Our Principal Investigators
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Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center brings together some of the brightest minds in science and medicine. It is home to experts in leading areas of research, including drug addiction, aging and Alzheimer’s disease, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Through Wake Forest Innovations, you can access the expertise of these leading researchers to advance your preclinical and clinical research projects.
Explore the search tabs below to discover the preclinical or clinical researcher that may be the right fit for your next project.To search through all Wake Forest Baptist faculty, explore the School of Medicine directory.
Our Experts
Martha Alexander-Miller, PhD
Alexander-Miller leads an established preclinical neonatal nursery dedicated to translations sciences, develops neonatal vaccines and investigates immune regulation.
Martha Alexander-Miller, PhD
Our Experts
Susan Appt, DVM
Section Head of Comparative Medicine and Director of Preclinical Translational Services, Appt investigates the influences of diet and reproductive hormones on chronic diseases affecting postmenopausal women.
Susan Appt, DVM
Our Experts
Jamy Ard, MD
Jamy Ard researches obesity treatment and weight loss strategies, including pharmaceutical, surgical and behavioral interventions.
Jamy Ard, MD
Our Experts
Anthony Atala, MD
Director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Atala oversees a team of researchers who develop cell therapies and engineer replacement tissues and organs.
Anthony Atala, MD
Our Experts
William Blackstock, MD
William Blackstock, Jr., MD, leads clinical trials investigating the radiotherapeutic management of gastrointestinal, pancreatic, lung and rectal cancers.
William Blackstock, MD
Our Experts
Richard Bloomfeld, MD
Director of the inflammatory bowel disease clinic, Bloomfeld leads clinical trials of biologic therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
Richard Bloomfeld, MD
Our Experts
J. Daniel Bourland, PhD
Leader of the Radiation Physics and Dosimetry Core, Bourland researches radiation physics and devises irradiation techniques and procedures for preclinical studies and clinical trials.
J. Daniel Bourland, PhD
Our Experts
Charles Branch, Jr., MD
Chair of the department of neurosurgery, Branch is a pioneer in spinal surgery who develops techniques and devices that transform the way clinicians perform spinal surgery.
Charles Branch, Jr., MD
Our Experts
Philip Brown, PhD
Brown designs and builds medical devices, studies biomechanics and surgical robotics, and uses 3-D printing to produce prototypes, research tools, and anatomical models.
Philip Brown, PhD
Our Experts
Mark Cline, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Cline studies the effects of therapeutic agents in preclinical models of cancer and women’s health, focusing on targeted immunotherapies, radiation exposure and hormonal effects on cancer risk.
Mark Cline, DVM, PhD, DACVP
Our Experts
Kerry Danelson, PhD
Kerry Danelson, PhD, conducts military safety and orthopaedic biomechanics testing to reduce and prevent injury.
Kerry Danelson, PhD
Our Experts
James Daunais, PhD
James Daunais, PhD, uses neuroimaging to study the effects of substance abuse on the nonhuman primate brain.
James Daunais, PhD
Our Experts
Waldemar Debinski, MD, PhD
Director of the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence, Debinski pioneers novel approaches to drug development and delivery to target malignant brain tumor cells.
Waldemar Debinski, MD, PhD
Our Experts
Heather DeLoid, DVM
Associate surgical research veterinarian in Preclinical Translational Services, DeLoid provides preclinical surgical services for medical device and diagnostics companies.
Heather DeLoid, DVM
Our Experts
Debra Diz, PhD
Director of the Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, Diz investigates neural and renal systems and blood pressure regulation and encourages research in cardiovascular disease.
Debra Diz, PhD
Our Experts
Pamela Duncan, PhD
Senior policy advisor for innovations and transitional outcomes, Duncan develops assessments to improve post-acute management and patient outcomes, particularly for stroke recovery.
Pamela Duncan, PhD
Our Experts
Steven Feldman, MD, PhD
Director of the Center for Dermatology Research, Feldman researches medical adherence and develops products for health care professionals to improve patient care and satisfaction.
Steven Feldman, MD, PhD
Our Experts
Adolfo “Fuzz” Fernandez, MD
Fernandez specializes in laparoscopic weight loss procedures and evaluates medical devices, surgical techniques and therapeutics that improve health and outcomes for obese patients.
Adolfo “Fuzz” Fernandez, MD
Our Experts
Daniel Clark Files, MD
Files conducts preclinical and clinical research in critical care, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, aging and muscle function.
Daniel Clark Files, MD
Our Experts
Barry Freedman, MD
Freedman studies genetic factors in kidney disease and other complex diseases and developed a diagnostic for the APOL1 gene for making decisions in patient care and kidney transplantation.
Barry Freedman, MD
Our Experts
Errin Fulp, PhD
Errin Fulp, PhD, works with national laboratories and a leading networking company to employ evolutionary and biological principles to advance security and configuration diversity.
Errin Fulp, PhD
Our Experts
Scott Gayzik, PhD
Gayzik creates and validates human body computational models that evaluate injury potential, vehicle design and safety, medical devices and other novel model validation approaches.
