Research & Compliance Q&A with Leadership Leadership Panelist Biographies
Dear Meharrians,
ANoteofThanks
On behalf of the Office for Research and Innovation, I extend my deepest gratitude for the presence and participation of Meharrians in the Research Advancement, Regulatory and Compliance Summit on January 15, 2026 — guided by the theme “Regulatory is necessary”. Thank you for your engagement, especially as we advance through our sesquicentennial year.
By examining the national research landscape and reinforcing core elements of regulatory affairs, sessions offered timely updates and refreshers across human subjects protection, animal care, research integrity, radiation safety, environmental health and safety, expansion of core facilities, the Unified Grant Hub, and evolving immigration-related requirements. A consistent message emerged: strong compliance is not a barrier but the foundation for excellence, credibility, and impact.
President James E.K. Hildreth underscored our momentum with a clear reminder: “We are no more F-150, but Ram 1500.” As we continue strengthening our systems and infrastructure, we will meet challenges with resilience, rise stronger, and keep moving forward together.
Our leadership panel Dr. Juan A. McGruder, SVP for Institutional Advancement, Cynthia Clemons, MHA, SVP & Chief Financial Officer, and Ivanetta Davis Samuels, JD, SVP & General Counsel, and myself sparked shared thinking, practical problem-solving, and the cross-campus alignment that accelerates progress. The Summit concluded with Provost Jeannette South-Paul recognizing the 2025 Outstanding Faculty and Staff Researchers.
Attached are copies of the presentations, along with highlights and key takeaways from the Summit sessions. As we take the knowledge and insights gained here back to our respective departments, I am confident they will strengthen our dayto-day operations and help us remain at the forefront of research that addresses the healthcare challenges affecting our communities. Thank you for your unwavering dedication to advancing research and innovation. Together, we can turn today’s ideas into tomorrow’s healthcare breakthroughs.
Warm regards,
Anil Shanker, MS, PhD Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation
SESSIONI
ResearchAdvancementandRegulatoryAffairs Landscape
Research and Innovation Landscape
Anil Shanker, M.S., Ph.D. SeniorVice President for Research and Innovation
President Hildreth (TN) Chairman Adams (FL) Trustee Rayford (MS)
Provost South-Paul (MD)
Dean Farmer-Dixon (TN)
October6,2025–Launched the transformative GREAT study (20,000) withPresidentHildreth as participant #1 to build thereferencegenome ofAfrican ancestrypopulation
Enrolledtodate:1,400
PI:Dr.RajbirSingh
Associate Professor, Internal Medicine Executive Director, CTRC
Lead:Dr.TaneishaGillyardCheairs Assistant Professor, Biomedical Sciences Director,DNALC
First HBCU-based facility in the nation to promote interest in science among underserved K-12 children
MNPS STEAM Expeditions
• Served 14/17 local middle schools
• ~1400 students, 65+ MNPS educators 77% 23%
Lead: Dr.Sarrah Widatalla
Goal: Build Meharry-led intercontinental partnerships that accelerate research and improve health outcomes for African ancestry populations
PECIR call: 18 proposal letters of intent received, by country
Publicationsand NetworkofMeharry Researchers
AGENDA
• ResearchUpdates
• TransformativePartnerships
• NationalLandscape
*14 Director positions open
Government shutdown (Oct 1 – Nov 12) impacted the scientific review of ~25,000 grant applications; many PAR/RFAs were not renewed / issued
CapitolHillDay– June4, 2025
CongressionalBlackCaucus
