Research Faculty & Staff

Vice Chair of Research

Michael Jacobs, PhDMichael A. Jacobs, PhDView Dr. Jacobs' Profile

Research Faculty

Shruti Agarwal PhDShruti Agarwal, PhDView Dr. Agarwal's Profile
Alireza Akhbardeh, PhDAlireza Akhbardeh, PhDView Dr. Akhbardeh's Profile
Khader Hasan, Ph.D.Khader M. Hasan, PhDView Dr. Hasan's Profile
Juan Herrera, PhDJuan J. Herrera, PhDView Dr. Herrera's Profile
Huang-ShuningShuning Huang, PhD, MSView Dr. Huang's Profile
Parekh-VishwaVishwa Parekh, MDView Dr. Parekh's Profile
Hongyu Wang, MD, PhDHongyu Wang, MD, PhDView Dr. Wang's Profile

Clinical Research Team

Usha Menon, PhD
Director of Operations and Clinical Research Compliance
Tel: 713-500-7701

*Primary point of contact for the Clinical Research Team
*Initial contact for all Grants and Contracts submissions involving Clinical Research
*Primary point of contact for Budget development and budget negotiation with all Sponsors
*Primary point of contact for DII Approvals for all studies across UTHealth involving research imaging
*Regulatory oversight
Nelly Arias
Manager, Grants & Contracts Specialist
Tel: 713-500-7678

*Assists Principal Investigator with pre- and post-award administration and coordination.
*Prepares financial and personnel reports for grants/contracts.
*Oversees grant/contract close-out and final reporting.
*Maintains inventory of assets purchased under grants/contracts.
Selwyn Chopin-Sanderson, MBA, MHA
Grants & Contracts Specialist
Tel: 713-500-8324

*Submission of START Grant Proposals and Contract Agreements
*CTSU Administrator for the Research Team
*Invoicing, PO Requests, Radiology Start-up fees collection
*Point of Contact after Grants and Contracts have been initiated
*Completes close-out of grants and contracts
*Website support
*Ordering and reimbursements
Lauren McGuire, RN
Sr. Research Nurse
Tel: 713-500-6274

*Primary point of contact for clinical aspects for Grants and Industry-sponsored studies
*Regulatory oversight, especially SAE/AE determinations and ICF preparation/finalization
*Support for DII Protocol Approvals for all studies across UTHealth involving research imaging
*Study Feasibility assessments
*Internal audits and training oversight
*Support on all open studies as needed
Claudia Henley, RN
Research Nurse
Tel: 713-704-9567

*Primary research nurse and coordinator for the open mammography trials
*Regulatory support, especially SAE/AE determinations and ICF preparation/finalization

Trinette Polydore, BBA
Regulatory Specialist
Tel: 713-500-7612

*Submission of all IRB applications
*Maintenance of regulatory binders including CITI training
*Routine maintenance on all prospective and retrospective studies in DII in iRIS
*Support on audits and website
*Study Closeout
Praneeth Nadimpalli, MS
Research Associate
Tel: 713-500-7683

*Primary research coordinator for the open trauma and interventional device trials
*Regulatory support, especially SAE/AE determinations
Cecily Gonzales
Research Coordinator I, Upper Kirby
713-500-7797

*Primary research coordinator for the open mammography trial at the U. Kirby site
*Regulatory support, especially SAE/AE determinations