IMPROVING
ROBERT STEMPEL COLLEGE OF
BLIC HEALTH & SOCIAL WORK
DEAN’S MESSAGE
DEAR COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS,
This year, we proudly celebrate Florida International University’s designation as a Preeminent State Research University, a prestigious honor awarded by the Florida Board of Governors. This recognition reflects our outstanding work across student success, research and top national rankings. As the youngest university to receive this distinction, I am proud that our FIU embodies a community that is forward-thinking, innovative and unstoppable. I am also delighted to share that our university—for the first time in its history—now ranks in the Top 50 public universities in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
We’ve had tremendous wins to celebrate, and some remarkable achievements are happening right here at the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. Dr. Wasim Maziak, professor of epidemiology, was named distinguished university professor at our FIU—his research on e-cigarette use is helping to test warning labels and addiction reduction strategies.
From our Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Ph.D. candidate Gabriela Proaño Caicedo, with support from Dr. Cristina Palacios, chair and professor of dietetics and nutrition, published a paper in the prestigious The Lancet Regional Health-Americas, exploring the effectiveness of national obesity prevention strategies in Colombia.
This year, our researchers also made news waves after their study was published in Nature Medicine. Led by Dr. Diana Azzam, cancer researcher and assistant professor of environmental health sciences, the team’s work garnered widespread media coverage, from Good Morning America to the New Scientist, offering renewed hope to children with relapsed cancers.
At FIU Stempel College, we know how critical it is for our students to get experience in communicating their work to diverse audiences. During our Spring semester, we hosted an exciting competition at our college’s Research Day, encouraging graduate students to present their research across the areas of public health, social work, and dietetics and nutrition. Our students walked away winning first, second and third place awards.
This fall, we also hosted our Global Health Conference of the Americas. This annual event is one of my favorites to attend as it brings together experts from all over the world to discuss the health challenges of today, and to explore possible solutions.
All of this and more can be found in this year’s Impact Report. I hope you enjoy the latest and greatest from our college.
With gratitude,
Dean,
Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work Professor, Department of Environmental Health Sciences Professor, Cognitive Neuroscience & Imaging Director, Brain, Behavior & the Environment
FIU STEMPEL COLLEGE: IN NUMBERS
RANKINGS
ENROLLMENT FALL 2024
ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES
Public
Generalist
Dietetics
80% of bachelor’s or master’s graduates were employed or continuing their education within one year of graduation
95% of Ph.D. graduates were employed within one year of graduation
Center for Research on U.S. Latino HIV/AIDS and Drug Abuse (CRUSADA)
IN NUMBERS AFFILIATED RESEARCH CENTERS
Center for Statistical Consulting and Collaboration (FIU-STATCONSULT)
Community-Based Research Institute (CBRI)
Global Health Consortium (GHC)
RESEARCH FOCUS AREAS
Brain, Behavior and the Environment
Cancer
Child Welfare
Health Disparities
HIV/AIDS
Mental Health
Neurological Diseases
Obesity
Substance Abuse and Tobacco-Related Diseases
WE ARE DEDICATED TO UNCOVERING GROUNDBREAKING DISCOVERIES THAT IMPROVE HEALTH AND POSITIVELY IMPACT LIVES.
This year, FIU Stempel College climbed three spots and now ranks No. 12 among public schools of public health receiving National Institutes of Health funding, according to The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research.
53 tenured or tenure-track faculty
45%
Proposal success rate of grant applications (NIH national average success rate is < 21.3% for RPG and 21.7% for R01 equivalent during FY2023)
$25.4M in award actions FY2023-2024
MITOCHONDRIA KEEP YOUR BRAIN CELLS ALIVE − HELPING THEM RUN SMOOTHLY MAY PROTECT AGAINST PARKINSON’S DISEASE
Written by Dr. Rebecca Zhangqiuzi Fan, post-doctoral research associate in environmental health sciences, and Dr. Kim Tieu, professor of environmental health sciences
In 1817, a British physician named James Parkinson published An Essay on the Shaking Palsy, describing for the first time cases of a neurodegenerative disorder now known as Parkinson’s disease.
Today, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the U.S. It affects about 1 million Americans and more than 10 million people worldwide.
The signature shaking in patients with the disease is the result of dying brain cells that control movement. To date, there are no treatments available that can stop or slow down the death of those cells.
