Yong Li , PhD
Associate Professor, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: liyong@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Food Microbiology, Food Safety, Applied Statistics.
Recent Publications
- Kubota, R., Labarre, P., Weigl, B.H., Li, Y., Haydock, P., and Jenkins, D.M. 2013. Molecular diagnostics in a teacup: non-instrumental nucleic acid amplification (NINA) for rapid, lost cost detection of Salmonella enterica. Chinese Science Bulletin 58:1162-1168.
- Dong, J., Kandukuru, P., Huang, A., and Li, Y. 2011. PCR-DGGE analysis of bacterial community dynamics in kava beverages during refrigeration. Letters in Applied Microbiology 53:30-34.
- Liang, N.J., Dong, J., Luo, L.X., and Li, Y. 2011. Detection of viable Salmonella on lettuce by propidium monoazide-real time PCR. Journal of Food Science 76:M234-237.
Recent Grants
- PI, with Lee, C.N. and Dunn, M. Exploring the health benefits of lactic acid bacteria in fermented taro. US Department of Agriculture Supplemental Funds. 2014-2016
- Co-PI, with Jun, S., and Cho, C.H. Prevention of microbial adhesion in food processing environment using multifunctional nanopillared surfaces. USDA-AFRI. 2015-2018.
- Co-PI, with Jenkins, D.M., Garmire, D.G., and Mcnealy, T. New engineered approach for recovering disperse populations of low-tolerance pathogens from food. USDA-AFRI. 2014-2017.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Cindy Li (MS Food Science), Recovery of pathogenic bacterial cells injured under food processing conditions.
- Saxby, Solange (PhD Nutrition), Effects of Prebiotics and Probiotics on colorectal cancers and obesity
- Lianger Dong (PhD Nutrition)
- Biyu Wu (PhD Nutrition)
Unhee Lim , PhD, MS
Full Member, Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology)University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
Work Email: ulim@cc.hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Dr. Lim's research involves the epidemiologic investigation of nutrition and lifestyle risk factors and related racial/ethnic heterogeneity in cancer etiology. In particular, she is interested in understanding the carcinogenic effects of obesity and body fat distribution and how they vary across racial/ethnic populations. Obesity is becoming the leading risk factor for cancer, contributing to the development of over a dozen types of cancer. Combined disease burden of obesity or excess body fatness is estimated to be responsible for $150 billion in annual medical care and about 20% of all deaths in the U.S. Additionally, the detrimental metabolic effects of excess body fat is known to be greater when it is stored in the abdominal and intra-abdominal regions than in peripheral and sub-cutaneous regions. In the Multiethnic Cohort Study, Dr. Lim and colleagues have observed that Asian Americans, along with Latinos and Native Hawaiians, have a greater propensity to accumulate intra-abdominal fat in the viscera, liver, and pancreas, compared to whites or African Americans. In collaboration with multidisciplinary researchers, Dr. Lim is investigating additional disease burden from the high-risk fat depots, biomarkers for understanding their metabolic effects, and lifestyle interventions to improve the adiposity and metabolic profiles.
Recent Publications
- Lim U, Monroe KR, Buchthal S, Fan B, Cheng I, Kristal BS, Lampe JW, Hullar MA, Franke AA, Stram DO, Wilkens LR, Shepherd J, Ernst T, Le Marchand L. (2019). Propensity for intra-abdominal and hepatic adiposity varies among ethnic groups. Gastroenterology; 156:966-975. PMC6409195.
- Song MA, Ernst T, Tiirikainen M, Tost J, Wilkens LR, Chang L, Kolonel LN, Le Marchand L, Lim U. (2018). Methylation of imprinted IGF2 regions is associated with total, visceral and hepatic adiposity in postmenopausal women. Epigenetics; 13:858-865. PMC6224210.
- Setiawan VW, Lim U, Lipworth L, Lu SC, Shepherd J, Ernst T, Wilkens LR, Henderson BE, Le Marchand L. (2016). Sex and racial/ethnic differences in the association of obesity with risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 14:309-16. PMC4718778.
- Lim U, Kocarnik JM, Bush WS, Matise TC, Caberto C, Park SL, Carlson CS, Deelman E, Duggan D, Fesinmeyer M, Haiman CA, Henderson BE, Hindorff LA, Kolonel LN, Peters U, Stram DO, Tiirikainen M, Wilkens LR, Wu C, Kooperberg C, Le Marchand L. (2014). Pleiotropy of cancer susceptibility variants on the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the PAGE Consortium. PLoS ONE, 9(3):e89791. PMC3943855.
