DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP
Jorn Olsen, M.D., Ph.D., Chair
DEPARTMENT FACULTY
DEBORAH L. ACKERMAN, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor
Telephone: (323) 848-7881
Room#: 73-315 CHS
Email: dackerma@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline: Pharmacoepidemiology, psychopharmacology
Major Research Interest
Psychiatric treatments, outcomes, and predictors of response
Current Research Interest
Evaluation of mindfulness meditation, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and drug treatments for stress-related medical and psychiatric disorders. The design of clinical trails and observational data bases to assess drug and psychological therapies.
ONYEBUCHI A. ARAH, MD, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor
Telephone: (310) 206-0050
Room#: 71-236B CHS
Email: arah@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline: Epidemiology, Global Health, and Health Services
Major Research Interest
Epidemiologic methodology and statistics; causal analysis of non-experimental studies; global context of health and healthcare with particular interest in developing countries; life course approach to health and healthcare research.
Current Research Interest
Bias analysis; causal diagrams for epidemiologic research; contextual determinants of the global burden of chronic diseases; hierarchical modeling of hospital survey and discharge data on patient experiences and outcomes; comparative effectiveness research.
HAROUTUNE K. ARMENIAN, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Professor-in-Residence
Telephone#: (310) 206-6219
Room#: 21-254B CHS
Email: harmenian@ucla.edu
Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
General epidemiology; case-based study designs and investigations; disasters and wars; health services research; and cancer.
Current Research Interest:
Long-term effects of earthquakes and major disasters; dignity and health; and familial paroxysmal polyserositis of familial Mediterranean fever.
LAWRENCE R. ASH, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Telephone#: (310) 825-5234
Room#: 71-279A CHS
Email: larryash@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline: Parasitology
Major Research Interest
Zoonotic parasitic diseases; their ecology, biology, pathology, and epidemiology.
Current Research Interest
Diagnosis of human and zoonotic parasitic infections in tissues from human and animal hosts. Evaluation of techniques used in the diagnosis of parasitic infections. Development of atlases and other illustrative material to aid in the diagnosis of parasitic infections and vector-borne infectious diseases in general.
O. GEORGE W. BERLIN, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
Room#: 71-279A CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-5234
Email: ogberlin@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Biology
Major Research Interest
Medically important arthropods; mycobacterial infections (leprosy, tuberculosis and mycobacterioses); emerging protozoan parasites; and opportunistic infectionis in HIV positive patients.
Current Research Interest
Mycobacteria (tuberculosis, leprosy, and atypical mycobacterioses) and emerging coccidian parasitic diseases (cryptosporidiosis, cyclosporiasis, isosporiasis, and microsporidiosis).
JOELLE BROWN, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor-in-Residence
Room#: 10880 Wilshire Blvd, Ste 540
Telephone#:
Email: joellebrown@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest
Reproductive health and prevention of sexually
transmitted infections, including HIV, among women and men in developed and
developing countries.
Current Research Interest
Safety, acceptability, and efficacy of vaginal and rectal microbicides for the prevention of HIV and sexually transmitted infections; prevention of and risk factors for Herpes Simplex Type 2 infection; quantitative and qualitative research on the individual, interpersonal and cultural factors that influence ano-genital hygiene and lubrication practices and their effect on vaginal health; validation of self-reported behaviors (e.g. adherence, sexual abstinence) using biomarkers; methods for causal inference.
THOMAS COATES, Ph.D.
Professor In-Residence
Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases
10940 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 1220
Los Angeles, CA 95732
Telephone: 310-794-3580
Email: tcoates@mednet.ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Psychology
Major Research Interest:
Prevention of HIV-1 transmission and acquisition.
Current Research Interest
HIV prevention in developing countries; policy approaches to HIV prevention studies currently underway in South Africa, Peru and China.
SUSAN D. COCHRAN, Ph.D., M.S.
Professor
Room#: 71-245 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 206-9310
Email: cochran@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Behavioral/Social Epidemiology and Clinical Health Psychology
Major Research Interest:
Psychosocial determinants of health-related behaviors.