We are researchers who study Parkinson’s disease. For over a decade, our lab has been investigating the role that mitochondria – the powerhouses that fuel cells – play in Parkinson’s.
Our research has identified a key protein that could lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other brain conditions.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
MITOCHONDRIAL DYNAMICS AND NEURODEGENERATION
Unlike actual power plants, which are set in size and location, mitochondria are rather dynamic. They constantly shift in size, number and location, traveling between many different parts of the cells to meet different demands. These mitochondrial dynamics are vital to not only the function of mitochondria but also the health of cells overall.
A cell is like a factory. Multiple departments must seamlessly work together for smooth operations. Because many major processes interconnect, impaired mitochondrial dynamics could cause a domino effect across departments and vice versa. Collective malfunction in different parts of the cell eventually leads to cell death.
Emerging studies have linked imbalances in mitochondrial processes to different neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. In many neurodegenerative disorders, certain disease-related factors, such as toxic proteins and environmental neurotoxins, disrupt the harmony of mitochondrial fusion and division.
Impaired mitochondrial dynamics also take down the cell’s cleaning and waste recycling processes, leading to a pileup of toxic proteins that form harmful aggregates inside the cell. In Parkinson’s, the presence of these toxic protein aggregates is a hallmark of the disease.
TARGETING MITOCHONDRIA TO TREAT PARKINSON’S
Our team hypothesized that restoring mitochondrial function by manipulating its own dynamics could protect against neuronal dysfunction and cell death.
In an effort to restore mitochondrial function in Parkinson’s, we targeted a key protein that controls mitochondrial dynamics called dynamin-related protein 1, or Drp1. Naturally abundant in cells, this protein travels to mitochondria when they divide into smaller sizes for higher mobility and quality control. However, too much Drp1 activity causes excessive division, leading to fragmented mitochondria with impaired function.
Using different lab models of Parkinson’s, including neuronal cell cultures and rat and mice models, we found that the presence of environmental toxins and toxic proteins linked to Parkinson’s cause mitochondria to become fragmented and dysfunctional. Their presence also coincided with the buildup of those same toxic proteins, worsening the health of neuronal cells until they eventually started dying.
We also observed behavior changes in rats that impaired their movements. By reducing the activity of Drp1, however, we were able to restore mitochondria to their normal activity and function. Their neurons were protected from disease and able to continue functioning.
Image of neuronal cells. The mitochondria cells are in red, and the nuclei of the cells are in blue.
In our 2024 study, we found an additional benefit of targeting Drp1.
We exposed neuronal cells to manganese, a heavy metal linked to neurodegeneration and an increased risk of parkinsonism. Surprisingly, we found that manganese was more harmful to the cell’s waste recycling system than to its mitochondria, causing buildup of toxic proteins before mitochondria became dysfunctional. Inhibiting Drp1, however, coaxed the waste recycling system back into action, cleaning up toxic proteins despite the presence of manganese.
Our findings indicate that inhibiting Drp1 from more than one pathway could protect cells from degeneration. Now, we’ve identified some FDAapproved compounds that target Drp1 and are testing them as potential treatments for Parkinson’s.
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
FIU LEADS COLLABORATIVE STUDY TO HELP PREVENT AND CONTROL DIABETES IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES IN BANGLADESH
FIU received a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to implement HEARTS-D, a module developed by the World Health Organization that aims to improve cardiovascular health by targeting Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in low-and-middle income communities. The work will be done over a span of five years, focusing on neighborhoods across Sylhet, a northern city in Bangladesh.
“Think of HEARTS-D as a comprehensive how-to guide packed with the latest diabetes prevention, diagnosis and management tools,” said Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, chair and professor of global health, who will lead the study. “If implemented properly, it has the potential to transform the primary health care system from the grass roots level up for diabetes care.”
