Speaker Biosketches

Presentation Title: "Targeting the gut to improve brain health after ischemic stroke"

Farida Sohrabji is Regents Professor and Head of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, where she holds the John and Maurine Cox Endowed Chair at Texas A&M University. She obtained her doctoral degree from the University of Rochester (NY), with post-doctoral training at Columbia University (NY).

Dr. Sohrabji directs a federally funded preclinical research program that focuses on the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke, a leading risk factor for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementia; and developing novel treatments for this devastating disease. Her lab was the first to show that estrogen treatment to older acyclic females was not neuroprotective for stroke. These studies accurately anticipated the Women’s Health Initiative studies and set off a series of studies to identify stroke neuroprotectants that would be effective in this older female population. Subsequently, her lab is one of a small number of labs that has shown that stroke neuroprotectants may be effective in only one sex. In view of the translational failures in stroke, these findings are critical for the design of preclinical studies and underscores the importance of Sex as a Biological Variable. Recent research in her lab focuses on the role of the gut microbiome, gut metabolites and gut permeability after stroke.

Dr. Sohrabji is University Distinguished Professor, a Fellow of the American Heart Association (Stroke Council) and the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society. She is Founder and Director of the Women’s Health in Neuroscience Program and a strong advocate for the inclusion of gender/sex differences in biomedical research. She was a member of the Advisory Council of the Office of Research on Women’s Health and recently served on the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine writing group for Chronic Conditions in Women (published in 2024). Recent honors include ​​​​Outstanding Research Award from the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society 2024 and ​​​​​​​Association of Former Students 2024 Distinguished Achievement Award in Research. 

Presentation Talk: "Neurovascular Insights into the Aging Brain & Development of Alzheimer’s Disease"

Erik J. Behringer, PhD, is a professor of pharmacology in the Department of Basic Sciences of Loma Linda University (LLU). He obtained his PhD degree from LLU under the mentorship of Dr. John N. Buchholz and moved on for postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Steven S. Segal in the Department of Medical Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Missouri. As a result, he has gained distinguished expertise in neuroscience and cardiovascular physiology, particularly with respect to aging and the development of chronic diseases. Thus far, Dr. Behringer’s academic experience has encompassed 33 peer-reviewed publications in impactful journals (e.g., Circulation Research, Journal of Physiology, Journal of Gerontology), 35 national & international conference abstracts, and acquisition of 5 competitive National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding mechanisms (F32, T32, K99/R00, R56, & R01). In addition, he has served on 42 grant study sections across the NIH, American Heart Association, National Science Centre (Poland), and Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council (Canada) that evaluate trainee career development and established investigator awards; and as an editor/reviewer for 75 national & international journals (e.g., American Journal of Physiology, British Journal of Pharmacology, Frontiers in Physiology). 

Presentation Title: "Hormones, Stress, and the Teenage Brain: Understanding Sex Differences in Eating Behavior and Obesity Risk"

Johnny D. Figueroa, PhD, is an associate professor of neuroscience at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and a principal investigator at the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine and Basic Sciences Department. His research explores how early life adversity influences brain and hormonal systems, leading to sex differences in eating behaviors and obesity risk.

Dr. Figueroa heads the Fig NeuroLab, where his team investigates how the gut–brain–microbiome axis, neuroendocrine responses, and stress during adolescence affect vulnerability to binge eating and metabolic disease. By combining animal models with human studies, his work aims to identify biological pathways that explain why males and females can be differently impacted by trauma and stress — and how this knowledge can help develop more personalized prevention and treatment strategies.

As a first-generation scientist, Dr. Figueroa is also committed to mentoring students and increasing opportunities in biomedical research. The National Institutes of Health support his work.

Presentation Title: Sterile inflammation and cardiovascular complications during pregnancy

Nataliia Hula, PhD, earned her undergraduate degree in Biology and Master`s degree in Human and Animal Physiology at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Kyiv, Ukraine). Afterwards, she joined the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine (Kyiv, Ukraine) as a junior researcher and was involved in projects investigating the effects of diabetes on pulmonary circulation and hemodynamic effects of the liposomal drugs in replenishment of acute massive hemorrhage under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Khromov. Later she entered the PhD program in Physiology at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Under the supervision of Dr. Sandra Davidge, she investigated the effects of prenatal hypoxia on cardiac and coronary artery function of the offspring in adult life. Afterwards, she joined Dr. Goulopoulou’s group in Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology at Loma Linda University as a Postdoctoral Fellow. She is particularly interested in maternal health during complicated pregnancies. Mainly, her current project is focused on understanding the effects of sterile inflammation during pregnancy on maternal cardiovascular complications and health.