Recent Grants
U. Lim, Contact PI; Lampe, MPIs NCI R01 CA204368 "TMAO, the Gut Microbiome, and Colorectal Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort" 05/01/2016-04/30/2020
Professor, Cancer Epidemiology Program and Program Director, Post-Doctoral Training ProgramUniversity of Hawai‘i Cancer Center – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Home Phone: 808.586.3078
Research Interests
Preventive medicine and nutritional epidemiology, etiology of breast cancer, Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL), and type 2 diabetes.
Recent Publications
- Maskarinec G, Harmon BE, Melissa AL, Ollberding, NJ, Kolonel LN, Henderson BE, Le Marchand L, Wilkens LR. (2015). Excess Body Weight and Colorectal Cancer Survival: The Multiethnic Cohort. Cancer Causes and Control 26: 1709-18. Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print]. PMCID: 4628582.
- Leo QJN, Ollberding NJ, Wilkens LR, Kolonel LN, Henderson BE, Le Marchand L, Maskarinec G (2015). Nutritional Factors and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Survival in an Ethnically Diverse Population: The Multiethnic Cohort Study. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 2, 2015; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2015.139. PMCID: 4562319.
- Morimoto Y, Maskarinec G, Park SY, Ettienne R, Matsuno RK, Long C, Steffen AD, Henderson BE, Kolonel LN, Le Marchand L, Wilkens LR. (2014). Dietary isoflavone intake is not associated with breast cancer risk in the Multiethnic Cohort. British Journal of Nutrition 112:976-83; 23 July. [Epub ahead of print]. PMCID: 4237401.
Recent Grants
- G. Maskarinec, Program Director; J. Hedges, (PI: J. Hedges), P30 CA071789-14S1, University of Hawaii Cancer Center CCSG CURE Supplement. 07/2013 - 06/2017.
- G. Maskarinec, Co-Investigator, (PIs: L. Le Marchand/U. Lim), P01 CA168530, "Obesity, Body Fat Distribution, and Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort" 09/01/12 - 08/31/17.
- G. Maskarinec, Multiple PI of Education Core, U54 CA143727, "University of Guam/University of Hawaii Cancer Center Partnership Education Core" 09/01/15 – 08/31/20.
Birendra Mishra , PhD, MS, DVM
Assistant ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Personal Email: bmishra@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Genetic and hormonal regulation of egg formation in poultry Effects of nutrition and Environmental stress on reproductive health (Poultry and Cattle) Effects of space radiation on reproductive health
Recent Publications
- Mishra B, and Luderer U (2019). Reproductive Hazards of Space Travel in Women and Men Reproduction. Nature Reviews Endocrinology. 154:123–133.
- Mishra B, Sah N, Wasti, S (2019). Genetic and Hormonal Regulation of Egg Formation in the Oviduct of Laying Hens. Poultry, ISBN, 978‐1‐78923‐820‐4.
- Sah N, Kuehu DL, Khadka VS, Deng Y, Peplowska K, Jha R, Mishra B (2018). RNA sequencing-based analysis of the laying hen uterus revealed the novel genes and biological pathways involved in the eggshell mineralization. Scientific Reports 8 (1), 1-12.
Recent Grants
- Improvement of Reproductive efficiency in Hawaiian cattle funded by the Hawaii Department of Agriculture (06/1/19-05/30/21)
- Poultry Production Systems and Well-being: Sustainability for Tomorrow funded by USDA/NIFA Multistate Hatch Research Grant (09/1/19-08/30/21)
Current Graduate Students
- Sanjeev Wasti, M.S. in Animal Sciences
- Bindu Adhikari, M.S. in Animal Sciences
- Mahfuz Rahman Adnan, M.S. in Animal Sciences
- Angeline Lee, Biology major/Premed, UH Manoa
Pratibha Nerurkar , PhD
Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering,College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawaii at Manoa
Work Email: pratibha@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Traditional Hawaiian and Ayurvedic medicine, alternative medicines in obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia, insulin signaling, lipid and glucose metabolism, mitochondrial toxicity associated with obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes and drug-induced hepatotoxicity, ER function in obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia, role of reactive oxygen species and nuclear transcription factors in obesity, insulin resistance and hyperlipidemia.