EXPERTS TAPPED FOR STUDY OF POSSIBLE LINKS BETWEEN LEAD EXPOSURE AND PSYCHIATRIC DISEASES
FIU researchers led by Dr. Tomás R. Guilarte, professor of environmental health sciences and dean of FIU Stempel College, were awarded a $2.7 million grant by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to explore how lead exposure affects neurons, brain circuits and networks and behavior, helping to bridge gaps in understanding its role as a risk factor for developmental and psychiatric disease. Researchers will also assess the efficacy of the flavonoid 7,8-dihydroxyflavone—a natural chemical found in foods and currently available as a supplement that is capable of reaching the brain—in improving learning after lead exposure
CARING FOR THE AGING POPULATION OF 9/11
On Sept. 11, 2001, millions of Americans watched in horror as four hijacked planes carried out the deadliest foreign attacks on U.S. soil. Two planes hit the World Trade Center, one crashed into the Pentagon, and another was brought down in Pennsylvania, resulting in thousands of deaths. Many first responders are still grappling with the physical and mental health impacts from that day. FIU is working to address these issues by setting the groundwork for a research center focused on 9/11 responders’ health. Dr. Roberto Lucchini, professor of environmental health sciences, and his team have begun reaching out to responders who have relocated to Florida, offering support and inclusion in research studies. A recently funded clinical trial, co-led by Dr. Mark Macgowan, professor of social work, and Dr. Lucchini, will investigate how to reduce the mental health challenges of former responders living away from the support system they have known for more than two decades, focusing on remote interventions to address PTSD, anxiety, depression, and sleep issues among these individuals.
Dr. Diana Azzam’s research team. (L to R) Dr. Arlet Maria Acanda De La Rocha, Dr. Diana Azzam, Ebony Coats, and Cristina Andrade-Feraud.
GROUNDBREAKING TREATMENT APPROACH SHOWS PROMISE IN HARD-TO-TREAT CANCERS
Dr. Diana Azzam, assistant professor of environmental health sciences, and her research team collaborated with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to conduct a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that successfully guided personalized treatments for some of the deadliest children’s cancers using a unique functional precision medicine approach.
As part of the trial, researchers exposed samples of the patients’ own tumor tissue to more than 120 FDA-approved drugs. Dr. Azzam’s approach involves taking a sample of blood or tumor and enriching and processing the cancer cells in the lab in a way that closely resembles how they would normally grow in the body. Then the cancer is exposed to more than 120 FDA-approved drugs, including both cancer and noncancer drugs. These drugs also may be tested in various combinations recommended by the team of physicians. The best cancer destroyers emerge. The entire process takes about a week.
According to the feasibility study’s results, published in Nature Medicine, 83% of patients who received guided treatments showed improvement.
The approach Dr. Azzam is pioneering has a few advantages over existing precision medicine processes, including faster results and more treatment options for doctors.
FIU AWARDED $11M NIH GRANT TO ESTABLISH SOUTH FLORIDA’S FIRST GENOMICS CENTER AT A MINORITYSERVING UNIVERSITY
FIU researchers Dr. Xuexia Wang, professor of biostatistics, and Dr. Stephen Black, director for the FIU-Center for Translational Science, were awarded an $11 million grant by the National Institutes of Health to create the FIU Diversity Center for Genomic Research (FIU-DCGR), the first genomics center at a minority-serving public university in South Florida. The center will be built in two phases and aims to champion a diverse genomics research workforce by supporting cutting-edge genomic research projects, capacity building, and genomics training for high school students, undergraduate and graduate students, post-docs, early stage and other investigators.
Dr. Wang, who serves as contact Principal Investigator, shares that FIU-DCGR will work with community partners to address health issues that disproportionately affect underrepresented minorities, with the goal of helping to reduce health disparities.
The expected outcomes of the grant include:
• An Increase in FIU’s capacity to conduct genomic research
• Greater diversity and growth in the genomics research team at FIU
• Development of innovative ideas and approaches in genomics
• Greater interest and participation in genomics among underrepresented minority students and underserved communities
OUR FACULTY
WELCOME TO THE NEW CHAIR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCES
Dr. Silvana Andreescu is the new chair of the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Dr. Andreescu brings extensive expertise from Clarkson University, where she held the Egon Matijević Chair in Chemistry and led innovative research in biosensors and bioanalytical chemistry. Her work focuses on developing advanced sensing technologies for clinical and environmental applications, addressing critical issues like trace metal detection, PFAS contamination, and oxidative stress. With over 180 publications and numerous awards, including support from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Defense, Dr. Andreescu’s leadership will enhance FIU Stempel College’s commitment to tackling emerging environmental health challenges.
LEADING TOBACCO AND E-CIGARETTE RESEARCHER NAMED DISTINGUISHED UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR
Dr. Wasim Maziak, originally a respiratory physician from Syria with a passion for tobacco research, experienced the pervasive impact of smoking in developing countries firsthand. He notes that, without policy and regulations, the health burden of smoking is unmatched.
