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Department of Pediatrics: Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center
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  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. College of Medicine
  3. Department of Pediatrics
  4. Research
  5. Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center
  6. The Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center Team

The Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center Team

Made up of faculty, basic scientists, researchers, specialty staff, administrators, students, post-doctoral candidates and visiting scientists, our team has one vision in mind — improving the lives of mothers and children through a greater understanding of nutrition and how it impacts development.

Director

Colin Kay
Colin Kay, Ph.D.
Director of Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Professor of Pediatrics
Director of Precision Health Research, ACRI
Email: ckay@uams.edu

Faculty

Aline Andres, Ph.D., RD
Professor of Pediatrics
Email: andresaline@uams.edu
Elisabet Borsheim, Ph.D.
Elisabet Børsheim, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics and Department of Geriatrics
Director of Research Faculty Development, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute 
Email: eborsheim@uams.edu
Andrew Morris, Ph.D.
Andrew Morris, Ph.D.
Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology

Website: Faculty Profile

 

Brian Piccolo, PhD
Brian D. Piccolo, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: BDPiccolo@uams.edu
Craig Porter, PhD
Craig Porter, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Email: CPorter@uams.edu
Keith Williams
D. Keith Williams, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Vice-Chair of Education, Dept. of Biostatistics
Email: WilliamsDavidK@uams.edu
Eva C. Diaz-Fuentes, M.D.
Eva C. Diaz Fuentes, M.D., MMsc
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: ecdiazfuentes@uams.edu
Gabriella ten Have, PhD
Research Associate Professor
Email: GTenhave@uams.edu
Jin-Ran Chen, Ph.D.
Jin-Ran Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Email: chenjinran@uams.edu
Keshari Thakali
Keshari M. Thakali, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: KMThakali@uams.edu
Linda Larson-Prior
Linda Larson-Prior, Ph.D.
Professor of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, Neurology, Pediatrics, Psychiatry and Biomedical Informatics
Director of the ACNC Budding Brain Lab
Email: LJLarsonprior@uams.edu
Lisa T. Jansen, Ph.D.
Lisa T. Jansen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: LTJansen@uams.edu

Website: Research Profile

Neha Dole, Ph.D.
Neha Dole, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: dolenehas@uams.edu

Website: Faculty Profile

Renny Shang-Lun Lan
Renny Lan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: SLan@uams.edu
Sree V. Chintapalli, Ph.D.
Sree V. Chintapalli, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: svchintapalli@uams.edu
Taren M. Swindle, Ph.D.
Taren M. Swindle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Assistant Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine
Email: tswindle@uams.edu
Tiffany Miles, PhD
Tiffany Miles, Ph.D.
Instructor
Email: TKMiles@uams.edu
Umesh D. Wankhade, Ph.D.
Umesh Wankhade, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: udwankhade@uams.edu
Xiawei Ou, Ph.D.
Xiawei Ou, Ph.D.
Director of Brain Imaging Research Lab, ACRI
Professor and Vice Chair of Research, Radiology
Professor of Pediatrics
Email: ouxiawei@uams.edu
Manoj Grurng, Ph.D.
Manoj Gurung, Ph.D.
Research Biologist, USDA-ARS, MMRU
Email: manoj.gurung@usda.gov
Meghan Ruebel, Ph.D.
Meghan L. Ruebel, Ph.D.
Research Biologist, USDA-ARS, SEA, MMRU
Email: meghan.ruebel@usda.gov
V. Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
V. Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
Research Leader, USDA-ARS, SEA, MMRU
Email: laxmi.yeruva@usda.gov
Jayne Bellando, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Email: BellandoJayne@uams.edu
Website: Clinical Bio
Mara Elizabeth Whiteside, Ph.D.
Mara E. Whiteside, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Email: MWhiteside@uams.edu
Website: Clinical Bio
Sarh Sobik, M.D., M.P.H.
Sarah R. Sobik, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Website: Clinical Bio