Recent Publications
- Kumar M, Roe K, Nerurkar PV, Namekar M, Orillo B, Verma S, Nerurkar VR. Impaired virus clearance, compromised immune response and increased mortality in type 2 diabetic mice infected with west nile virus. PLoS One. 2012; 7(8):e44682.
- Nerurkar PV, Nishioka A, Eck PO, Johns LM, Volper E, Nerurkar VR. Regulation of glucose metabolism via hepatic forkhead transcription factor 1 (FoxO1) by Morinda citrifolia (noni) in high-fat diet-induced obese mice. Br J Nutr. 2012 Jul 108(2):218-28
- Ru P, Steele R, Nerurkar PV, Phillips N, Ray RB. Bitter Melon Extract Impairs Prostate Cancer Cell-Cycle Progression and Delays Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia in TRAMP Model. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2011 Dec; 4(12):2122-30.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- John Staton Laws III (MS Nutritional Sciences)
Professor & Director, Children’s Healthy Living Center of ExcellenceCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: novotny@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Nutritional epidemiology, global nutrition, breast feeding and growth.
Recent Publications
- Aflague TA, Leon Guerrero RT, Delormier T, Novotny R, Wilkens LR, Boushey CJ. Examining the Influence of Cultural Immersion on Willingness to Try Fruits and Vegetables Among Children in Guam: the Traditions pilot study. Nutrients. 2020, 12, 18; doi:10.3390/nu12010018. CHL Project.
- Butel J, Braun KL, Nigg CR, Davis J, Boushey C, Leon Guerrero R, Bersamin A, Coleman P, Fleming T, Novotny R. Implementation Strategies and Barriers to Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders Community Interventions: A Cross-Case Study of the Children’s Healthy Living Program. Asian American Journal of Psychology. 2019:Vol. 10, No. 3, 282–2911948-1985/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/
aap0000135. - Novotny R, Davis J, Butel J, Boushey CJ, Fialkowski MK, Nigg DR, Braun KL, Leon Guerrero RL, Coleman P, Bersamin A, Area A, Barber LR, Belyeu-Camacho T, Greenberg J, Fleming T, Delacruz-Talbert E, Yamanaka A, Wilkens LR. Effect of the Children’s Healthy Living program on Young Child overweight, obesity and acanthosis nigricans in the US affiliated Pacific region: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA Network Open. 2018;1(6):E183896. DOI:10.1001/JAMAnetworkopen.20
18.3896.
Recent Grants
- Children`s Healthy Living Center of Excellence (CHL Center). Principal Investigator/Project Director. Novotny, R. $2,125,903. USDA/NIFA/AFRI. Award 2018-69001-27551 (3/1/18-2/28/23)
- Children’s Healthy Living Network (CHLN) in the US Affiliated Pacific. USDA/NIFA/Hatch/Multistate Project. W1194 (12/5/16-9/30/21). Hawaii Representative.
- Children's Healthy Living Dietetics Scholarship Program (CHLD) Principal Investigator, Revilla, MKF. USDA/NIFA/AFRI Award 2018-38413-28140. $200,000, Co- PD
- Western Region Public Health Training Center. Principal Investigator, Taren, D. HRSA Grant No. UB6HP31687. July 1, 2018-June 30, 2022. Total Award $4,053,812. (1,013,453 per year) Novotny, R. Hawaii Site PI.
Current Graduate Students (Chair)
- Michelle Blas Laguana (PhD Nutritional Sciences) Child food frequency questionnaire for Guam. Chair.
- Pauline McFall (PhD Nutritional Sciences) Child diet and obesity in American Samoa. Chair.
- Rica Delacruz (PhD Public Health) Multilevel determinants of child obesity in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Chair.
Jenee Odani , DVM
Associate Specialist, Extension Veterinarian, Pre-Vet AdvisorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: jsodani@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Diseases of terrestrial animals & aquatic livestock; veterinary anatomic pathology including disease pathogenesis, disease diagnostic techniques, histology and histopathology.
Recent Publications
- Cadmus, K., Mete, A., Harris, M., Anderson, D., Sato, Y., Helm, J., Boger, L., Odani, J., Ficken, M., Pabilonia, K.1 (2019). Causes of mortality in backyard poultry in eight states in the United States. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostics Investigation, 31(3):318-326.
