Current & Previous KL2 Scholars

The OCTRI KL2 program is pleased to announce the recipients of an NIH supported KL2 career development award. The goal of this OCTRI initiative is to develop independent clinical investigators to conduct interdisciplinary research with scientists from diverse disciplines. The scholars will pursue clinical and translational research in a mentored environment for up to 2 years each and participate in ongoing training, such as enrollment in the Master of Clinical Research program.

Scholars Awarded 2017

Amanda Bruegl, M.D., M.S., School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology

Primary Mentors: Jackie Shannon, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Public Health and Preventive Medicine; and Cynthia Morris, Ph.D., M.P.H., Professor, School of Medicine, Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology

Research Project: Evaluation of HPV Subtyping Among American Indian/Alaska Native Women

 

Ian Greenhouse Ph.D., University of Oregon, Human Physiology

Primary Mentor: Li-Shan Chou, Ph.D., University of Oregon, Department Head, Professor, Human Physiology

Research Project: Beyond Dopamine: Thalamic GABA and Motor Inhibitor in Health and Parkinson's Disease

 

Andrew McHill, Ph.D., School of Medicine, Occupational Health Sciences

Primary Mentor: Steven Shea, Ph.D., Director, Professor, Occupational Health Sciences, Professor, OHSU-PSU School of Public Health

Research Project: Influence of Circadian Misalignment on Energy Expenditure and Glucose Regulation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

 

Sean Newsom, Ph.D., Oregon State University, Biological and Population Health Sciences

Primary Mentor: Donald Jump, Ph.D., Professor, Biological and Population Health Sciences

Research Project: Mechanisms of lipid-related skeletal muscle insulin resistance in obesity

 

Olena Taratula, Ph.D., Oregon State University, School of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences

Primary Mentor: Wassana Yantasee, Ph.D., M.B.A., Professor, Biomedical Engineering

Research Project: Single Theranostic Agent for Image-Guided Surgery and Intraoperative Phototherapy

 

Scholars Awarded 2014

Scott Chadderdon, M.D., School of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine 

Primary Mentor: Jonathan Lindner, M.D., Professor, Medicine, Cardiology 

Research Project: Physical Activity and Obesity: The Role of Eicosanoids in Regulating Capillary Perfusion and Vascular Insulin Resistance

Brett Fling, Ph.D., School of Medicine, Neurology

Primary Mentor: Fay Horak, Ph.D., P.T. Professor, School of Medicine, Neurology and Biomedical Engineering; Director of Balance Disorders Laboratory

Research Project: Neural mechanisms underlying freezing of gait resulting from Parkinsonism

Donald Sullivan, M.D., M.A., School of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Primary Mentor: Linda Ganzini, M.D., M.P.H., Professor, School of Medicine, Psychiatry and VA Medical Center

Research Project: Impact of Specialist Palliative Care on Outcomes in Advanced Stage Lung Cancer Patients

Scholars Awarded 2013

Kristen Mackiewicz Seghete, Ph.D., School of Medicine, Psychiatry

Primary Mentor: Bonnie Nagel, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience

Research Project: Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Inhibition in Trauma-exposed Adolescents


Scholars Awarded 2012

Laurie King, Ph.D., P.T., School of Medicine, Neurology
Primary Mentor: Fay Horak, Ph.D., P.T. Professor, School of Medicine, Neurology and Biomedical Engineering; Director of Balance Disorder's Laboratory

Research Project: 
Wearable Sensor to Detect Postural Instability in People After Concussion


Nicole Marshall, M.D., M.C.R., 
School of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Primary Mentor:  Kent Thornburg, Ph.D., M. Lowell Edwards Chair, Professor and Chief, School of Medicine, Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine; Biomedical Engineering and Physiology and Pharmacology

Research Project:
Maternal Body Composition Regulates Placental Function and Fetal Growth


Elie Traer, MD, PhD,
 School of Medicine, Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology
Primary Mentor: Brian Druker, MD, School of Medicine, Associate Dean for Oncology, JELD-WEN Chair of Leukemia Research; Director, Knight Cancer Institute

Research Project:
Extrinsic Mechanisms of Kinase Resistance

 
Scholars Awarded 2011

Andrea Debarber, Ph.D., School of Medicine, Medicine, Physiology and Pharmacology
Primary Mentor: Robert Steiner, M.D., Professor, School of Medicine, Pediatrics and Molecular and Medical Genetics

Research Project:
Newborn Screening for Cerebrotendinous Xanthomatosis: A Parardigm for Screening in Newborns with Bile Acide Synthesis Disorders.

 

Seth O'Neal, M.D., M.P.H., School of Medicine, Medicine, Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Primary Mentor:  William Lambert, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Research Project: Taenia Solium Infection Among Refugees from Burma


Scholar Awarded 2010

Eric Adler, M.D., School of Medicine, Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine (now at University of California, Davis)

Primary Mentor:  Markus Grompe, M.D. Professor, School of Medicine, Molecular and Medical Genetics

Research Project:
Identification of novel signatures of arrhythmia using induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes


Scholars Awarded 2008

Melissa Nyendak, M.D., M.H.S., School of Medicine, Medicine, Infectious Disease

Primary Mentor: David Lewinsohn, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Medicine, Medicine, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine  

Research Project: Definition of Human Immunodominant CD8 Antigens in Tuberculosis


Jessina McGregor, Ph.D.
, Oregon State University, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice

Primary Mentor: David H. Smith, Ph.D., M.H.A., R.Ph., Kaiser Permenente, Center for Health Research
 
Research Project:
Antimicrobial resistance surveillance to improve empiric therapy in  outpatients

 

Scholars Awarded 2007

Joshi Alumkal, M.D., School of Medicine, Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Prostate Research Program

Primary Mentors:  Tomasz Beer, M.D., Associate Professor, Director, Prostate Cancer Research, OHSU Cancer Institute; Grover C. Bagby, M.D., Professor, School of Medicine, Medicine and Medical and Molecular Genetics

Research Project: The Elucidation of Clinically Significant Mechanisms of Gene Silencing


Jessica Gregg, M.D.
, Ph.D., School of Medicine, Medicine, General Internal Medicine
Primary Mentor: Thomas Becker, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair, School of Medicine, Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Research Project: Health Beliefs, Level of Acculturation, and Pap Smear Use among Latinos from Mexico.


Anh Nguyen-Huynh, M.D.
, School of Medicine, Medicine, Otolaryngology

Primary Mentor: Peter Gillespie, Ph.D., Professor, School of Medicine, Otolaryngology and Cell Biology; Director, Neuroscience Graduate Program

Research Project: The Role of Endolymphatic Sac in the Pathophysiology of Meniere’s disease.