LegislativeConference – Sept24-27, 2025
Meetings
– June6, Sept25, Nov 5
Dr.JonLorsch Director, NIGMS and NIHExtramuralBranch
AAALAC-driven Culture of Care Including NIH and PHS Guidelines
ANIMAL RESEARCH
VETERINARY OVERSIGHT ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Frank Harris (Left) & Dr. Awadh Binhazim (Right)
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Regulatory landscape is evolving
Transparency, accountability, justification
Faculty, staff, and students share responsibility
Integrated compliance supports research excellence
SESSIONII
RegulatoryAffairsRefresher
Regulatory Affairs & IRB
Kimberly A Thomas, RN, CCRP, LNC Director of Regulatory Affairs
REGULATORY AFFAIRS TEAM
KimberlyAThomas, RN, CCRP, LNC
Director of Regulatory Affairs
kthomas@mmc.edu
Office: 615-327-6735| Fax 615-327-6641
Anil Shanker, PhD
SVP, Research and Innovation
Institutional Official Meharry Medical College ashanker@mmc.edu
Lisa M. Jones MS, RRA
Regulatory ReviewAdministrator - IACUC and IBC
Lmjones@mmc.edu
Office: 615.327.6599| Fax: 615.327.6838
Adul H Sawas, BPharm, PhD, EHS
HSPAdministrator and Bioethics Officer
asawas@mmc.edu
Office: 615-327-5654
FUNCTIONS OF REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Key Focus Areas:
▪ Regulatory Assurances, Renewals and Certifications
▪ Protocol Submission & Review Turnaround
▪ IRB/ IBC/ IACUC/ ACF/ Research Integrity/ CITI Training for Researchers
▪ Compliance & Inspection Readiness
The Regulatory Affairs team ensures institutional compliance through proactive oversight, education, and process optimization.
IRB (Institutional Review Board)
▪ A committee responsible for reviewing and overseeing research involving human subjects
▪ Members (minimum 5) must have varied professional expertise
▪ Must include at least one community member who is not affiliated with the institution
▪ Ensures that research complies with ethical standards, federal regulations, and institutional policies
▪ Primary focus is to protect the rights, welfare, and privacy of human research participants
FEDERAL ASSURANCES RENEWALS, REGISTRATIONS AND GOVERNING
AGENCY INSPECTIONS
OHRP (Office for Human Research Participants)
Annual renewal of IRB Registration and FWA
ORI (Office for Research Integrity)
Annual Renewal of Research Integrity Report FDA Inspection/ Audit Preparedness
Be inspection ready at all times and review audit trails to ensure preparedness
WHAT IS THE IRB PROCESS FOR HUMAN RESEARCH?
The Institutional Review Board (IRB) process ensures ethical and safe research involving human participants
It protects the rights, safety and well-being of individuals in research studies
Key medical ethics principles guiding the IRB include respect for persons, beneficence, and justice
21 CFR Part 56 – Addresses Institutional Review Boards
SUBMITTING A HUMAN SUBJECTS RESEARCH PROTOCOL
Reviewer makes recommendatio n Approval Decline approval
Reviewer communicates with PI Comments/questions to be addressed
Protocol is reviewed for missing items Assigned to a reviewer
Complete CITI/eProtocol/ OFH training and IBC registration
Log into eProtocol
Enter information Submit
WHATARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE?
Institutional/Individual Financial Liabilities Institutional Value Depreciation
Damage to the Institutions Reputation
Legal Notices/Lawsuits
Loss of Federal Funding
Prosecution/Imprisonment
WHISTLE BLOWER NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IN PLACE
Meharry utilizes the “Whistle Blower” system throughout all regulatory committees; IRB, IACUC, and IBC to provide an avenue for simple, anonymous reporting.This transparency helps ensure compliance.