- Accepted, in press: Odani, J.1, Sox, E., Coleman, W., Jha, R., Malik, R. First documented cases of canine neuroangiostrongyliasis due to Angiostrongylus cantonensis in Hawai‘i. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association.
- Odani JS, Blanchard PC, Adaska JM, Moeller RB, Uzal FA, “Malignant edema in postpartum dairy cattle”, Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2009, November; 21(6):920-924.
May Okihiro , MD
Department of Pediatric HICORE Director, NPCA Healthcare Task-force ChairJohn A. Burns School of Medicine- University of Hawaii at Manoa
Work Email: okihirom@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Childhood obesity and early metabolic risk among children in Hawaii, development of obesity and ways to address the issue from clinical and community perspectives.
Recent Publications
- Okihiro, M., Pillen, M., Ancog, C., Inda, C., & Sehgal, V. (2013). Implementing the obesity care model at a community health center in Hawaii to address childhood obesity. Journal of health care for the poor and underserved, 24(2), 1-11.
Andre P Seale , PhD
Assistant Research ProfessorDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: seale@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
With broader implications to aquaculture and biomedical research, my main interests are in: 1) osmoreception: the signal transduction of environmental salinity changes into physiological responses at the cellular and organismic levels in fish; regulation of prolactin cells by external and neuroendocrine factors and the role of second messenger systems; 2) osmoregulation: salt and water balance and its interplay with growth, metabolism and stress in fish; and 3) environmental adaptation and growth in fish: endocrine and specialized cellular responses to changing environmental conditions.
Recent Publications
- Petro-Sakuma, C. K., Celino-Brady, F., Breves, J. P., Seale, A. P. (2020). Growth hormone regulates intestinal gene expression of nutrient transporters in tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 292: 113464.
- Seale, A. P., Pavlosky, K. K., Celino-Brady, F., Lerner, D. T. (2019). Sex, salinity and sampling period dependent patterns of growth hormone mRNA expression in Mozambique tilapia. Aquaculture. 519: 734766.
- Celino-Brady, F., Petro-Sakuma, C. K., Breves, J. P., Lerner, D. T., Seale, A. P. (2019). Early-life exposure to 17β-estradiol and 4-nonylphenol impacts the growth hormone/insulin-like growth-factor system and estrogen receptors in Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus. J. Aqua. Tox. 217: 105336.
- Seale, A. P., Pavlosky, K. K., Celino-Brady, F., Yamaguchi, Y., Breves, J. P., Lerner, D. T. (2019). Systemic versus tissue-level modulation of prolactin signaling in a euryhaline teleost subjected to tidally changing salinities. J. Comp. Physiol.189, 581-594.
Recent Grants
- 2019-present Co-PI: Advanced Aquaculture Collaborative Programs (NOAA); “Establishing a Hawaiʻi-Pacific Aquaculture Consortium: A Revitalization and Expansion of the Aquaculture Development Program”.
- 2018-present Co-PI; Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); “Establishing an aquaculture program at the University of Hawai‘i that leverages and integrates Land Grant and Sea Grant research, extension and education resources”.
- 2018-present PI; National Science Foundation (IOS-1755016); “Collaborative Research: Identifying osmosensitive molecular targets using a unique vertebrate model”.
- 2018 PI; Sea Grant Program Development Project (E/ET-1 OOPD), “Training for extension professionals in sustainable cage farming and rearing methods of Rabbitfishes (Siganidae), in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia".
- 2017-present PI; National Institutes of Health (1R21DK111775-01); “Integrating Osmosensitivity and Autocrine Signaling in a Model for Osmoregulation”.
