EIAP Scholar Grant Successes—October 2024
, by CCHE Staff
The Center for Cancer Health Equity (CCHE) and its Early Investigator Advancement Program (EIAP) are thrilled to announce the tremendous accomplishments of EIAP Scholars who have recently attained an R01 or R-type equivalent award! These Scholars’ accomplishments add to the list of EIAP successes announced previously.
Jorge Gomez-Gutierrez, Ph.D.
Dr. Jorge Gomez-Gutierrez is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and a NextGen Precision Health Investigator at the University of Missouri School of Medicine. Dr. Gomez-Gutierrez was awarded an R01 by the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering for his grant titled “Bioengineering Probiotic Bacterium Contrast Agents for Monitoring of Inflammation Using Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography.” His team is creating the first probiotic bacterial-based contrast agent for use with multispectral optoacoustic tomography (MSOT). Dr. Gomez-Gutierrez is a former R21 awardee through CCHE’s Continuing Umbrella of Research Experiences program.
Doratha Byrd, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Dr. Doratha Byrd is an Assistant Member in the Department of Cancer Epidemiology at Moffitt Cancer Center. Dr. Byrd was awarded an R01 through NCI for her application titled “Body Composition and Adiposity-Associated Thromboinflammation in Colorectal Cancer Prognosis.” Dr. Byrd also took over the role of Moffitt MPI on the ColoCare U01 on June 4, 2024. Dr. Byrd’s research focuses on elucidating the interrelationships among modifiable dietary and lifestyle exposures, the microbiome, and cancer risk and progression. Her long-term goal is to use multilevel approaches to address cancer disparities with her etiological microbiome research.
Bolni Marius Nagalo, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Dr. Bolni Marius Nagalo is an Assistant Professor in the Experimental Pathology Division of the Department of Pathology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He was awarded an NIH Director’s New Innovator Award (DP2) grant for “Novel Strategies to Enhance Drug Delivery and Tumor Immunogenicity in Pancreatic Cancer.” Dr. Nagalo’s research interests include translational virotherapy and gene therapy for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatic cancers, as well as addressing health disparities in liver cancer, cancer therapy, and cancer-focused research.
Ucheoma Nwaozuru, Ph.D.
Dr. Ucheoma Nwaozuru is an Assistant Professor of Implementation Science in the Office of Global Health at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Dr. Nwaozuru recently received an R01 grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases titled “Innovative Tools to Expand HIV Self-Testing and Long-Acting Injectables for HIV Treatment and Prevention Among Commercial Minibus Drivers (I-TEST LAIs).” The focus of this project is on the use of a culturally appropriate and community-engaged approach to promote the uptake of HIV self-testing, LAI-ART, and LAI-PrEP among commercial minibus drivers in Nigeria by engaging commercial minibus drivers as peer educators/research facilitators.