Current Research Interest
Social, racial/ethnic, and intrapsychic determinants of high-risk, HIV-related sexual behavior; social and behavioral factors in sexually transmitted disease epidemiology; mental and physical health consequences of social stigma, including difficulties in access to health care and participation in disease prevention and early detection programs.
ANNE L. COLEMAN, M.D., PH.D.
Professor In-Residence
Room#: 2-118 JSEI Bldg.
Telephone#: (310) 825-5298
Email: coleman@isei.ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Ophthalmology and epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Clinical aspects of the practice of ophthalmology, the epidemiology eye disorders and methodology.
ROGER DETELS, M.D., M.S.
Professor
Room#: 71-269 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 206-2837
Email: detels@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology and International Health
Major Research Interest:
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; molecular epidemiology of immune disorders; control of HIV infection in Southeast Asia and China; host resistance to HIV infection; rural health in China.
Current Research Interest:
Immunologic responses to HIV; natural history of HIV/AIDS; surveillance strategies for HIV; intervention policies for HIV/AIDS control and treatment; resistance to HIV and AIDS; the molecular epidemiology of HIV infection in Asia; using the net to improve the quality of health in rural China; reduction of injection drug use in China and Vietnam; HIV/AIDS treatment strategies in developing countries; control of sexually transmitted infections.
RALPH R. FRERICHS, D.V.M., Dr.P.H.
Professor Emeritus
Email: frerichs@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology and International Health
Major Research Interest:
Epidemiologic approaches to the assessment of community health needs; formulation of health care policies and outcome evaluation; internet applications; distance learning
Current Research Interest:
Rapid surveys; internet and teaching of epidemiology.
PAMINA M. GORBACH, M.H.S., Dr.P.H.
Associate Professor In-Residence
Box 957353
10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 540
Los Angeles, CA 90095-7353
Telephone#: (310) 794-2808
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Major Discipline:
Behavioral Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Behaviors associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted infections including HIV, especially at the partnership level; microbicide adherence and acceptability among women and men; behaviors associated with the spread of HIV epidemics internationally (especially SE Asia); methodologies to study sexual behavior.
Current Research Interest:
Partnership-level risks among men with acute and primary HIV infection; microbicide adherence and acceptability; the effect on HIV transmission of drug use, HIV disclosure, sexual behavior, and partner notification among men who have sex with men in Los Angeles.
SANDER GREENLAND, M.A., M.S., Dr.P.H., C.Stat.
Professor
Room#: 73-315 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 455-1197
Email: lesdomes@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology and Statistics
Major Research Interest:
Epidemiologic methodology; statistical methods for epidemiologic data; epidemiologic assessment of drugs and medical technology; epidemiology and statistics in law and policy; foundations of nonexperimental inference; risk assessment methods.
Current Research Interest:
Quantitative methods and statistical theory in epidemiology; bias modeling; causal modeling; electromagnetic fields and cancer; marijuan use and cancer
SCOTT HALDEMAN, D.C., M.D., PH.D.
Adjunct Professor
1125 E. 17th Street, Suite, W-127
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Telephone#: (714) 547-9822
Fax: (714) 547-9822
Email: haldemanmdD@aol.com
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Major Discipline:
Neurology
Major Research Interest:
Evaluating the benefits and risks of treatment methnods for spinal disorders such as back and neck pain.
Current Research Interest:
Alternative medicine; health policy; occupational and workplace health outcome research; and quality of care.
NINA HARAWA, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Off-campus address:
Charles Drew University
1731 East 120th Street
3rd Floor, Hawking Bldg., Rm. 3090
Los Angeles, CA 90059
Telephone#: (323) 563-5899
Email: ninaharawa@cdrewu.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest
HIV and STDs; racial/ethnic disparities in disease.
Current Research Interest
HIV risk behaviors and contexts among men who have sex with men; HIV among incarcerated and homeless populations; qualitative research.