Current Graduate Students
- Tharindu Malintha (PhD in Nutrition), Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
- Daniel Woo (MS in Animal Science), Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
- Ryan Chang (MS in Animal Science), Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences
John A Shepherd , PhD
Researcher R5Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (Cancer Epidemiology), University of Hawai‘i Cancer Center
Work Email: johnshep@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Dr. Shepherd has a 30-year background in quantitative imaging. Most of his academic research involves developing novel biomarkers for a variety of imaging modalities including dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan for bone density and body composition, mammography for breast density and tissue textural measures as risk factors for breast cancer, and 3-D optical whole body scanning for quantifying body shape as a risk factor for metabolic diseases. Using these modalities, he uses advanced statistical methods to extract more information from images. The methods include principal component analysis, shape and appearance modeling, deep learning, and artificial intelligence approaches. While at UCSF he accumulated over 4 million mammograms for the study of breast cancer risk from imaging and was one of the first to show that volumetric breast density measures are a stronger risk predictor than areal density measures. His active research questions include the following: • Can deep learning models for reading mammograms reduce recall rates and unnecessary biopsies for women of the Pacific region? • What is the best way to describe frailty and function using quantitative composition measures? • Can 3-D optical scans of the whole body accurately and precisely quantify body composition and other health risk factors, and improve compliance of nutrition and exercise interventions? He also holds four patents in quantitative imaging. His group has been expert consultants for the NHANES study DXA component for 20 years. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, is a Fulbright Scholar, and a past president of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry.
Recent Publications
Wong, MC., Ng, BK, Kennedy, SF, Hwaung, P, Liu, EY, Kelly, NN, Pagano, IS, Garber, AK, Chow, DC, Heymsfield, SB, Shepherd, JA. (2019). Children and Adolescents’ Anthropometrics Body Composition from 3‐D Optical Surface Scans. Obesity, 27: 1738-1749. doi:10.1002/oby.22637.- Ng BK, Sommer MJ, Wong MC, Pagano I, Nie Y, Fan B, Kennedy S, Bourgeois B, Kelly N, Liu YE, Hwaung P, Garber AK, Chow D, Vaisse C, Curless B, Heymsfield SB, Shepherd JA. (2019). Detailed 3-dimensional body shape features predict body composition, blood metabolites, and functional strength: the Shape Up! studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Dec 1;110(6):1316-1326. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqz218. PubMed PMID: 31553429; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6885475.
- Drukker K, Giger ML, Joe BN, Kerlikowske K, Greenwood H, Drukteinis JS, Niell B, Fan B, Malkov S, Avila J, Kazemi L, Shepherd J. (2019). Combined Benefit of Quantitative Three-Compartment Breast Image Analysis and Mammography Radiomics in the Classification of Breast Masses in a Clinical Data Set. Radiology; Mar;290(3):621-628. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2018180608. Epub 2018 Dec 11. PubMed PMID: 30526359; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6394732.
- Ng BK, Liu YE, Wang W, Kelly TL, Wilson KE, Schoeller DA, Heymsfield SB, Shepherd JA. (2018). Validation of rapid 4-component body composition assessment with the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; Oct 1;108(4):708-715. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqy158. PubMed PMID: 30099474.
- Shepherd JA, Sommer MJ, Fan B, Powers C, Stranix-Chibanda L, Zadzilka A, Basar M, George K, Mukwasi-Kahari C, Siberry G. Advanced Analysis Techniques Improve Infant Bone and Body Composition Measures by Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry. J Pediatr. 2017 Feb;181:248-253.e3. PMCID: PMC5274603.
- Shepherd JA, Ng BK, Sommer MJ, Heymsfield SB. Body composition by DXA. Bone. 2017 Nov;104:101–105. PMCID: PMC5659281.
- Shepherd JA, Ng BK, Fan B, Schwartz AV, Cawthon P, Cummings SR, Kritchevsky S, Nevitt M, Santanasto A, Cootes TF. Modeling the shape and composition of the human body using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry images. PLoS One. 2017;12(4):e0175857. PMCID: PMC5397033.
- Shepherd JA, Fan B, Lu Y, Wu XP, Wacker WK, Ergun DL, Levine MA. A multinational study to develop universal standardization of whole-body bone density and composition using GE Healthcare Lunar and Hologic DXA systems. J Bone Miner Res. 2012 Oct;27(10):2208–2216. PMID: 22623101.