Scott Gayzik, PhD
Our Experts
William Gmeiner, PhD, MBA
Gmeiner creates novel compounds and drug delivery systems to treat cancer that are more effective and have less side effects that common chemotherapy drugs.
William Gmeiner, PhD, MBA
Our Experts
Metin Gurcan, PhD
Metin Gurcan, director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics, researches new technologies to improve cancer detection and diagnosis.
Metin Gurcan, PhD
Our Experts
Adam Hall, PhD
Specializing in basic and applied nanobiotechnology, Hall develops nanotechnology-based medical applications to improve disease identification, prevention and treatment.
Adam Hall, PhD
Our Experts
Samuel Deadwyler, PhD, and Robert Hampson, PhD
Deadwyler and Hampson develop animal models and neural prosthetics to study memory, behavior and cognition in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex.
Samuel Deadwyler, PhD, and Robert Hampson, PhD
Our Experts
David Herrington, MD, MHS
David Herrington, MD, MHS, studies the pathogenesis and prevention of atherosclerosis and identifies the genetic determinants of premature heart disease
David Herrington, MD, MHS
Our Experts
Clifford Howard, Jr., MD
Howard specializes in minimally invasive spinal procedures and develops radiologic interventions and stent technologies to improve the efficacy and safety of surgical procedures.
Clifford Howard, Jr., MD
Our Experts
James Jordan, PhD
Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Center, Jordan executes cardiovascular-related translational studies and develops cardiovascular solutions for immediate clinical needs.
James Jordan, PhD
Our Experts
Matthew Jorgensen, PhD
Jorgensen manages nonhuman primate colonies at Wake Forest School of Medicine’s Clarkson Campus, supporting research in immunology, vaccine development, diabetes and metabolism.
Matthew Jorgensen, PhD
Our Experts
Kylie Kavanagh, DVM, MS, MPH
Kavanagh conducts translational research in comparative and molecular medicine, specializing in aging, diabetes, obesity, nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NASH) and nutrition.
Kylie Kavanagh, DVM, MS, MPH
Our Experts
Mei-Chuan Ko, PhD
Ko develops nonhuman primate models to study pain and itch sensations, as well as evaluate the efficacy of various therapeutics and characterize side effect profiles therapeutics.
Mei-Chuan Ko, PhD
Our Experts
L. Andrew Koman, MD
L. Andrew Koman, MD, pioneered the use of botulinum toxin injections for cerebral palsy spasticity management and neuromuscular uses, like plantar fasciitis.
L. Andrew Koman, MD
Our Experts
Frederick Kremkau, PhD
Director and co-founder of the Program for Medical Ultrasound, Kremkau leads both industry-specific and student and professional continuing medical educational programs worldwide.
Frederick Kremkau, PhD
Our Experts
Gregory Kucera, PhD
Director of the Tumor Tissue Core, Kucera researches lipid metabolism and develops therapeutics for the treatment of cancers, as well as assessing anticancer and antiviral therapeutics.
Gregory Kucera, PhD
Our Experts
Nicole Levi, PhD
Levi develops electrically conductive polymer nanoparticles and other polymer materials to treat cancer and other diseases, as well as for device applications.
Nicole Levi, PhD
Our Experts
Zhongyu Li, MD
Li invents extremity fixation devices, improves instrumentation design and researches alternative approaches to enhance upper extremity functional recovery.
Zhongyu Li, MD
Our Experts
Hui-Kuan Lin, PhD
Director of the Prostate Cancer Center of Excellence, Lin studies genetic interactions and oncogenic and tumor suppressor networks, developing small molecule inhibitors and cancer therapies.
Hui-Kuan Lin, PhD
Our Experts
Todd Lowther, PhD
Lowther develops therapeutic agents to prevent and treat disease, with a primary focus on hyperoxaluria and kidney stone formation, as well as prostate cancer and mesothelioma.
Todd Lowther, PhD
Our Experts
Francis Luk, MD
Francis Luk leads clinical trials to evaluate new and existing medications and treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.
Francis Luk, MD
Our Experts
Giselle Meléndez, MD
Giselle Meléndez, MD, researches cardiovascular side effects induced by chemotherapeutics frequently to treat cancer.
Giselle Meléndez, MD
Our Experts
Lance Miller, PhD
Co-director of the Cancer Genomics Core, Miller specializes in cancer research and functional genomics of cancer, focusing primarily on aggressive forms of breast cancer.
Lance Miller, PhD
Our Experts
Majid Mirzazadeh, MD
Mirzazadeh researches urinary tract infections, device development and regenerative medicine, focusing on female incontinence, pelvic reconstruction surgeries and bladder and kidney cancer.
Majid Mirzazadeh, MD
Our Experts
Michael Nader, PhD
Director of the Nonhuman Primate Imaging of Behavior Program, Nader investigates drug addiction in self-administering nonhuman primates, focusing on cocaine abuse.