Regulatory Affairs Refresher
Lisa M. Jones, MS
Regulatory Review Administrator – IBC & IACUC
DEFINING | IBC AND IACUC
Institutional Biosafety Committee
Mandatory committee that oversees research involving biohazardous materials
Reviews and approves protocols using recombinant DNA, infectious agents, and toxins
Ensures safety of researchers, the public, and the environment
Establishes required biosafety and containment measures
Ensures compliance with NIH Guidelines and federal regulations
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
Federally mandated committee overseeing animal use in research, teaching, and testing
Reviews and approves animal research protocols
Ensures compliance with the Animal Welfare Act and related regulations
Conducts facility inspections and program oversight
Promotes humane animal care using the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement)
IBC / IACUC FEDERAL AGENCIES
& STANDARDS
IBC
Registration Management System
NIH requirement
IACUC
USDA
OLAW
AAALAC(MMC 54Years )
PHS
Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
DEA (controlled substances)
TBP (as applicable -Tennessee Board of Pharmacy)
DEA +TBP = Research
COMPLIANCE & REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS
RequiredTrainings:
• CITI Program (role-specific modules)
• ACF Animal Use in Biomedical Research
• Occupational Health Program (OHP)
• All training must be current and documented prior to protocol approval and animal access.
Electronic Protocol Management:
• eProtocol System
• Used for IRB, IACUC, and IBC
• Submission, review, approvals, amendments, and renewals (90,60,30 and 15 days)
• Serves as the official regulatory record
Facility Access & Authorization
Animal Care Facilities (ACF) access is restricted to:
• Individuals with required training
• Personnel listed and approved on the protocol
• Current OHP clearance
IBC REQUIREMENTS
All research must be registered with IBC
• Use eProtocol
• President’s Mandate
• Required for all laboratory research, including human, clinical trials, animal, and other basic science research
CONCERN
:
Incomplete submission and NO submissions at all. This is a MAJOR noncompliance.
PROTOCOL SUBMISSION / AND ANIMAL ORDERING
IBC
Two weeks prior to the first Thursday: All IBC protocols and required trainings should be submitted
IBC AND IACUC
•First Thursday: IBC protocol submission deadline
IACUC
Two weeks prior to the first Tuesday: All IACUC protocols and required trainings should be submitted
•Second Thursday: Protocol assigned to reviewer(s)
•Second Tuesday: Protocol assigned and sent to reviewer(s)
•Third Thursday: Review continues until approval is achieved
•Third Tuesday: Review continues until approval is achieved
The IBC Committee meets bimonthly on the third Thursday
•Fourth Tuesday: Protocol should be fully approved
ANIMAL ORDERING AND TRACKING
Animal Order Forms Policy
•Principal Investigator (PI) Responsibilities
•Animal Usage Tracking (Orders and Transfers)
•Payments: Do not use P-Card; submit through Workday
•Approvals:All orders must be approved by the IACUC Office
•Compliance: Only approved orders will be accepted by the ACF
Animal Care Facility Team
From left to right: Nihad Sakic, Dylan Johnson, Sage Smith, Dr. Frank Harris & Dr. Awadh Binhazim
CONTACT
Radiation Safety
Gladys Simiyu, PhD Radiation Safety Officer
WHY
RADIATION SAFETY MATTERS AT MEHARRY
• Research, imaging, and clinical use
• Protects staff, participants, and patients
• Preserve licensure, funding, and reputation
• Enables safe research continuity
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE
• TDEC (State Regulator)
• NRC-aligned regulations
• FDA / MQSA (when applicable)
• Radiation Safety Committee
• Coordinated with IRB, IACUC, IBC, EHS
INVESTIGATOR & STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES
• Authorization before radiation use
• Mandatory training
• Dose monitoring when applicable
• Proper storage and disposal
• Prompt incident reporting
COMMON COMPLIANCE PITFALLS
• Radiation not listed on license
• Untrained staff or students