SYDNEY M. HARVEY, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor
Director, Program for Laboratory Science
Former Laboratory Director
Los Angeles Public Health Laboratories
313 N. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
E-mail: smharvey@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Microbiology
Major Research Interest:
Enteroviruses.
Current Research Interest:
Mycoplasma genitalium
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Off-campus address:
10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1550
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Telephone#: (310) 794-2706
Fax#: (310) 312-1618
Email: paulhsu@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest
Epidemiologic/prevention methods for reducing intentional/unintentional injuries.
Current Research Interest
Injury prevention through emerging and alternative technologies; motor vehicle and transportation-related injuries; unintentional injuries among elderly; suicide, homicide and assaultive injuries.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Room#: A2-123 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-8165
Email: skhussain@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest
Molecular Epidemiology of Cancer
Current Research Interest
Molecular epidemiology of infection-associated cancers including cervical cancer, stomach cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; genetic epidemiology of familial breast cancer.
MARJAN JAVANBAKHT, M.P.H., Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Room#: 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 540
Telephone#:
Email: javan@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
HIV/STD epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Behaviors associated with the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV.
Current Research Interest:
Current research includes transmission behaviors among men recently infected with HIV; sexual risk behaviors among clients attending STD clinics; particularly those repeatedly infected with sexually transmitted infections; as well as issues surrounding adherence to antiretroviral medications and the development of HIV drug resistance.
Adjunct Associate Professor
Offcampus Address:
Director, Sexually Transmitted Diesease Program
2615 South Grand Avenue, Rm. 500
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Telephone#: (213) 744-3093
Email: pkerndt@ladhs.org
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
STDs and epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
STDs and HIV/AIDS in the public health field.
LEEKA I. KHEIFETS, M.A., Ph.D.
Professor In-Residence
Room: 73-284 CHS
Telephone: (310) 825-6950
Email:
kheifets@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology and statistics; environmental and occupational epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Environmental and occupational epidemiology, epidemiologic methodology, methodologic issues in capturing environmental exposure, public health policy development, non-Ionizing (static, extremely low frequency and radio frequency electromagnetic field exposures) and ionizing radiation, epidemiology of chronic diseases including cancer (particularly breast, leukemia and brain), cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease.
Current Research Interest:
International health, use of epidemiology for evidence-based health policy, applications of precautionary principle, experimental and non-experimental inference, 60 Hz EMF exposure and childhood leukemia, mobile cell phone and base station health effects, mitigation of, preparedness for, and response to the natural occurrence, accidental release, or the deliberate use of radiation.
ROBERT J. KIM-FARLEY, M.D., M.P.H.
Professor In-Residence
Room#: 71-235 CHS
Telephone#:
Email: rkimfarley@ph.ucla.edu
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Web page:
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology and International Health
Major Research Interest:
Methods of control of communicable diseases; the application of methods of disease control for reduction, elimination and eradication of communicable diseases in populations; and the use of epidemiology for evidence-based health policy.
Current Research Interest:
Mitigation of, preparedness for, and response to the natural occurrence, accidental release, or the deliberate use of biological agents that affect health.
SCOTT P. LAYNE, M.D.
Professor
Room#: 71-235 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-8193
Email: scott.layne@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases
Major Research Interest:
Building and utilizing high-throughput automated lab and database systems for infectious disease research and vaccine development.
Current Research Interest:
Developing tools and methods for associating epidemiologic, phenotypic, and genotypic information. Tackling "grand challenge" problems that require enormous quantities of data to make progress.
MARY ANN P. LIMBOS, M.D., M.P.H.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Offcampus Address:
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
4650 Sunset Blvd., MS#76
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Telephone#: (323) 669-2110
Email: mlimbos@chla.usc.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Pediatrics and epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Pediatric injury epidemiology and prevention.
Current Research Interest:
School violence.
SIMIN LIU, M.D., ScD
Professor
Room#: 41-297A CHS
Telephone#: (310) 206-5862
Fax (310) 206-6039
Email: siminliu@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Nutritional and molecular epidemiology of complex diseases, endocrinology, evidence-based medicine and public health.