During a fellowship in Germany, Dr. Maziak seized an opportunity for collaborative work with the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health, leading to the establishment of the Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies. However, tense U.S.-Syria relations during the Iraq War made his connections with American researchers a liability, prompting his relocation to the U.S. for safety reasons.
His research on hookah smoking unexpectedly gained global relevance, propelling his career forward. Dr. Maziak has since expanded his research to e-cigarettes, supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health since 2001. At FIU, he has established a state-of-the-art lab serving as a national hub for e-cigarette regulatory and policy research, including developing warning labels and addiction reduction strategies. This year, in recognition of his contributions to the field, Dr. Maziak was named a distinguished university professor, the highest recognition at FIU.
GLOBAL HEALTH TAKES CENTERSTAGE AT ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The Global Health Conference of the Americas returned to FIU and brought together experts to discuss the most pressing challenges of today. Led by Dr. Carlos Espinal, director of the FIU Global Health Consortium, the 3-day conference covered topics from climate change to arboviral diseases. It was attended by 250 in-person attendees and approximately 1,200 virtual participants from 42 different countries.
At the conference, Dr. Espinal was awarded the 2024 Global Health Champion Award by Dean Tomás R. Guilarte in honor of his dedication and commitment to the health of communities.
Dr. Carlos Espinal, director of the FIU Global Health Consortium, at the 2024 Global Health Conference of the Americas.
APPOINTMENTS & AWARDS
Dr. Shanna Burke, associate professor of social work, received the 2024 Faculty Convocation Award for her excellence in advising and mentorship.
Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, chair and professor of global health, received the Faculty Leader in Global Health Innovation Award from the Velji Family Foundation and the Consortium of Universities for Global Health.
Victoria Gray, clinical assistant professor of social work, was reappointed to the Association of Social Work Boards National Task Force.
Dr. Tomás R. Guilarte, professor and dean of FIU Stempel College, was appointed to the committee of the NIH Undiagnosed Disease Network.
Dr. Sabrina Sales Martinez, associate professor of dietetics and nutrition, was appointed as a member of the American Society of Nutrition Foundation Board of Trustees.
Dr. Nadine Mikati, clinical assistant professor of dietetics and nutrition, was appointed as the Early Career Nutrition Representative in the Board of Directors for the American Society for Nutrition.
Dr. Olatokunbo Osibogun, assistant professor of epidemiology, was awarded the Scholars Award by the HIV Prevention Trials Network.
Dr. Cristina Palacios, chair and professor of dietetics and nutrition, was appointed to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee by the Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Mariana Sanchez, associate professor of health promotion & disease prevention and program director of CRUSADA, was named a Rising Star by the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida.
Dr. Diana Sheehan, associate professor of epidemiology, was named a Rising Star by the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine of Florida.
Dr. Bridget Tuttle, clinical assistant teaching professor of social work, was honored as the Social Worker of the Year by the NASW Broward Unity.
OUR STUDENTS
STEMPEL COLLEGE RESEARCH DAY
FIU Stempel College’s Research Day made a strong comeback this year after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event featured dynamic research presentations by our graduate students.
MEETTHE WINNERS
MORNING SESSION
1st Place
Cristina Andrade-Feraud
Arsenic-Induced Giant Cell Formation is Mediated by an Inflammatory Pathway
Ph.D. student in environmental health sciences School of Public Health
2nd Place
Daniel A. Martinez-Perez
Translocator Protein 18 kDa (TSPO) expression in microglia is associated with Aβ pathology in the 5XFAD animal model of Alzheimer’s disease
Ph.D. student in environmental health sciences School of Public Health
3rd Place
Nicole Vitale
Evaluation of The T.E.A.C.H. Study - A Cluster
Randomized Waitlist Control Trial
Ph.D. student in nutrition
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
AFTERNOON SESSION
1st Place
Simanta Roy
The Effect of ENDS Smoking Session on Pulmonary Parameters: A Pilot Study
Ph.D. student in epidemiology School of Public Health
2nd Place
María Eugenia Contreras Pérez
Outcomes of a Brief Motivational Intervention for Heavy Alcohol Use in Racial or Ethnic Minority Compared to White Emerging Adults
Ph.D. student in social welfare School of Social Work
3rd Place
Srijana Acharya Gautam
Prevalence and factors associated with high self-esteem among border Mexican Americans
Ph.D. Student in health promotion & disease prevention School of Public Health
AN FIU PH.D. STUDENT’S QUEST TO UNDERSTAND THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATIONAL OBESITY PREVENTION STRATEGIES IN COLOMBIA
With obesity cases on the rise in Latin America, Gabriela Proaño Caicedo, dietetics and nutrition Ph.D. candidate, set out to research the contributing factors. Guided by her advisor Dr. Cristina Palacios, chair and professor of dietetics and nutrition, along with Dr. Rajiv Chowdhury, chair and professor of global health, and Dr. Carlos Espinal, director of the FIU
Global Health Consortium, Proaño Caicedo conducted a study on the effectiveness, barriers, and facilitators of overweight and obesity prevention strategies in Colombia.