Honors and awards: Upon joining Dr. Goulopoulou’s lab in Lawrence D. Longo MD Center for Perinatal Biology, Nataliia was awarded with American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowship (AHA 24POST1198395) and also was invited to present her research project at Scientific Sessions during an AHA Early Innovators Spotlight oral session in Chicago, IL, USA.  She was recently selected for Society of Reproductive Investigations (SRI) President`s Presenter`s Award at the 72^nd Annual Scientific Meeting in Charlotte, NC, USA. 

Presentation Title: “Heterogeneity of estrogen response across the hypothalamus."

J. Ed van Veen, PhD, is an adjunct associate professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at UCLA. His research focuses on molecular and computational neuroendocrinology, examining how estrogens and other steroid hormones regulate physiology through hypothalamic circuits that integrate reproductive and metabolic states. By developing novel imaging approaches and computational pipelines to study hormone sensitivity in vivo and in vitro, his laboratory aims to uncover mechanisms governing energy balance, thermoregulation, and women’s health, with emerging directions in hormone-related diseases and cancer biology.

Networking for Career Success

Ryan Fuller is an assistant professor of biological sciences at California Baptist University (CBU), serving as a teacher for various classes and a cancer researcher. An alumnus of both institutions, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical Studies from CBU and his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Loma Linda University Medical Center. His doctoral research focused on the role of miRNAs and alternative splicing in the chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer.

Ryan’s current research focuses on identifying non-coding RNAs in pancreatic cancer to be used as biomarkers for disease presence and as modulators of pro-tumor immune regulation. He utilizes a range of technologies, including biochemistry, bioinformatics, and exosome technology, to explore effective clinical strategies for cancer management. In the classroom, Ryan primarily teaches anatomy and physiology to undergraduate biology students and research techniques and statistics courses to biomedical graduate students.

His career goals are twofold: to advance the scientific understanding of cancer biology and to communicate complex scientific concepts to the next generation of aspiring professionals and students. Beyond his work in the lab, Ryan Fuller is dedicated to training and inspiring students both in the classroom at CBU and through his continued cancer research.

Building a Competitive and Effective Curriculum Vitae

Carlos A. Casiano, PhD, is a tenured professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at Loma Linda University (LLU) School of Medicine and associate director of the Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine. He completed his PhD at the University of California-Davis, followed by postdoctoral training on autoimmunity, cell death and cancer at The Scripps Research Institute-La Jolla under Dr. Eng M. Tan. He currently leads an NIH-funded research program on the interplay between autoimmunity and cancer, with focus on the immunobiology of the LEDGF/DFS70 and Enolase autoantigens. Dr. Casiano has mentored over 70 research trainees at various academic levels and has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals and books. He has been invited speaker at numerous national and international venues and currently serves as member of the International Advisory Committee of the Dresden Symposium on Autoantibodies, held every other year in Germany. Dr. Casiano has also served as grant reviewer for numerous organizations, including the NIH and the DOD, and peer reviewer for dozens of international biomedical journals. He has received several awards, including the LLU Carroll Small Faculty Development Award, LLU Hispanic Alumni Community Service Award, American Association for Cancer Research Minorities in Cancer Research Award, LLU School of Medicine Mentor of the Year Award, LLU School of Medicine Distinguished Service Award, and LLU Distinguished Investigator Award.

How to Prepare a Strong Resume for Non-Academic Positions

Paul A. Vallejos, PHD.  is a senior medical science liaison at Foundation Medicine, where he leads field medical strategy and scientific engagement across Southern California and Hawaii. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Arizona State University and went on to receive his Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from Loma Linda University School of Medicine.

Dr. Vallejos began his career as a clinical trial analyst, supporting research operations and feasibility assessments for oncology studies. He later transitioned into research and development as a scientist at a biotechnology start-up, where he contributed to multiple projects spanning medical and regulatory affairs, and was awarded two patents for his innovations. His passion for bridging science and patient care ultimately led him to the role of Medical Science Liaison, where he has since advanced to a senior leadership position.

In his current role at Foundation Medicine, Dr. Vallejos partners with oncologists, researchers, and healthcare leaders to expand education and awareness of comprehensive genomic profiling. His work focuses on supporting precision medicine in oncology and fostering collaborations that bring cutting-edge science into clinical practice.