Center Leadership Team
Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division Department of Medicine • Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine University Scholar
Mary.Cushman@uvm.edu
Chair of The Department of Pharmacology • University Distinguished Professor
Mark.Nelson@med.uvm.eduCore Directors
Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology Division, Department of Medicine • Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Neil.Zakai@uvm.edu (802) 656-3154
Faculty Scientist • Co-director of the Study Design and Molecular Epidemiology Core for the Vermont Center for Cardiovascular and Brain Health
Peter.Durda@med.uvm.edu (802) 656-8968
Research Assistant Professor • Director - Customized Physiology and Imaging Core
Todd.Clason@uvm.edu (802) 578-9876Current Project Directors
Assistant Professor - Analytical Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Biophysical Chemistry
David.Punihaole@uvm.edu (802) 656-2329
Diego Adrianzen Herrera, M.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology • Associate Director of Inclusive Excellence, University of Vermont Cancer Center
dadrianz@med.uvm.edu
FIRE Grant Recipients
Past Project Directors
Denise Peters, PT, D.P.T., Ph.D.
Associate Professor • Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Director
Denise.Peters@med.uvm.eduKatherine Cheung, M.D., Ph. D.
Assistant Professor • Interim Director
Katharine.L.Cheung@med.uvm.edu (802) 656-0292Administrative Team
Owen Nadeau, Ph.D.
Sierra Rose
Title: Business Generalist
Email: Sierra.Rose@med.uvm.edu
Study Design and Molecular Epidemiology Core
Peter Callas, Ph.D.
Title: Co-Investigator, Research Associate Professor
Phone Number: (802) 656-3195
Email: Peter.Callas@uvm.edu
Andrew Sparks
Ryan Packer
Title: Researcher/Analyst, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Email: rtpacker@med.uvm.edu
Rebekah Lynn Boyle
Title: Researcher/Analyst, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Phone Number: (802) 656-8938
Email: Rebekah.Boyle@med.uvm.edu
Katherine Wilkinson
Title: Researcher/Analyst, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Phone Number: (802) 656-8984
Customized Physiology and Imaging Core (CPIC)
Thomas J. Heppner, Ph.D.
Gerald Herrera, Ph.D.
Grant W. Hennig, Ph.D.
Senior Mentors
Ira Bernstein, MD
Title: Chair and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Phone Number: (802) 847-5112
Email: ira.bernstein@uvm.edu
Marilyn Cipolla, PhD
Title: Professor & Chair, Bioengineering, Professor, Neurological Sciences UVM; CVRI Board Member
Phone Number: (802) 656-8436
Email: Marilyn.cipolla@med.uvm.edu
Mark Nelson, Ph.D.
Title: Chair and University Distinguished Professor, Department of Pharmacology
Phone Number: (802) 656-2500
Email: Mark.Nelson@med.uvm.edu
Mary Cushman, M.D., M.Sc.
Title: Professor and Vice Chair for Emerging Researchers, Department of Medicine
Phone Number: (802) 656-8968
Email: mary.cushman@med.uvm.edu
Neil Zakai, M.D., M.Sc.
Title: Core Director, Professor of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology
Phone Number: (802) 656-3154
Email: Neil.Zakai@uvm.edu
Taylor Ricketts, Ph.D.
Title: Gund Professor and Director of the Gund Institute for Environment
Phone Number: (802) 656-7796
Email: taylor.ricketts@uvm.edu
Peer Mentors
Nels Olson, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Phone Number: (802) 656-8968
Email: nels.olson@med.uvm.edu
Nimrat Chatterjee, Ph.D.
Title: Associate Professor, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics
Phone Number: (802) 656-1714
Email: Nimrat.Chatterjee@uvm.edu
Osama Harraz, Ph.D.
External Mentors
Jennifer Lee, Ph.D.
Title: NIH / NHLBI Sr. Investigator, NIH Campus
Email: leej4@mail.nih.gov
Leslie A. McClure, Ph.D.
Title: Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dean, College for Public Health and Social Justice, Saint Louis University
Email: leslie.mcclure@slu.edu
Pamela Lutsey, Ph.D., MPH
Title: Professor, Division of Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Email: lutsey@umn.edu
Internal Advisory Board
Charles G. Irvin, Ph.D.
