

    Research Keywords:

    • Speech-language impairment, bilingualism, speech-language intervention, speech-language instrumentation, ultrasound, telepractice

    Danielle Levitt, PhD, CSCS*D

    Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Sport Management, TTU
    Email: danielle.levitt@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.1830 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Substance misuse, glycemic control, skeletal muscle regeneration, bioenergetics, inter-organ crosstalk, exercise and nutraceutical interventions to improve musculoskeletal and metabolic health

    Dawei Li, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Immunology & Molecular Microbiology, SOM-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: dawei.li@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.2852 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Genomic sequencing data analysis; Multi-omics; Software development; Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome; Virus-caused cancer; Substance use disorder; Psychiatric disorder

    Research Keywords:

    • Genomics; High-throughput sequencing; Bioinformatics

    Hui Ying Luk, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Sport Management, TTU
    Email: huiying.luk@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.0827 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Immunoendocrine response on skeletal muscle regeneration and hypertrophy

    Research Keywords: 

    • Musculoskeletal recovery and growth/ strength and conditioning/ inflammation/ hormones/ muscle mass

    Conrad Lyford, PhD

    Professor, Agricultural & Applied Economics, TTU
    Email: conrad.lyford@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.6881 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Behavioral change towards healthy behavior and disease prevention. Community/school interventions for obesity prevention. Cost-benefit analysis. Developing country food security and health systems

    Inola Mello, DNP, APRN, FNP-C

    Professor, Family Practice, SON TTUHSC
    Email: inola.mello@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.7282 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Vitamin D, sexual health, sleep patterns/anxiety, recreation drug use/misuse in college health

    Naima Moustaid-Moussa, PhD

    Professor, Nutritional Sciences, TTU
    Email: naima.moustaid-moussa@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.7946 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Basic and integrated nutrition and obesity research.
    • Endocrine function of adipose tissue and nutrient-gene interactions in metabolic diseases.
    • Beta cell function in diabetes and childhood obesity

    Ty Palmer, PhD

    Associate Professor, Kinesiology and Sport Management/TTU
    Email: ty.palmer@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.7884

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Impact of age-related disparities on muscular function. Interventional strategies to improve functional performance in older adults

    Oak-Hee Park, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences, TTU
    Email: oak-hee.park@ttu.edu

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Community nutrition. Food environment.

    Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, PhD

    Professor, Communication, College of Media &  Communication TTU
    Email: n.punyanunt@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.3273

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Health communication; health advocacy, the crafting of messages about health, and strategies for the promotion of health-care services

    Andrew Shin, PhD

    Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences, TTU
    Email: andrew.shin@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.1713 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Neurobiology of appetite control, body weight regulation, nutrient metabolism. Behavioral neuroscience, Mechanisms underlying bariatric surgery

    Research Keywords:

    • Branched-chain amino acids, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, brain, Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, diabetes

    Jonathan Singer, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Psychological Sciences TTU
    Pharmacology and Neuroscience, TTUHSC
    Email: jonsinge@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.743.9401

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Dyadic interventions for persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disease Dementias and their Care Partners, Clinical Trials, Access to care, Rural healthcare

    Research Keywords:

    • Rural health, clinical trials, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disease Dementias, Care Partners

    Sharda Singh, PhD

    Associate Professor, TTUHSC
    Email: sharda.singh@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.1540 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Clinical trials and animal studies – dietary supplement/phytochemicals in prevention of doxorubicin induced cardiotoxicity. Molecular mechanisms involved in protein-protein interaction that prevents cancer development.

    Phillip S. Jr. Sizer, PT, PhD, OCS, FAAOMPT

    Professor, Rehabilitation Sciences, SHP-Lubbock, TTUHSC
    Email: phil.sizer@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.743.3902 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Clinical pathoanatomy, sensorimotor control and functional biomechanics of the spine and extremities
    • Tissue and movement screening

    Julie St. John, DrPH, MPH, MA, CHWI

    Associate Professor, Dept. of Public Health, GSBS, TTUHSC
    Email: julie.st-john@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 325.513.4943 
    Cell: 325.513.4943

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Health status and quality of life improvement among diverse and rural populations through community health development and partnership approaches; scope of practice and training of Community Health Workers; addressing human trafficking through community capacity building; health disparities; community health status assessments; program evaluation; intervention development

    Research Keywords:

    • Community based participatory research; Public health; Community health workers; Partnerships Health disparities; Program evaluation

    Stephanie Stroever, PhD, MPH

    Assistant Professor, Medical Education
    Email: stephanie.stroever@ttuhsc.edu 
    Office: 806.8743.4424 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • medical education, medical trainee research, healthcare-associated infection prevention, healthcare epidemiology, public health

    Grant Tinsley, PhD

    Associate Professor, Kinesiology & Sport Management, TTU
    Email: grant.tinsley@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.5895 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Body composition assessment methodology, lifestyle interventions to improve body composition, intermittent fasting, dietary supplementation, resistance training

    Research Keywords:

    • Body composition assessment; intermittent fasting; fat mass; muscle mass; resistance training

    Heather Vellers, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Kinesiology & Sport Management/TTU
    Email: heather.l.vellers@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.8554

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Mitochondrial genetics, Genetic regulation of endurance trainability and elite athlete status

    Research Keywords:

    • Mitochondria Exercise

    Fangyuan Zhang, PhD

    Associate Professor, Mathematics and Statistics, TTU
    Email: fangyuan.zhang@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.2587 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Developing statistical methods to detect genetic effects, epigenetic effects, and interaction effects between genes and environment associated with human complex diseases.
    • Application of biostatistical methods to real data analysis.

    Research Keywords:

    • Statistical genetics, biostatistics

    Julie Zook, PhD

    Associate Professor, Architecture, TTU
    Email: julie.zook@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.0699 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Environmental determinants of health related to architectural and urban/community design; use of EHR data to better understand functioning of healthcare architecture

    Research Keywords:

    • Architecture, Healthcare workers, Patient experience

    Yujiao Zu, PhD

    Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences, TTU
    Email: yujiao.zu@ttu.edu 
    Office: 806.834.0392 

    Research Interest/Expertise:

    • Dietary components and obesity-associated metabolic disorders in cells and animals

    Research Keywords:

    • Obesity, Aging , Inflammation, Mechanisms