Recent Grants
- "DXA Scan Analysist and Quality Control Review for NHANES 2018-2022"
- Shepherd, PI - Funded through NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) 2018 – 2022
- “Shape up! Kids” J.A. Shepherd and Steven Heymsfield, Co- PIs Funded by the NIH/NIDDK 01/20/2017 – 12/31/2021
- “Optical Body Composition and Health Assessment” J.A. Shepherd and Steven Heymsfield, Co- PIs - Funded by the NIH/NIDDK 05/15/2016 – 04/30/2021
- "Deep Learning and Total Body DXA Scans (The TBDXA.I. Project)"
- Shepherd and Steve Cummings, Co-PIs - Funded by Sutter Health/California Medical Center Research Institute 2019 – 2020
- "DXA Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density Review and Analyses for HANDLS"
- Shepherd, Project Investigator - Funded through HANDLS (Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span) 2019 – 2020
- "Space-Feasible Body Composition and Body Shape Analysis for Long Duration Missions (Astro3DO)"
- Shepherd and Peter Sadowski, Co-PIs - Funded by TRISH (Translational Research Institute for Space Health) 2019 – 2020
- "IMPAACT 2009 & 2010"
- Shepherd, Project Investigator; Sharon Nachman, PI - Funded through the LOC-IMPAACT Leadership Group 2006 – 2020
Current Graduate Students
Jonathan Bennett, PhD in Nutrition at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Chair) Thesis: Assessment of Hydration via Five Compartment Body Composition Methods 2019 – Present Dustin Valdez, PhD in Nutrition at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Chair) Thesis: Evaluating Portable Breast Cancer Screening Technology for Women in the Pacific 2019 – Present Michael Wong, PhD in Nutrition at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Chair) Thesis: Using 3D Optical Body Shape to Determine Various Health Indices 2018 – Present Lambert Leong, PhD in Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Chair) Thesis: Using machine learning and deep learning to reduce the burden of cancer in Hawai‘i and the Pacific 2019 – Present Devon Cataldi, PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Chair) Thesis: 4-Component Body Composition Models with Varying Body Fatness and Hydration: The Dakine Study 2019 – Present Past Graduate Students Michael Omori, MS in Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Mentor) Thesis: The Development of a Body Composition Imaging System Using 3D Depth Sensors Utilizing Machine Learning for Testing in Microgravity Simulations 2019 – 2020 Current Position: Software Engineer, Oceanit Rosa Consuelo Villegas Valle, PhD in Nutrition at the University of Sonora, Mexico (Chair) Thesis: Tejido Adiposo Visceral (TAV) en Adultos Hispanos y su Relación con Alteraciones Cardiometabólicas 2013 – 2020 Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Sonora Shane Spencer, MS in Electrical Engineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (Chair) Thesis: Applications of Deep Learning Techniques in the Systematic Melanoma Assessment and Risk Triaging (SMART) Pilot Study 2018 – 2020 Current Position: Data Scientist/Software Engineer, DB Engineering, Inc. Caylin Van Hook, PhD in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Rotation Advisor/Mentor) 2017 – 2017 Current Position: Graduate Student Michaela Piel, MS in Biomedical Imaging at UC San Francisco (Advisor/Mentor) Thesis: Prediction of DXA whole body scan data from 3D optical 2017 – 2017 Current Position: PET/CT TEchnologist, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) Dylan Lowe, PhD in Biological and Biomedical Sciences at UC San Francisco (Advisor/Mentor) Thesis: Energy Intake From Expellant 2016 – 2017 Current Position: Graduate Student; Clinical Consultant, Key Eats Roman Camarda, PhD in Biomedical Sciences, UC San Francisco (Advisor/Mentor) Thesis: Energy Intake From Expellant 2016 – 2017 Current Position: Graduate Student, Goga Lab Cynthia Kahari, PhD in Radiography at the University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe (Research Mentor) 2016 – Present Current Position: PhD Student Lisa Kotowski, MS in Physics at San Francisco State University (Chair) 2014 – 2018 Current Position: Founder, Body Composition Systems, LLC Benjamin Hinton, PhD in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Rotation Advisor – 2014, Dissertation Mentor – 2015-2018, Chair) 2014 – 2018 Current Position: Senior Algorithm Engineer, Abbott Jesus Avila, PhD in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Rotation Advisor – 2014, Dissertation Mentor – 2015-2018, Chair) 2014 – 2018 Current Position: Data & Computer Vision Engineer, Genentech Bennett Ng, PhD in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Rotation