tl1 program

TL1 Participants

Learn more about the TL1 program through the experiences and achievements of past and present participants.

Testimonials

Henrietta Fasanya

“I have the opportunity to work with an engineering team and learn how mechanical engineers contribute to translational science. Through our project specifically, I’m learning about obtaining patents and understanding how, when, and in what direction you push projects forward for translational science.”

Leanne Dumeny

“The team aspect was particularly motivating for me. Working in a collaboration added a different blend to my work.”

Robert Eisinger

“It has opened opportunities and collaborations that I otherwise would not have pursued. The team-based approach is novel and enriching and by far the highlight of this program”

Current TL1 Trainees and Projects

A TL1 Team Approach to Peripheral Monocyte Changes as a Readout of CNS Disease

TL1 Trainee Team

Courtney Wilkinson, PhD Candidate
Phil Mackie, MD-PhD Candidate

Mentors

Lori Knackstedt, PhD 
Habibeh Khoshbouei, PhD

Description

Using our combined expertise, we will investigate the relationship between immune-brain communications in two complex neuropsychiatric disorders associated with alterations in dopamine transmission: Parkinson’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Questions or comments?

A TL1 Team Approach of the role parents play in physical activity engagement among adolescents with comorbid asthma and obesity

TL1 Trainee Team

Natalie Koskela-Staples, PhD Candidate 
Jacqlyn Yourell, PhD Candidate 

Mentors

David Fedele, PhD
Jennifer Doty, PhD

Description

Our project uses mixed methods to examine parent-level barriers to and facilitators of physical activity among adolescents with comorbid asthma and obesity. We will assess population-level, public health data to identify family-level risk factors and protective factors of physical activity and conduct semi-structured interviews with parents and adolescents to inform our quantitative findings.

Questions or comments?

Integrating Mathematical and Biological Models to Target Myeloid-Derived Immune-suppressive Cells in GBM

TL1 Trainee Team

Hannah Anderson, PhD Candidate 
Greg Takacs, PhD Candidate

Mentors

Libin Rong, PhD
Tracy (Wheeler) Stepien PhD
Jeffrey Harrison, PhD

Description

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a challenge for oncologists and current interventions are minimally effective; therefore, novel treatments need to be identified. As a team, we integrate mathematical biology and pre-clinical murine models of glioma to better understand how myeloid cell populations contribute to the immunosuppressive microenvironment that is characteristic of GBM. We specifically are focused on characterizing chemokine systems with the goal of translating our results into new therapeutic approaches for this malignant brain cancer. Independently, the Stepien/Rong labs specialize in mathematical biology with an emphasis on medicine and immunology, dynamical systems, numerical methods, and data analysis. The Harrison lab specializes in targeting glioma-immune cell interactions through the use of pre-clinical brain tumors models. Results generated from our mathematical and pre-clinical mouse models will be relevant to GBM but may also have implications in other solid cancers.

Questions or comments?

A TL1 Team approach to determine the influence of human gut microbial activities on cancer progression 

TL1 Trainee

Rachel Newsome, PhD Candidate 

Mentor

Christian Jobin, PhD

Description

The objective of our TL1 grant proposal is to determine the influence of human gut microbial activities on cancer progression and therapeutic efficacy in a novel system that enables the visualization of these complex interactions.

Questions or comments?

A TL1 team approach to investigate attention and learning at the intracranial network level and assess the effect different cognitive rehabilitation strategies have on measures of attention and learning

TL1 Trainee Team

Sarah Long, PhD Candidate 
Catherine Tocci, PhD Candidate

Mentors

Aysegul Gunduz, PhD
William Perlstein, PhD

Description

Our project aims to investigate the network level interactions of attention and learning during an attention network task (ANT) and an implicit learning contextual cueing (CC) task. Further, we will assess the effect attention rehabilitation strategies have on behavioral and neural responses pre/post-attentional intervention.

Below is a table of our current and previous TL1 program participants. If you have questions about the program, please contact Susan Gardner at sgard@ufl.edu.

Questions or comments?

A TL1 Team Approach on Predicting short-term and long-term effects of spinal cord stimulation

TL1 Trainee Team

Rachel Judy, PhD student
Kyle See,  PhD student

Mentors

Stephen Coombes, PhD
Ruogu Fang, PhD

Description

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an intervention for patients with chronic back pain. Technological advances have led to renewed optimism in the field, but mechanisms of action in the brain remain poorly understood. Our work will utilize traditional machine learning methods such as support vector machine and more complex models including deep learning to generate interpretable features within resting EEG signals. Through machine learning, we anticipate that SCS will have a significant effect on resting alpha and beta power in the sensorimotor cortex. Our collaborative project seeks to further the application of machine learning in cognitive neuroscience and allow us to better understand how therapies for chronic pain alter resting brain activity.

Questions or comments?

Relationships with Companion Animals and Older Adults Aging-in-Place: Facilitators and/or Barriers to Health and Well-Being

TL1 Trainee Team

Jennifer Applebaum, PhD Candidate
Carlyn Ellison, PhD Candidate

Mentors

Barbara Zsembik, PhD
Sherrilene Classen, PhD
Linda Struckmeyer, PhD

Description

Over 60% of U.S. households have companion animals (i.e., pets that live in the home and are cared for by the individual). The field of human-animal interaction has considered older adults extensively, but has focused primarily on the potential facilitators to health and well-being of animal companionship while neglecting the potential barriers that relationships with CAs may present in order to maintain independence while aging-in-place. The overall study design is sequential mixed methods providing the intentional analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data to sufficiently address study objectives. We will analyze data from a longitudinal, panel survey with a nationally representative sample of Americans aged 50 years and over. We will then conduct focus groups to explore underlying factors related to results from the quantitative phase. By addressing the ways that relationships with CAs can act as facilitators and/or barriers to the health and well-being of older adults who are aging-in-place, the proposed study will build upon existing research in the fields of human-animal interaction and aging-in-place to bring to light previously unaddressed and/or poorly understood phenomena and their underlying mechanisms that impact a large proportion of the aging population.

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Important documents

Travel and Expense Request

Purchase Request

CAS Exemption