Seven investigators selected for WVCTSI Research Scholar Program

The West Virginia Clinical and Translational Science Institute (WVCTSI) has named seven faculty for the 2024-2026 Research Scholar Program. The program provides research and professional development support to early-stage investigators to become independent researchers who will lead innovative research projects in the clinical and translational sciences.

The selected scholars, their affiliations, project titles, and primary mentor are as follows:

Annahita Amireskandari, M.D., assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Ophthalmology, will conduct a research study titled, “Retinal imaging as a biomarker of mid cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease.” Dr. Amireskandari’s primary mentor will be Marc W. Haut, M.D.

Sonikpreet Aulakh, M.D., assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department Medical Oncology, will conduct a research study titled, “Translational therapeutic approach for Glioblastoma utilizing novel humanized monoclonal antibody.” Randy J. Nelson, Ph.D. will serve as Dr. Aulakh’s primary mentor.

Dannell Boatman, Ed.D., research assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Cancer Prevention and Control, will undertake a research study titled, “Developing lung cancer screening shared decision-making intervention for Appalachian Primary Care.” Stephanie Kennedy-Rea, Ed.D., will serve as Dr. Boatman’s primary mentor.

Evan DeVallance. Ph.D., research assistant in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Toxicology, will carry out a research study titled, “Role of histone demethylase KDM4a in vascular-induced dementia.” Paul D. Chantler, Ph.D. will serve as Dr. DeVallance’s primary mentor.

Caroline P. Groth, Ph.D., assistant professor in the WVU School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, will conduct a research project titled, “Statistical methods for describing relationships between occupational respiratory exposures and health.” M. Abbas Virji, Ph.D. will serve as the primary mentor for Dr. Groth.

Jessica Thayer, M.D., assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Internal Medicine, will lead a research project titled, “Improving post-hospitalization outcomes or rural populations.” Rebecca Reece, M.D. will serve as Dr. Thayer’s primary mentor.

Yunhui Xu, Ph.D., research assistant professor in the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine Department of Biomedical Sciences, will undertake a research project titled, “Alcohol and Alzheimer’s disease.” Gary O. Rankin, Ph.D. will serve as the primary mentor for Dr. Xu.

This is the seventh cohort of WVCTSI scholars to date, and the scholars’ appointment officially began on July 1, 2024. These seven investigators will join 27 other faculty who have been supported by the WVCTSI Research Scholar Program to date.

Dr. A. Courtney DeVries, co-director, WVCTSI Professional Development Core, explained, “he Research Scholar Program supports the mission of WVCTSI by fostering the research independence of a select group of promising early-stage investigators through intensive research and career mentoring.”

Dr. Joan Lakoski, co-director, WVCTSI Professional Development Core, added that “an appointment as a Research Scholar will provide these talented and creative investigators with the time, resources, and mentors needed to enable their success as independent investigators - and bring new solutions to improve the health of West Virginians and the nation.”

WVCTSI Background

WVCTSI is funded by an IDeA Clinical and Translational grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (U54GM104942-08) to support the mission of building clinical and translational research infrastructure and capacity to impact health disparities in West Virginia.