Advisor – 2014, Dissertation Mentor – 2014-2018, Chair) 2014 – 2018 Current Position: Research Scientist, Intel Fredrik Strand, PhD in Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Sweden (Mentor) 2013 – 2018 Current Position: Radiologist, Karolinska Hospital Johan Kalvesten, PhD in the Department of Medical and Health Sciences, Linkoping University, Linkoping Sweden (External Opponent/Committee Member) 2015 – 2015 Current Position: Graduate Student Ronald Dendere, PhD in Bioengineering, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa (External Referee) 2014 – 2014 Current Position: Graduate Student Admire Zanga, MS at the College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare Zimbabwe (External MS Thesis Advisor) 2013 – 2013 Current Position: Graduate Student Bowen Xie, BS in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley (Advisor/Mentor) 2013 – 2013 Current Position: Surgery Resident at UPMC Paul Keselman, PhD in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Rotation Advisor/Mentor) 2011 – 2011 Current Position: Senior Scientist, Hoglund Brain Imaging Center – KUMC Paul Johnson, PhD in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Rotation Advisor/Mentor) 2011 – 2011 Current Position: Senior Display Color & Vision Engineer, Apple Cynthia Mukwasi, MS at the College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe (External MS Thesis Advisor) 2010 – 2015 Current Position: Graduate Student Joseph Wilson, PhD in Bioenginering at UC Berkeley/UC San Francisco (Primary Advisor/Mentor) 2010 – 2015 Current Position: Principal Consultant, American Institutes for Research
Mark Thorne , PhD
Specialist, State Range and Livestock ExtensionCooperative Extension Service; Kamuela Extension – University of Hawaii at Manoa
Work Email: thornem@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
1) understanding the effects of climate change on range and livestock production in Hawaii and development management strategies that build resiliency and long-term sustainability; 2) improvement of Hawaii’s rangelands and remediation of former sugar and pineapple lands for sustainable livestock production; 3) development of Integrated Pest Management strategies on Hawaii rangelands affected by invasive weeds, insects and diseases; 4) understanding the ecology of tropical range and pasture communities under different grazing management strategies; and 5) studying grazing animal behavior and nutrition on tropical rangelands.
Recent Publications
- Krushelnycky, P.D., F. Starr, K. Starr, M. Abran, M. Thorne, J. Leary, M. Fukada, D. Rubinoff. 2018. Performance of the biocontrol agent Secusio extensa (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on its target host, Senecio madagascariensis (Madagascar fireweed), on an alternate host, Delairea odorata (Cape ivy), and on non-target plants, in Hawaii. Biological Control 121: 234-246.
- Lee, C.N., G.K. Fukumoto, M.S. Thorne, M.H. Stevenson, Y.S. Kim, M. Nakahata, and R.M. Ogoshi. 2017. Nutrient Composition of Sugarcane Forages were influenced by season and the time of harvest. Dairy and Vet. Sci. J. 2(1): 555579.
Recent Grants
- USDA-WSARE; 2016 -2019. Thorne, M.S., G. Fukumoto, M. Stevenson, J. Hewlett, and J. Parsons. Development of Individual Free-Choice Mineral Supplementation Program for Sustainable Grazing Management of Hawaii’s Rangelands.
- Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture; 2017-2021. Thorne, M.S., M. Wright, R. Curtiss, G. Fukumoto. Prosapia bicincta (Two lined spittle bug) detection and control in Hawaii.
- USDA-RREA; 2017-2021. Thorne, M.S. Hawaii Rangeland Management Education and Outreach Program.
- USDA-NIFA; 2018-2021. Thorne, M.S. and B. Hutchinson. Strengthening RREA Programing Through Enhanced Connections: A Web-based Conference Series.
Current Graduate Students
- Brittany Castle (PhD in Nutrition), Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences Dept., University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Nick Krueger (PhD), Natural Resources and Environmental Management Dept., University of Hawaii at Manoa
- Shannon Wilson (MS), Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Lynne Wilkens , DrPH, MS
Co-Director, Biostat and Informatics Shared ResourceUniversity of Hawai‘i Cancer Center- University of Hawaii at Manoa
Work Email: lynne@cc.hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Methodological research that extends statistical techniques of relevance to our research, techniques for studying disease associations when the independent variables are measured with error and ethical/racial classification.