Major Research Interest:
1) Assessing dietary and genetic variants of complex disorders, with an emphasis on their interactions; 2) applying epidemiologic principles and statistical methods to quantitatively synthesize the literature and systematically evaluate the evidence concerning dietary and genetic variants of complex traits; and 3) conducting small-scale clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of dietary supplements, pharmaceutical products, and traditional therapeutics on health-related outcomes.
Current Research Interest:
Investigating genetic and biochemical predictors of type 2 diabetes in several large prospective cohort studies. One major goal of these efforts is to understand how nutrients may interact with genetic susceptibilities in determining an individual’s risk, which may help to resolve inconsistent hypotheses and provide an integrated explanation for many associations observed in epidemiological studies. These research activities can also be characterized within the common theme of insulin resistance, and within this common theme, the significance of a “glucose homeostasis diet” in maintaining vascular health is emerging.
ROBERTA MALMGREN, Ph.D.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Room#: 71-236A CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-9303
Email: malmgren@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Epidemiology of aging; epidemiology of dementias; neuroepidemiology; injuries in the elderly.
Current Research Interest:
Geriatric Epidemiology: prevention of age-related diseases such as stroke; rehabilitation of elderly; epidemiology of aging; prevention/reduction of loss of function in aging; role of epidemiology in health services issues and aging; interventions to increase and maintain independence in the elderly; dementia.
JORN OLSEN, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Room#: 71-264 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-3516
FAX#: (310) 206-6039
Email: JO@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Epidemiology; reproductive health and early origin of human diseases; drug safety in pregnancy; cancer epidemiology.
Current Research Interest:
Prenatal exposures importance for behavioral problems and brain disorders in childhood. Prenatal nutrition and cognitive function in early childhood. Studies on stress and infections during pregnancy and their impact reproductive failures and childhood disorders. The use of medicine during pregnancy and epidemiologic methods to study drug safety. Long term follow up studies on mothers and their children.
ANNE W. RIMOIN, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor Photograph:
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Web page: (click button)
Major
Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research
Interest:
Emerging infectious diseases and international health.
Current Research Interest:
Epidemiology of monkey pox; therapeutics for poxviruses; malaria and pregnancy; streptococcal and pneumococcal infections in low income countries.
BEATE R. RITZ, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Room#: 73-320A CHS
Telephone: (310) 206-7458
E-mail: britz@ucla.edu
Photograph: (click button) Web page: (click button) Major Discipline:
Occupational epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Occupational and environmental health issues; radiation
and cancer; air pollution and birth outcome; Parkinson's disease susceptibility
genes and pesticides.
Current Research Interest:
Radiation and cancer;
air pollution and birth outcome; Parkinson's disease susceptibility genes and
pesticides.
Room#: 71-279B CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-2096
FAX#: (310) 206-6039
Email: arimoin@ucla.edu
TERESA SEEMAN, Ph.D.
Professor
Room: 2339 PVUB (Uberroth Building)
Telephone: (310) 825-8253
E-mail: tseeman@mednet.ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Social epidemiology; epidemiology of aging
Major Research Interest:
The role of social and psychological factors on health risks in aging, age-related changes in physiological dysregulation and its impact on health.
Current Research Interest:
Understanding the biological mechanisms for social and psychological effects on health risks.
SHIRA C. SHAFIR, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Room#: 21-245 CHS
Telephone#:
Email: sshafir@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Parasitic diseases; their ecology, biology, pathology and epidemiology.
Current Research Interest:
Diagnosis and viability of parasitic diseases, molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases.
PAUL SIMON, M.D., M.P.H.
Adjunct Professor
Off campus address:
Director, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
3530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 800
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Telephone: (213) 351-7825
Fax: (213) 351-2713
Email: psimon@ph.lacounty.gov
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology, pediatrics, and chronic disease
Major Research Interest:
Chronic disease and injury epidemiology, public health surveillance, population health assessment, child health.
