KL2 & Affiliate Scholars

Barbara I. Adaikpoh, PhD

Barbara I. Adaikpoh, PhD

Bridge to Faculty Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Mentor Team:

Alessandra S. Eustaquio, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Brian T. Murphy, PhD, Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UIC Retzky College of Pharmacy

Dr. Adaikpoh is investigating how microbes interact with plants to advance the discovery of new antibiotics from nature. She applies multidisciplinary approaches, standing at the intersection of chemical biology, molecular biology, drug discovery, and development to access evolutionarily optimized and hard-to-reach antibiotics. Her CATS Affiliate project, Leveraging Plant Defenses for Human Antifungal Discovery, aims to develop novel strategies for studying soil bacteria found within plant microbial communities, with the goal of understanding the ecological benefits of these bacteria through the production of therapeutically valuable natural products. Her long-term goal is to establish a research group dedicated to leveraging plant-bacterial interactions in order to discover new bioactive natural products with pertinence to human pathogens.

Dr. David Camacho

David Camacho PhD, MSW, MSG

Assistant Professor, Department of Disability and Human Development

Mentor Team:

Tamar Heller PhD, Distinguished Professor, Department of Disability and Human Development, UIC College of Applied Health Sciences

Cary Reid MD, PhD, Irving Sherwood Wright Professor of Geriatrics, Weill Cornell Medicine

Karl Pillemer, PhD, Hazel E. Reed Professor of Human Development, Cornell University

Dimitris Kiosses, PhD, Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Institute of Geriatric Psychiatry

Elaine Wethington, PhD, Professor, Human Development and Sociology, Co-Director, Cornell Edward R. Roybal Center for Translation of the Behavioral and Social Sciences on Aging

Maria P. Aranda  PhD, MSW, MPA, LCSW, Professor of Social Work and Gerontology, USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work

Dr. Camacho’s long-term goal is to become a leader in minority aging research. His work focuses on developing and testing strategies to prevent and manage common and serious health conditions that affect older adults—such as chronic pain, loneliness, and cognitive decline—especially among Hispanic/Latinx and other underrepresented populations. Psychosocial interventions have shown promise in addressing mental health issues like depression and loneliness in older adults, including those in Latino communities. However, a major challenge is the shortage of Spanish-speaking professionals trained in chronic pain management, mental health care, and gerontology. One way to address this gap is by training community health workers (CHWs) to deliver these interventions. This project- Hispanic Community Health Workers: Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices Related to Chronic Pain, Mental Health, and Aging- will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to inform future CHW training programs.

Dr. Zalaya Ivy

Zalaya K. Ivy, MD, MS

Assistant Professor, Clinical Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, UIC College of Medicine

Mentor Team:

Santosh L. Saraf MD, MS, Associate Professor, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, UIC College of Medicine, Director, Clinical Research Center, UIC Center for Clinical and Translational Science

Michael R. DeBaun, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics, and Medicine, Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research, JC Peterson Endowed Chair VanderbiltUniversity Medi:cal Center

Dr. Zalaya Ivy aims to receive advanced training in genomic analysis and cohort study methods with guidance from experts in sickle cell disease (SCD). She is working to build a strong foundation for a research career focused on improving the lives of people with SCD by connecting clinical care with scientific discovery. Her research explores how the immune system—specifically the complement system—plays a role in complications experienced by people with SCD. Although SCD is caused by a single gene mutation, patients often have very different symptoms and health outcomes. In her project, Complement Activation in Sickle Cell Disease, Dr. Ivy will use advanced algorithms and genetic tools to identify patients who may be at higher risk for complement-related complications. She hopes to find out whether certain genetic differences lead to worse outcomes. By identifying these risks, her work could help clinicians choose more personalized treatments, including when to use disease-modifying or curative therapies.

Ravneet Kaur, DrPH, MBA

Ravneet Kaur, DrPH, MBA

Research Assistant Professor, Division of Health Research and Evaluation, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Mentor Team:

Manorama Khare, PhD, MS, Research Associate Professor, Director, Division of Health Research and Evaluation, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford

Yamila Molina, MS, MPH, PhD, Associate Professor, Community Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health

Dr. Kaur is a public health researcher who seeks to inform policy and practice through impactful, community-engaged research at the intersection of nutrition and chronic health disparities. Her project, Diet adherence among rural cancer survivors in Northwest Illinois, will assess dietary support provided to rural cancer patients through cancer care plans, understand existing gaps, and develop a pilot intervention to promote diet adherence in rural cancer survivors. Dr. Kaur aims to improve the nutrition-associated cancer outcomes by translating her knowledge of access to nutrition in rural areas, leveraging existing community resources, and creating evidence-based strategies for effective, sustainable, community-based interventions.

Dr. Kristen Kenan

Kristen Kenan, MD, MPH, FAAP

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago

Mentor Team:

Molly Martin, MD, PhD, Savithri and Sanuel Raj Endowed Professor in Pediatrics, Associate Head of Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago

Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, George R. Honig, MD, PhD, Endowed Professor in Pediatrics and Head, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine Chicago

Camille R. Quinn, PhD, AM, LCSW, LISW-S, LMSW, Associate Professor, Community Engagement Research, University of Michigan School of Social Work

Henrika McCoy, MSW, MJ, PhD, Morris Endowed Dean and Professor, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver

Sage Kim, PhD, Professor, Health Policy and Administration, University of Illinois Chicago School of Public Health

Dr. Kenan’s project, Y.O.U. Matter: Disrupted Pathways, explores how adverse social experiences—like bullying, community violence, and discrimination—affect teen mental health and how well youth engage with digital tools designed to prevent depression. Through both interviews and surveys, Dr. Kenan will adapt and test tools that reflect the lived experiences of diverse adolescents, examine how these challenges relate to depressive symptoms, and assess whether they interfere with the effectiveness of digital mental health programs. With support from experienced mentors, she will also receive training in working directly with youth and using mixed research methods. The long-term goal is to strengthen and adapt mental health prevention strategies, so they are more effective, culturally relevant, and equitable for racially and ethnically diverse youth.