Team Members

Clinical and Community Engagement Research Team

Adrienne Henry, BA
Research Assistant
Latonya Rucker
Clinical Research Professional II
Jasmine Carvajal
Clinical Laboratory Assistant
Judy Cooper
Supervisor- Clinical Research
Brianna Massingill, B.S., CLC
Clinical Research Professional I
Sharon Sanders
Research Program Manager
Ashley Williams
Research Program Director
Kiersten Keeton, BS
Nutritionist Assistant I
Deborah Alvarez
Clinical Promoter I
Ananya Padhiari
Ananya Padhiari
Software Developer III
Ayreona Snelson
Research Assistant
Jacinda “Cindi” Nobles
Program Coordinator
Katina Murphy
Clinical Promoter
Payton Modica, B.S.
Research Technician
Precious Jeffrey
Precious Jeffrey
Nutritionist Assistant
Rikki Turner, Ed.D.
Research Associate
Brandi Ryan
Physical Trainer
Brittany Reed
Brittany Reed, M.S.
Research Laboratory Manager
Heather Downs, Brain Research Specialist
Heather Downs
Brain Research Specialist
Mandeepa Kumawat
Mandeepa Kumawat
Exercise Physiologist
Ruby Beaver, M.S., R.D.N.
Nutritionist Assistant
Sabrina Chambers
Sabrina Chambers
Nutritionist Assistant
Alvin Dupens
Alvin Dupens III
Physical Trainer
Tim Edwards, M.S.
Exercise Physiologist
Anni Fuenmayor
Anni Fuenmayor, M.S.
Nutritionist Assistant
Darcy Hagood
Darcy Hagood
Brain Research Specialist
Lindsey Fullen
Data Manager
Elizabeth Hayes
Clinical Recruiting Coordinator
Adrienne Keck, M.S.
Adrienne Keck, M.S.
Nutritionist Assistant
Matt Keene, R.N.
Clinical Coordinator
Audrey Martinez-Rogacki, R.D.N., Ph.D.
Research Manager
Ginger McCorkle, M.S., L.P.E.
Licensed Psychological Examiner
Tonja Nolen, M.S.
Tonja Nolen, M.S.
Nutrition Study Coordinator
Toni Taylor
Toni Taylor
Clinical Promotor

Trainee Team Members

Shashank Chikkamagaluru, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Larissa da Cruz, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jaycelyn Hall
Graduate Student
Arun Pandiyan, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Florêncio Diniz de Sousa
Florêncio Diniz de Sousa, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Jeny Rivera, M.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Manuel Martinez Ruiz, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Meagan Kingren, Ph.D.
Meagan Kingren, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Bharath Mulakala, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Clifton Holmes, M.D.
Clifton Holmes, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hailemariam Assress, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chelsey Fiecke
Chelsey Fiecke, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Henry Paz-Manzano, Ph.D.
Henry Paz Manzano, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow

Vivarium Team

Sheree Bridges
Research Assistant
Jim Sikes
Animal Research Leader
Bobby Fay
Animal Assistant
Terry Nathan
Nathan Terry
Research Assistant

Research Science Team

Ahmad Mani-Varnosfaderani, Ph.D.
Assistant Staff Scientist
Victoria Ortega
Research Associate
Kanan Vyas
Research Assistant
Caiden Brigido
Research Aide
Vivian Hammargren
Analytical Chemist
Mary Barre
Clinical Laboratory Scientist
Kiran Kumar Adepu, Ph.D.
Kiran Adepu, Ph.D.
Assistant Staff Scientist
Michael Blackburn
Michael Blackburn
Research Associate
Abby Barlow
Research Assistant
Adam Corken
Adam Corken, Ph.D.
Associate Staff Scientist
Matt Cotter, M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Renee Fox
Renee Fox
Research Assistant
Ahsan Hameed, Ph.D.
Ahsan Hameed, Ph.D.
Staff Scientist
Yihong Kaufmann
Yihong Jiang-Cao Kaufmann
Research Associate
Nicole Knox
Nicole Knox
Senior Research Associate
Lindsay Pack
Lindsay Pack, M.S.
Research Associate
Oleksandra Pavliv
Oleksandra Pavliv
Research Assistant
Leslie Tabor-Simecka
Leslie Tabor-Simecka
Research Associate
Lillie Treas
Lillie Treas
Research Associate
Elizabeth Wahl
Liz Wahl
Research Associate
Ying Zhong
Ying Zhong
Research Associate

Administration

Julie Shlisky, Ph.D.
Principal Staff Scientist
Email: JDShlisky@uams.edu
Dia Mobbs
Administrative Assistant II
Email: acncadminoffice@uams.edu
Sarah Click
Administrative Assistant II
Email: acncadminoffice@uams.edu
Hannah Aston, MPH
Research Manager
Morgan Gurke, B.A.
Administrative Assistant IV
Email: acncadminoffice@uams.edu

Navigation

  • Directors

  • Faculty

  • Clinical and Community Engagement Research Team

  • Trainee Team Members

  • Vivarium Team

  • Research Science Team

  • Administrative Team

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Phone: (501) 686-7000
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