• Research drifting into clinical use
• Equipment moved without notice
• Delayed incident reporting
HOW RADIATION SAFETY SUPPORTS RESEARCH
• Protocol and grant review
• ALARA and dose minimization
• Training and onboarding
• Regulatory liaison
• Inspection readiness
FOCUS AREAS
• Centralized oversight
• Improved regulatory coordination
• Clear licensing across facilities
• Enhanced training
• Audit and inspection readiness
CALL TO ACTION
• Engage Radiation Safety early
• Ask questions before starting
• Report concerns immediately
Radiation safety is a shared responsibility
Environmental Health and Safety (EHS)
Jeff Mitchell, CIH
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM
EHS Office
Ext. 6642
Basement of WBSB
Jeff Mitchell, CIH
Meharry EHS Officer
Ext. 6632
WBSB B113
Dr. Gladys Simiyu
Meharry Radiation Safety Officer
Ext. 6635
WBSB B112
Emma Parks
Clean Harbors Hazardous Waste Manager
Ext. 6124
WBSB B109
BIOSAFETY
Rigid Plastic containers
Red bags Sharps containers Disposal plan
CHEMICAL SAFETY
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Active shooter
Other emergencies
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Air quality evaluation
Mold sampling Water/leak management
INJURY AND ILLNESS PREVENTION
Work safely
Report hazards
Report incidents
LABORATORY SAFETY
Written chemical hygiene plan EHS template
Lab inspections
EHS lab scores
LASER SAFETY
RADIATION SAFETY
Dr. G. Simiyu
Radiation Safety Officer
Q&A PANEL
Presenters
Kimberly Thomas
Lisa Jones
Dr. Gladys Simiyu
Jeff Mitchell
Institutional Regulatory Committee Chairs
Dr. Alfred Nyanda (IACUC) Dr. Byeongwoon Song (IBC) Dr. Rajbir Singh (IRB) Dr. Minu Chaudhuri (RSC)
Q&A Panel
From left: Yvette Burgess, Dr. Alfred Nyanda, Kimberly Thomas, Dr. Minu Chaudhuri, Lisa Jones, Dr. Byeongwoon Song, Dr. Gladys Simiyu, Jeff Mitchell, and Dr. Rajbir Singh
SESSIONIII
MeharryCentralizedResearchCoreFacilities
Proposed Institutional Centralized Research Core Facilities (CRCF)
AVP, Research Facilities and Infrastructure
Dr. Awadh Binhazim
TEAM
SVP, Research and Innovation: Dr. Anil Shanker
AVP, Research Facilities and Infrastructure: Dr. Awadh Binhazim
Chair, Research Advisory Council: Dr. Bindong Liu
Chair, Council of Scientific Directors: Dr. Josiah Ochieng
Ensuring sustainable excellence in research through centralized core support
CENTRALIZED RESEARCH CORE FACILITIES (CRCF) OVERSIGHT
Research Advisory Council (RAC) provides best-practice need-based guidance and strategic direction
Council of Scientific Directors (CSD) sets operational framework
Oversight by AVP, Research Facilities & Infrastructure in the Office for Research and Innovation
Centralized Research Core Facilities
The CRCF initiative integrates governance, operations, finance, and user engagement into a single, institutionally managed ecosystem that promotes:
▪ Research excellence
▪ Financial management and sustainability
▪ Stronger faculty and trainee engagement
▪ Institutional readiness for future growth and external partnerships
Dr. Anil Shanker
SeniorVP for Research & Innovation
Core Facility Director Staff Scientists/Associate Director/Research Instructors
RAC develops policy → Chartering as Organized Research Unit (ORU) after approval from the BOT Research and Innovation Committee
Review of core scope and user fees
Supports sustainable growth and partnerships
POLICY OVERSIGHT AND REVIEW
Administered by AVP, Research Facilities and Infrastructure under authority of the Office for Research and Innovation and the BOT Research and Innovation committee
The Council of Scientific Directors is the governing body for operational oversight and alignment
The Research Advisory Council offers advisory input and strategic alignment
Policy reviewed biennially
Q&A PANEL
Dr. Bindong Liu, Chair, Research Advisory Council
Dr. Josiah Ochieng, Chair, Council of Scientific Directors
Dr. Awadh Binhazim, AVP for Research Facilities and Infrastructure
SESSIONIV
InnovationUpdates
Innovation and Technology Transfer Updates
Aramandla Ramesh, Ph.D. AVP, Research and Innovation
Evelina
Naish, M.S.
