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Dr. Sue Anne Chew, Ph.D.
Dr. Sue Anne Chew is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences where she teaches in the BS in Biomedical Sciences (BMED) program. She obtained a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in Bioengineering from Rice University. Her research focuses on the development of biomaterial-based strategies encompassing cells and/or bioactive factors for bone tissue engineering and the treatment of cancer. Besides conducting her biomedical science research, she is also interested in investigating the benefits of undergraduate research experiences on student success. She is very passionate about getting students involved in research starting at the high school and undergraduate level.
Dr. Sue Anne Chew Faculty Profile
Dr. Alejandra Fernandez, Ph.D.
Dr. Alejandra Fernandez is a neuroscientist specializing in developmental biology and cell signaling. She obtained her PhD at George Washington University, in Washington DC, and did her postdoctoral work at Oregon Health and Science University. Research in Dr. Fernandez’s lab focuses on understanding the development of sensory circuits and how alterations during circuit formation can contribute to disease mechanisms. The lab uses a variety of techniques ranging from tissue culture and live imaging to transcriptomics and modeling with the objective of understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying sensory phenotypes in the context of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Dr. Alejandra Fernandez Faculty Profile
Dr. Tracia Forman, Ph.D., RN, NI-BC, CNE
Dr. Tracia Forman’s research is centered in the field of health informatics. It addresses the growing demand for professionals equipped to transform healthcare delivery challenges into informatics-driven solutions, reflecting the evolving landscape of healthcare technology and data use. In addition, she explores best practices in online education, driven by a commitment to better understand how students learn in virtual environments. This line of inquiry supports continuous improvement in teaching strategies and student engagement.
Dr. Tracia Forman Faculty Profile
Dr. Suad Ghaddar, MBA, Ph.D.
Dr. Suad Ghaddar is Associate Professor in the Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences and Director of Faculty Research Development at UTRGV’s College of Health Professions. She holds degrees from the American University of Beirut (BBA, MBA) and The University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA) (PhD). Previous appointments include Director of the South Texas Border Health Disparities Center (UTPA) and Research Associate at the Center for Border Economic Studies (UTPA). Dr. Ghaddar has expertise in leading faculty research training programs, engaging in high level strategic planning initiatives, developing innovative educational vehicles that engage students in experiential research opportunities, and conducting health disparities research that aims to understand and address the health inequities facing Texas-Mexico border communities. An integral part of Dr. Ghaddar’s work is community-based and is guided by the core values and principles of community-engaged scholarship.
Over the past 20 years, Dr. Ghaddar’s research has focused on health disparities along the Texas-Mexico border communities. That research includes (1) understanding the health literacy of different segments of the US-Mexico border population, including mental health literacy; (2) the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in vulnerable communities in the context of health insurance literacy; (3) the adoption of health information technology in disadvantaged communities; and (4) innovative educational approaches to further awareness of the social determinants of health and population health equity issues through course-based undergraduate research experiences.
Alejandro Lopez-Juarez, Ph.D.
I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)-Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences (BMED). As a neuroscientist, I am fascinated by the cellular and molecular mechanisms controlling behavior in health and disease. My research is focused on the function of glial cells – the generic cell type occupying most of the brain mass - and their interaction with other brain cell types. I use a combination of genetic, molecular, biochemical, imaging, and bioinformatic tools to understand brain function in vivo. My main model of study is the mouse, as it allows us to mimic genetic disorders and/or recapitulate symptoms of human neurological diseases.
Alejandro Lopez Faculty Profile
Dr. Abijeet Singh Mehta, Ph.D.
Dr. Abijeet Singh Mehta’s research bridges molecular biology and biomedical engineering to design next-generation bioelectronic platforms that monitor and modulate biological systems. His lab at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley focuses on developing conductive biohybrid constructs to promote neural and tissue repair and electrochemical biosensors for real-time detection of biomarkers in cancer and regeneration. Integrating principles of neuroengineering, bioelectronics, and regenerative medicine, his work aims to create closed-loop sensing and therapeutic systems that restore function, decode disease processes, and inspire novel precision interventions.
Dr. Abijeet Singh Faculty Profile
Dr. Saraswathy Nair, Ph.D.
Dr. Saraswathy Nair is a cell and molecular biologist who received her Ph.D. at SUNY at Buffalo and post-doctoral training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She has been investigating the molecular and cellular basis of obesity and Type 2 diabetes since 2001, first in Pima Indians at NIDDK, NIH, Phoenix and since 2006 in Mexican Americans and cell culture model systems at UT, Brownsville and currently at UTRGV.
Dr. Sarawathy Nair Faculty Profile
Dr. Upal Roy, Ph.D.
Dr. Upal Roy’s research interests include HIV-1 Infection, drug development and delivery, Therapeutics, and Nanomedicine. He has a long-standing interest in biological characterization of the drug for its therapeutic potential in HIV infection. In this regard, he has developed several unique humanized mouse models to reproduce the human immune system and developed several delivery platforms for targeted drug delivery. His work has always been very multidisciplinary and collaborative. The goal of his research is to develop a next-generation therapy for people living with HIV and neurological disorders.
Dr. Upal Roy's Research Interests
Dr. Nurul Sulimai, DVM, Ph.D.
Dr. Nurul Sulimai is a veterinary scientist and neurotrauma researcher focused on the cardiovascular effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). She earned her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from University Putra Malaysia and completed her Ph.D. at Purdue University, where she studied slow-release opioid analgesia with biomaterials. She did postdoctoral research at the University of Virginia on spinal degeneration before shifting to neurotrauma research at the University of South Florida, where she explored the role of fibrinogen in TBI. Her current research at UTRGV uses in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo methods to understand how TBI causes vascular dysfunction and raises long-term cardiovascular risk, and to develop strategies to prevent or treat these complications. She is an active member of the National Neurotrauma Society and advocates for the professional growth of student and early-career scientists.
Dr. Chun Xu, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D.
Dr. Chun Xu earned her MD in Medicine, Master’s degree in Cancer Genetics, and PhD in Neurology. She has held academic and research appointments at the University of Toronto, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV).
Scholarly achievements: Dr. Xu leads clinical and translational research exploring the impact of cultural values, lifestyle, and genetics on complex human traits, such as healthy aging, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD), and their comorbidities, with a focus on the Hispanic/Latino population in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). In addition, her team investigates lifestyle, social, and genetic factors underlying ADRD and other complex disorders using data from the All of Us Research Program.
Her research findings have been published and presented at numerous international conferences, and she has authored over 85 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, including articles in high-impact journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Biological Psychiatry, and PLOS ONE