Research Projects & Grants

Federal

  • Improving quality of life after diagnosis and treatment, Role: Investigator, National Cancer Institute/NIH/DHHS, (10/2019 - 10/2020) Status: Completed
  • Plant-based diets and risk of cancer, Role: Assistant Professor, National Institutes of Health/DHHS, (09/2011 - 08/2017) Status: Closed

Internal

  • Comparison of DNA methylation profiles in leukocytes, prostate cancer tissues and adjacent normal prostate tissues among vegans and non-vegetarians, Role: PI, LLU Center for Community Resilience, (01/2025 - 01/2026) Status: Approved
  • Health Impacts and Work Performance in Pathology Workforce During Merger & Acquisition (M&A), Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Nutrition, Healthy Lifestyles, and Disease Prevention, (12/2022 - 01/2024) Status: Completed
  • Black Women’s Journey to Leadership Positions in Healthcare, Role: PI, LLU Center for Community Resilience, (08/2022) Status: Approved
  • Biomarkers of Oral Carcinogenesis and Oral Cancer Pain, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, (07/2020) Status: Approved
  • Staging radiographic development of third molars with the modified Demirjian method to estimate chronological age in California Hispanics, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatric Dentistry, (09/2019) Status: Approved
  • Comparison of DNA methylation profiles in leukocytes, prostate cancer tissues and adjacent prostate tissues among vegans and non-vegetarians, Role: PD/PI, LLU - GRASP, (01/2018 - 12/2025) Status: Awarded
  • Bridging the Gap: Sexual Health Education as STI Prevention for Older Adults, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (12/2024) Status: Approved
  • Strengthening Intersectoral Collaboration to Improve Complementary Feeding Policies and Practices in Nigeria, Role: PI, LLU Institute for Health Policy and Leadership, (04/2025) Status: Approved

Non-Profit Organization

  • Egg intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in older people with hyperlipidemia of different meat consumption levels, Role: PI, Egg Nutrition Center, (03/2023) Status: Approved
  • Egg intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in older people with hyperlipidemia on different meat consumption levels, Role: PD/PI, American Egg Board, (12/2022 - 06/2025) Status: Awarded
  • Egg intake and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in the AHS-2 cohort linked with Medicare data, Role: Investigator, Egg Nutrition Center, (11/2021) Status: Approved
  • Egg Intake and The Incidence of Alzheimer's Disease in the AHS-2 Cohort Linked with Medicare Data, Role: Co-Investigator, American Egg Board, (11/2020 - 12/2025) Status: Awarded

Other Research

  • ENC Research Grant Title: Egg intake and risk of cardiovascular disease in older people with hyperlipidemia on different meat consumption levels Role: Principal Investigator The goal of this study is to assess if egg consumption is associated with the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, independent of meat intake among those with hyperlipidemia. (11/2022 - Present)
  • ENC Research Grant Title: Egg intake and the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in the AHS-2 cohort linked with Medicare data Role: Co-Investigator The Goal of thsi study is to determine if egg consumption is associated with the incidence of Alzheimer's disease or dementia in the elderlhy participants in the Medicare data linked to the Adventist Health Study-2. (11/2020 - Present)
  • Grants for Research and School Partnerships (GRASP) Award Title: Comparison of DNA methylation profiles in leukocytes, prostate cancer tissue and adjacent prostate tissues among vegans and non-vegetarians Role: Co-Principal Investigator Using the experiences gained from the pilot study, we are collecting prostate cancer tissue samples from vegans and non-vegetarians among Whites in Adventist Health Study-2.  The purpose is to compare DNA methylation patterns in prostate cancer tissues and adjacent normal prostate tissues for vegans and non-vegetarians. (04/2018 - Present)
  • NIH-National Cancer Institute Project Supplement: Plant-Based Diet and Risk of Cancer Role: Co-Investogator  This project was to develop methods for as well as collecting cancer tissue among Black cancer survivors in the Adventist Health Study-2.  This study is still ongoing and being financed from in-house sources. (09/2015 - Present)