Current Research Interest:
Child and adult obesity epidemics, community health profiles, burden of disease analysis, chronic disease risk factors, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and built environment.
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Off Campus Address:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
2615 S. Grand Ave., #500
Los Angeles, California 90007
Telephone: (213) 744-3093
Email: lvsmith@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Community-Based Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HV/AIDS.
Current Research Interest:
Rapid HIV testing in community clinics and emergency rooms.
FRANK SORVILLO, Ph.D.
Professor In-Residence
On campus Room: 41-275 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-1293
Email: fsorvillo@dhs.co.la.ca.us
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Major Discipline:
Infectious Diseases
Major Research Interest:
Parasitic and arthropod-borne diseases, HIV/AIDS, viral respiratory diseases, emerging infections.
Current Research Interest:
Assessing the prevalence, incidence and risk factors for Trichomonas vaginalis and evaluating the role of this parasitic infection in amplifying HIV transmission. Surveillance, epidemiology and control of cysticercosis. Assessing various laboratory and public health issues regarding the emerging helminthic zoonotic agent Baylisascaris procyonis. Use of mortality data in the study of infectious diseases.
MARC A. STRASSBURG, Dr.P.H.
Adjunct Professor
Off campus Address:
Chief, Web Informatics
Information Systems Branch
Los Angeles County Department of Health Services
313 N. Figueroa Street, Room 127
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Telephone#: (213) 240-7785
Fax #: (213) 250-2594
Email: strass@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Public Health Epidemiology & Informatics
Major Research Interest:
Utilizing the Internet to provide health related information, resources and data, as well as to supplement surveillance activities. Surveillance and control of vaccine preventable diseases. Polio, Measles, and Rubella eradication.
Current Research Interest:
Computerized and Internet dependent Health Data Information Systems; reviewing and evaluating strategies for eradicating Polio, Measles, and Rubella; research techniques in evaluating public health programs; development of health status indicators for local health programs and health departments; methods used in the review of international health programs such as the World Health Organizations EPI and CDC programs and bioterrorism research.
BARBARA VISSCHER, M.D., Dr.P.H.
Professor Emeritus
Room#: 71-269A CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-8578
Email: bvissche@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Infectious disease epidemiology: AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases; rubella, measles, slow and latent viruses; neurologic disease epidemiology; epilepsy; AIDS dementia; aging.
Current Research Interest:
AIDS, sexually transmitted disease, AIDS dementia, immunogenetics.
MICHELLE WILHELM TURNER, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor-in-Residence
Room#: 73-310 CHS
Telephone#:
Email: mwilhelm@ucla.edu
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Web page: (not available)
Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Environmental epidemiology
Current Research Interest
Air pollution and adverse birth outcomes; health effects of traffic realted air pollutants.
NATHAN D. WONG, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Adjunct Professor
Off campus Address:
Professor and Director
Heart Disease Prevention Program, Division of Cardiology
University of California, Irvine College of Medicine
Telephone#: (949) 824-5561
Fax#: (949) 824-5567
Email: ndwong@uci.edu
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Major Discipline:
Cardiovascular epidemiology; cardiovasular clinical trials; preventive cardiology and subclinical cardiovascular disease.
Major Research Interest:
Cardiovascular clinical trials; cardiovascular risk factors including metabilic syndrome, diabetes and dyslipidemia, early detection and screening for CVD.
Current Research Interest:
Metablic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; coronary artery calcium detection of atherosclerosis by computed tomography and its epidemiology and prognosis.
ZUO-FENG ZHANG, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor
Room# 71-225 CHS
Telephone#: (310) 825-8418
Email: zfzhang@ucla.edu
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Major Discipline:
Epidemiology
Major Research Interest:
Molecular epidemiology of cancer, nutritional epidemiology.
Current Research Interest:
Molecular epidemiology of cancers of the bladder, prostate, esophagus, stomach, head and neck cancer, and cervix; nutrition and cancer; epidemiology of second primary cancer; methodological issues in the use of tumor markers in cancer epidemiology; tumor markers and progression and survival of cancer.