Michael Nader, PhD
Our Experts
Joshua Nitsche, MD, PhD
Assistant residency director for simulation, Nitsche practices maternal-fetal medicine and develops innovative training devices for ultrasound guidance and other high-risk pregnancy procedures.
Joshua Nitsche, MD, PhD
Our Experts
Timothy Pardee, MD, PhD
Director of leukemia translational research, Pardee partners with industry to conduct preclinical research and clinical trials in hematology and oncology, specializing in leukemia.
Timothy Pardee, MD, PhD
Our Experts
Fred Perrino, PhD
Fred Perrino discovered that dysfunction in the TREX1 pathway causes autoimmune disorders, while inhibiting the gene’s function may stimulate the immune system to fight cancer.
Fred Perrino, PhD
Our Experts
Elaheh Rahbar, PhD
Rahbar investigates hemorrhagic shock, traumatic brain injury and resuscitation, partnering with industry to develop therapies and medical devices to improve trauma care.
Elaheh Rahbar, PhD
Our Experts
Sean Rudnick, MD
Sean Rudnick, MD, is an expert in the diagnosis, management and treatment of liver diseases including liver transplant.
Sean Rudnick, MD
Our Experts
Hossam Shaltout, PhD
Hossam Shaltout researches the role of the brain in blood pressure regulation and conducts autonomic function assessments to identify markers of disease.
Hossam Shaltout, PhD
Our Experts
Ravi Singh, PhD
Ravi Singh develops nanotechnology-based therapeutics, including carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles, for cancer diagnosis, treatment and monitoring.
Ravi Singh, PhD
Our Experts
Kiran Solingapuram Sai, PhD
Solingapuram Sai develops and evaluates preclinical and clinical radioactive tracers and positron-based radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic imaging and disease treatment.
Kiran Solingapuram Sai, PhD
Our Experts
David Soto-Pantoja, PhD
David Soto-Pantoja, PhD, investigates CD47 as a cancer immunotherapy for breast, lung, head and neck cancers, and melanoma.
David Soto-Pantoja, PhD
Our Experts
Joel Stitzel, PhD
Leader of the joint Virginia Tech – Wake Forest Center for Injury Biomechanics, Stitzel researches computational modeling, injury biomechanics and automotive safety.
Joel Stitzel, PhD
Our Experts
Timo Thonhauser, PhD
Prof. Thonhauser's group conducts research in theoretical and computational condensed-matter physics and materials science with a focus on the development of ab-initio electronic-structure methods and their application to bio-, nano- and energy-related materials.
Timo Thonhauser, PhD
Our Experts
Vidula Tushar Vachharajani, MD
Vidula Tushar Vachharajani, MD, studies the effect of obesity on sepsis and microvascular inflammation.
Vidula Tushar Vachharajani, MD
Our Experts
Pierre-Alexandre Vidi, PhD
Pierre-Alexandre Vidi, PhD, uses three-dimensional cell culture models to study breast cancer initiation mechanisms.
Pierre-Alexandre Vidi, PhD
Our Experts
Thaddeus Wadas, PhD
Wadas creates radiopharmaceuticals for use in diagnostic imaging and cancer therapy, including a unique approach for producing radiolabeled contrast agents for positron emission tomography.
Thaddeus Wadas, PhD
Our Experts
Francis Walker, MD
Francis Walker works with patients to help advance the field of electromyography, using neuromuscular ultrasound to diagnose common nerve and muscle disorders.
Francis Walker, MD
Our Experts
Ashley Weaver, PhD
Weaver uses computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and finite element modeling to develop anatomical models that predict injury and evaluate and develop medical devices.
Ashley Weaver, PhD
Our Experts
Rebecca Wells, MD, MPH
Associate director of clinical research at the Center for Integrative Medicine, Wells researches mind-body interventions for migraine, headache and stress relief.
Rebecca Wells, MD, MPH
Our Experts
Christopher Whitlow, MD, PhD
Whitlow uses innovative imaging approaches to study the longitudinal effects of aging, trauma and disease on brain mechanics, development and cognition.
Christopher Whitlow, MD, PhD
Our Experts
Jeffrey Willey, PhD
Willey researches radiation-induced musculoskeletal injury and develops approaches to prevent bone loss and fractures in cancer treatment and long duration space flight.
Jeffrey Willey, PhD
Our Experts
Derek Williams, DO
Derek Williams is passionate about developing treatments and methods specific to the pediatric population and believes there is considerable opportunity in the pediatric space for companies devoted to serving that group.
Derek Williams, DO
Our Experts
Hariom Yadav, PhD
Hariom Yadav explores interactions among diet, the gut microbiome and aging-related diseases including diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular diseases.
Hariom Yadav, PhD
Our Experts
David Zhao, MD, PhD
Chief of cardiovascular medicine, Zhao is a pioneer in cardiovascular translational research focused on hybrid coronary revascularization, valve repair and stem cell cardiac therapy.
David Zhao, MD, PhD