Recent Publications
- Wang H, Schmit SL, Haiman CA, Keku TO, Kato I, Palmer JR, van den Berg D, Wilkens LR, Burnett T, Conti DV, Schumacher FR, Signorello LB, Blot WJ, Zanetti KA, Harris C, Pande M, Berndt SI, Newcomb PA, West DW, Haile R, Stram DO, Figueiredo JC, Le Marchand L. Hispanic Colorectal Cancer Study. Novel colon cancer susceptibility variants identified from a genome-wide association study in African Americans. Int J Cancer. 2017 Mar 13. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30687. [Epub ahead of print]
- Harmon BE, Wirth MD, Boushey CJ, Wilkens LR, Draluck E, Shivappa N, Steck SE, Hofseth L, Haiman CA, Le Marchand L, Hébert JR. The Dietary Inflammatory Index Is Associated with Colorectal Cancer Risk in the Multiethnic Cohort. J Nutr. 2017 Mar;147(3):430-438. doi: 10.3945/jn.116.242529.
- Conroy SM, Clarke C, Yang J, Shariff-Marco S, Shvetsov YB, Park SY, Albright CL, Hertz A, Monroe KR, Kolonel LN, Le Marchand L, Wilkens LR, Gomez SL, Cheng I. Contextual impact of neighborhood obesogenic factors on postmenopausal breast cancer: The Multiethnic Cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017 Jan 31. pii: cebp.0941.2016. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-16-0941. [Epub ahead of print]
Jinzeng Yang , PhD
Associate Professor & Department Chair, Department of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal SciencesCollege of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Work Email: jinzeng@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Skeletal Muscle Growth, Nutritional Studies on Bioactive Compounds for Obesity, Diabetes Prevention, Molecular Biology of the Metabolic Syndrome.
Recent Publications
- Xu Y, Xu H, Wall MW, Yang J. 2020. Roles of transcription factor SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like gene family in papaya (Carica papaya) development and ripening, Genomics https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.03.009.
- Li B, Cui W, Yang J. 2020. Enhanced skeletal muscle growth in myostatin-deficient transgenic pigs had improved glucose uptake in stretozotocin -induced diabetes. Transgenic Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-020-00194-y
- Jin CL, Ye JL, Yang J, Gao CQ, Yan HC, Li HC, Wang XQ. 2019. mTORC1 Mediates Lysine-Induced Satellite Cell Activation to Promote Skeletal Muscle Growth. Cells 8, 1549.
Recent Grants
- Nutrient Bioavailability-Phytonutrients and Beyond, USDA-Hatch
- Post-harvest food technology and nutrition/ Bioactive Compound. USDA, 2018-20. $50K
- Role of bone morphogenic protein 11 in musculoskeletal formation and development Hawaii Community Foundation,
- Genetic Improvement of Muscle Growth for Grass-fed Beef Production, CTAHR
Current Graduate Students
- Justin Legaspi, D. graduate student in Nutrition Science, 2020 Research topic: Roles of skeletal muscle in obesity and diabetes prevention
- Dionne Sesepasara MS Graduate Student in Animal Sciences, 2020 Research Topic: Molecular regulation of skeletal muscle by myostatin propeptide
Halina M Zaleski , PhD
Extension Swine SpecialistDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food & Animal Sciences, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources – University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Personal Email: halina@hawaii.edu
Research Interests
Swine production management including artificial insemination, livestock waste management
Recent Publications
- H.M. Zaleski. 2013. Agricultural Extension in Transition. In:AgriculturalMarkets in a Transitioning Economy: An Albanian Case Study. C. Chan-Halbrendt, J. Fantle-Lepczyk, Eds. CABI. pp. 35- 51.
- Zaleski, H.M., 2014. Integrating teaching and extension: Swine production. American Society of Animal Science Joint Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, July 20-24, 2014.
- Tiwari, U.P., A.K. Singh, H. M. Zaleski, and R. Jha, 2014. Nutrient profile and in vitro digestibility of tubers in swine. American Society of Animal Science Joint Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, July 20-24, 2014.
- Conroy, N. K., A. Fares, K. C. Ewel, T. Miura, and H. M. Zaleski. 2011. A snapshot of agroforestry in Terminalia carolinensis wetlands in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia. Micronesica 41(2):177–195, 2011.
Recent Grants
- Hawaii Pork Industry Association. H. M. Zaleski. Brucellosis in Hunting Dogs 10/14-12/14.
- National Pork Board Meeting Support Funds. H. M. Zaleski. Hawaii Pork Industry Association Membership Meetings 1/14-12/14.
Current Graduate Students
- Tiwari, Utsav. MS in Animal Sciences
- McNeill, Britt. MS in Animal Sciences (Chair)