As part of the project, the researchers, in collaboration with partners at the Universidad de los Andes, carried out interviews with stakeholders like representatives from Colombian government agencies and NGOs. Their findings emphasized the connection between public policy and health outcomes, highlighting the challenges many communities face in implementing overweight and obesity prevention programs. Many of the interview participants reported that insufficient resources and lack of political will can inhibit program success, negatively impacting obesity rates in Colombia.
The results were published in The Lancet Regional HealthAmericas and presented at the American Society of Nutrition conference in Boston, MA, and the Latin American Nutrition Congress in Cuenca, Ecuador. In Spring ’24, Proaño Caicedo, in recognition of her work, received the UGS Excellence Award for Outstanding Paper or Manuscript.
Gabriel Proaño Caicedo, Ph.D. candidate, with her advisor Dr. Cristina Palacios, chair and professor of dietetics and nutrition.
OUR STUDENTS
PASSION FOR SCIENCE LEADS STUDENT TO PURSUE CAREER IN NUTRITION
At 18, Preciosa Martinez-Motta escaped political and economic turmoil in Venezuela for better education opportunities in the U.S. With a passion for science, she joined FIU as a biology student, balancing learning English with demanding coursework. She later enrolled in FIU’s master’s program in dietetics and nutrition to become a registered dietitian, merging her love for science and health care.
During her internship at a private dietetics practice, Preciosa worked with bariatric surgery patients and saw the need for long-term healthy eating tools. To help, she joined FIU’s doctoral program in dietetics and nutrition, where she developed a mindfulness-based program for Hispanic bariatric patients to manage emotions and regulate food intake.
Throughout her time at FIU, Preciosa excelled academically, served as an adjunct professor, was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and was awarded the C.V. Starr Scholarship four times.
FIU STUDENTS GET HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE IN LARGE-SCALE DISASTER RESPONSE
FIU hosted its annual disaster field course at its Biscayne Bay Campus, bringing together professionals from local agencies and nongovernmental organizations to help run high-level disaster response exercises intended to prepare graduate students soon to step into leadership roles. Offered through the Academy for International Disaster Preparedness at FIU Stempel College, the activity served to give those studying for advanced degrees a high-level simulated experience.
AT FIU, we measure our success through the achievements of our alumni, who today are thriving in their careers and making a meaningful impact on the health and well-being of communities across the globe.
DRIVING MEANINGFUL IMPACT AT THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
De’Leah Leath graduated from the Online MPH Generalist program the summer of ’23. Today, she is the community impact director of the American Heart Association. She also serves as a member of the 2024-2025 FIU Online MPH Generalist Alumni Advisory Board.
In her role at the American Heart Association, De’Leah leads initiatives that make a tangible difference in our community. Her work involves strategic planning, partnership development, and program implementation—all aimed at driving impactful health outcomes. She collaborates with local organizations, healthcare providers, and community leaders to address the unique needs of those she serves.
Reflecting on her journey, De’Leah says, “Today, I’m proud to lead efforts that not only educate but also empower our community to take charge of their heart health.”
ALUMNI HIGHLIGHTS
Social welfare alumna Adelaida Rosario is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). She is a Separations Team Lead at USPHS, and she is actively promoting partnerships between FIU and USPHS.
Epidemiology alumna Evelyn P. Davila is the head of epidemiology at Clarivate, a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation.
Social work alumnus Daniel R. Oré is chair of the Miami-Dade County Public Schools social work program. He received the Golden Alumni Award at the FIU School of Social Work’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.
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