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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.

Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center Director

Mario Ferruzzi, Ph.D.
Section Chief of Developmental Nutrition
Email: mferruzzi@uams.edu

Director, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Professor of Pediatrics

Faculty

Aline Andres
Aline Andres, Ph.D., RD
Associate Director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Professor of Pediatrics
Email: andresaline@uams.edu
Elisabet Borsheim, Ph.D.
Elisabet Børsheim, Ph.D.
Associate Director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Professor Professor of Pediatrics and Department of Geriatrics
Director of Research Faculty Development, Arkansas Children’s Research Institute 
Email: eborsheim@uams.edu
Jin-Ran Chen, Ph.D.
Jin-Ran Chen, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Email: chenjinran@uams.edu
Sree V. Chintapalli, Ph.D.
Sree V. Chintapalli, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: svchintapalli@uams.edu
Eva C. Diaz-Fuentes, M.D.
Eva C. Diaz Fuentes, M.D., Ph.D., MMsc
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: ecdiazfuentes@uams.edu
Colin Kay
Colin Kay, Ph.D.
Professor of Pediatrics
Director of Precision Health Research, ACRI
Email: ckay@uams.edu
Renny Shang-Lun Lan
Renny Lan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: SLan@uams.edu
Linda Larson-Prior, Ph.D.
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
Xiawei Ou, Ph.D.
Xiawei Ou, Ph.D.
Professor of Radiology and Pediatrics
Email: ouxiawei@uams.edu
Brian Piccolo, Ph.D.
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
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
Keshari M. Thakali, Ph.D.
Keshari M. Thakali, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: KMThakali@uams.edu
Umesh D. Wankhade, Ph.D.
Umesh Wankhade, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Email: udwankhade@uams.edu
D. Keith Williams, Ph.D., M.P.H.
D. Keith Williams, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor and Vice-Chair of Education, Dept. of Biostatistics
Email: WilliamsDavidK@uams.edu
Meghan Ruebel, Ph.D.
Meghan L. Ruebel, Ph.D.
Research Biologist, USDA-ARS, SEA, Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Email: meghan.ruebel@usda.gov
V. Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
V. Laxmi Yeruva, Ph.D.
Research Leader, USDA-ARS, SEA,
Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center
Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Email: laxmi.yeruva@usda.gov

Affiliated Faculty

Seth T. Sorensen, Ph.D.
Seth T. Sorensen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, Psychology
Jayne Bellando, Ph.D.
Professor
Website: Clinical Bio
Sarh Sobik, M.D., M.P.H.
Sarah Sobik, M.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor
Website: Clinical Bio

Staff

Clinical Research Staff

Graciella Alatorre-Cruz, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ruby Beaver, M.S., R.D.N.
Nutritionist Assistant
Markie Campbell, RDN, LD
Markie Campbell, R.D.N., L.D.
Nutritionist Assistant
Sabrina Chambers
Clinical Research Assistant
Alvin Dupens III
Physical Trainer
Trevor Durey, B.S.
Trevor Durey, B.S.
Neuropsychological Technician
Tim Edwards, M.S.
Exercise Physiologist
Anni Fuenmayor
Anni Fuenmayor, M.S.
Nutritionist Assistant
Yuyuan Gu, M.S.
Research Support Specialist
Darcy Hagood
Brain Research Specialist
Elizabeth Hayes
Clinical Recruiting Coordinator
Adrienne Keck, M.S.
Adrienne Keck, M.S.
Nutritionist Assistant
Matt Keene, R.N.
Clinical Coordinator
Audrey Martinez-Rogacki, M.S., R.D.N.
Research Manager
Ginger McCorkle, M.S., L.P.E.
Licensed Psychological Examiner
Diamond McGehee, Ph.D.
Diamond McGehee, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Tonja Nolen, M.S.
Tonja Nolen, M.S.
Nutrition Study Coordinator II
Lexi-Poole, RDN, LD
Lexi Poole, R.D.N., L.D.
Nutrition Assistant II
Clark Sims, Ph.D.
Clark Sims, Ph.D.
Assistant Staff Scientist
Toni Taylor
Clinical Promotor
Donald Turner, B.S.
Donald Turner
Research Associate

Vivarium Staff

Jim Sikes
Animal Research Leader
Bobby Fay
Animal Assistant
Terry Nathan
Nathan Terry
Research Assistant
Abigail Barlow
Research Assistant

Research Science Staff

Kiran Adepu, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Hailemariam Assress, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Michael Blackburn
Research Associate
Perry Caviness, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Adam Corken, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Matthew Cotter, M.S.
Senior Research Associate
Alvaro Cruz Carrion, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Chelsey Fiecke, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Renee Fox
Research Assistant
Lindsey Fullen
Data Manager
Manoj Gurung, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ahsan Hameed, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Yihong Jiang-Cao Kaufmann
Research Associate
Nicole Spencer Knox
Senior Research Associate
Oxana Lazarenko
Research Associate
Henry Paz Manzano, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Fellow
Becky Moody, M.S.
Senior Research Data Analyst
Jake Morrison
Research Assistant
Lindsay Pack, M.S.
Research Associate
Oleksandra Pavliv
Research Assistant
Taylor Ross
Research Associate
Daniel Sadler, Ph.D.
Post-Doctoral Fellow
Leslie Tabor-Simecka
Research Associate
Lillie Treas
Research Associate
Elizabeth Wahl
Research Associate
Ying Zhong
Research Associate

Administration

Michèle M. Perry
Michèle M. Perry
Director of Operations
Email: perrymichelem@uams.edu
Julie Shlisky
Julie Shlisky, Ph.D.
Principal Staff Scientist
Email: JDShlisky@uams.edu
Hannah Singer
Administrative Assistant III
Email: SingerH@archildrens.org
Aracely Vasquez
Admin Assistant II
Email: vasquezaa@archildrens.org
Jackie Yarbrough
Clinical Research Finance Director
Email: jcyarbrough@uams.edu
Morgan Gurke, B.A.
Administrative Assistant III
Email: gurkem@archildrens.org
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Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
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