Title: Professor of Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine
Email: charles.irvin@med.uvm.edu
David Warshaw, Ph.D.
Title: Chair and Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
Email: David.Warshaw@med.uvm.edu
Stephen T. Higgins, Ph.D.
Title: Director, Vermont Center on Behavioral Health/COBRE PI
Email: stephen.higgins@med.uvm.edu
External Advisory Board
Manuel Navedo, PhD, FAHA
Institution: University of California, Davis
Email: mfnavedo@ucdavis.edu
Scott Earley, PhD
Institution: University of Rochester, Rochester
Sharon Rounds, MD
Institution: Brown University, RI
Email: sharon_rounds@brown.edu
Suzanne Judd, Ph.D., MPH, FAHA
Institution: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Email: sejudd@uab.edu
Pipeline Investigators
Adam Sprouse-Blum, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Neurologist, Clinical Instructor, and Assistant Professor
Department: Neurological Science
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Brandon Bensel
Title: Postdoctoral Fellow
Department: Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: brandon.bensel@med.uvm.edu
Carissa Wengrovius PT, DPT, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Rehab and Movement Science
Institution: College of Nursing and Health Science
Email: Carissa.Wengrovius@uvm.edu
Chris Skinner, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Nutrition / Food Science
Institution: College of Agriculture and Health Sciences
Email: Chris.Skinner@uvm.edu
David Coggin-Carr, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division
Department: Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: David.Coggin-Carr@uvm.edu
Daniela Zambrano, M.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Neurological Sciences
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Daniela.Zambrano@uvm.edu
Emily Belarmino, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Nutrition/ Food Science
Institution: College of Agriculture and Health Sciences
Email: Emily.Belarmino@uvm.edu
James Stafford, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Neurological Sciences
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: James.Stafford@uvm.edu
Karlyn Martin, M.D.
Title: Associate Professor (COM)
Department: Medicine – Hematology
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Karlyn.Martin@uvm.edu
Kathryn Morelli, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Neurological Sciences
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: kmorelli@uvm.edu
Kyle Thomas McKay
Title: Post Doctoral Associate, Professional Exempt Temp, Research Affiliate
Department: Pharmacology, Chemistry
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Kyle.McKay@uvm.edu
Mansour Gergi, M.D.
Title: Assistant Professor of Hematology & Oncology
Department: Medicine –Hematology
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Mansour.Gergi@uvmhealth.org
Maria Bravo, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor (COM)
Department: Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: mbravo@med.uvm.edu
Maria Noterman Soulinthavong, Ph.D.
Title: Post Doct Fellow/Trainee
Department: Pharmacology
College: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Maria.Noterman@uvm.edu
Minaz Mawani, Ph.D., MPH, BScN
Title: Postdoctoral Associate
Department: Hematology and Oncology
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Minaz.Mawani@uvm.edu
Nicole Habel, M.D., Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor (COM)
Department: Medicine – Cardiology
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Nicole.Habel@uvm.edu
Paige Brochu, M.S., Ph.D.
Title: Research Assistant Professor
Spatial Analysis Lab Director
Department: Environment and Natural Resources
Institution: Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources
Email: Paige.Brochu@uvm.edu
Ruth Fabian-Fine, Ph.D.
Title: Director of the Neuroscience Program
Associate Professor of Biology and Neuroscience
Department: Neuroscience
Institution: St Michael’s College
Email: rfabianfine@smcvt.edu
Saul Huerta de la Cruz, Ph.D.
Title: Postdoctoral Associate
Department: Pharmacology
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Sulamunn Coleman, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor (COM)
Assistant Professor
Department: Psychiatry
Institution: Larner College of Medicine
Email: Sulamunn.Coleman@uvm.edu
Wen Ma, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Physics
Institution: College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences
Email: wen.ma@uvm.edu
Yangguang Ou, Ph.D.
Title: Assistant Professor
Department: Chemistry
Institution: College of Arts and Sciences
Email: Yangguang.Ou@uvm.edu