Commercialization Counselor
NSF I-Corps Program Manager
TEAM
Aramandla Ramesh, Ph.D.
AVP, Research and Innovation
Professor of Environmental Toxicology & Cancer Biology
Anil Shanker, M.S., Ph.D.
SVP, Research and Innovation Technology Transfer Officer
Institutional Signatory Professor of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience, and Pharmacology
Evelina Naish, M.S.
NSF I-Corps Program Manager
Commercialization Counselor, TTAC
GOAL
Enable Meharry innovators to protect their inventions and translate them into real-world solutions that advance community health and well-being.
• Launched three NSF I-Corps cohorts: Trained a total of 84 participants; 2 IP workshops with Meharry patent attorney
• Integrated with SOGS Biomedical Sciences curriculum
— appreciated by Ruth Shuman, Director of NSF I-Corps
• Received Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium Grant, $300,000 (PI: Ramesh) to expand entrepreneurship
• Hosted Meharry’s first 3686 Partner Brews, Bites & Brains
Popup with MMCV, Inc. and the city of Nashville
• Linked School of Applied Computational Sciences to AAAS HBCU Innovation Showcase (NSF & VentureWell).
IDEA TO MARKET STRUCTURE
Reach out to Dr. Ramesh & Evelina Naish in the OFRI if you have questions about your work. The Invention Disclosure Form is available on the MMC website. Upon receipt, the Office will review the form and submit to the SVPRI for processing in coordination with the General Counsel.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMERCIALIZATION EFFORTS
❑ Established Mini Seed Fund (upto $12,500 each) –4 awards granted to faculty/postdocs committed to disclosing their research to Meharry.
❑ More to come in 2026.
❑ All 23 MMC patents are being screened by the OfRI for commercialization potential. Three companies have expressed interest and discussions are underway.
❑ The OfRI supported Community Connexor’s STTR grant with Dr. Singhal in SACS; mentored Height Health company based in Nashville.
❑ MMC secured $300,000 state grant (PI: Ramesh) through LaunchTN to expand entrepreneurship programs.
ENHANCING MEHARRY INNOVATION VISIBILITY
2025 INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING HIGHLIGHTS
• 3 NSF I-Corps Mid-South Hub cohorts at Meharry: trained 39 participants in 2025; 84 total trained to date
• Integrated NSF I-Corps with Biomedical Sciences IV class (praised by NSF I-Corps Director)
• Delivered hands-on training in customer discovery, market validation, and commercialization
• Led faculty/student workshops: 6 faculty, 2 postdocs, 6 graduate students
• Conducted 2 IP workshops with Meharry patent attorney
ENHANCING MEHARRY INNOVATION VISIBILITY
• Meharry hosted first Tennessee Innovation Showcase during LaunchTN’s Innovation Week
• Panel featured statewide vice presidents of research and innovation from MTSU, MMC, ETSU, APU, UTK, University of Memphis, and more
• Six Meharry researchers presented work to legislators, leadership, and external partners
• Showcased to the city of Nashville how the OfRI is working towards Meharry IP commercialization
Aramandla Ramesh, Ph.D.
AVP, Research and Innovation
Professor of Environmental Toxicology & Cancer Biology
The Office for Research and Innovation
Email: aramesh@mmc.edu
Evelina Naish, M.S. NSF I-Corps Program Manager
Commercialization Counselor, TTAC
The Office for Research and Innovation
Email: evelina.naish@mmc.edu
Q&A PANEL
Dr. Aramandla Ramesh, AVP for Research & Innovation
Evelina Naish, Program Manager, NSF’s Innovation Corps Hub & Commercialization Counselor
Networking Lunch Break
SESSIONV
UnifiedGrantsHub
Pre-Award Grants Management Functions
Gamaliel L. Ballard, MS Director, Grants Management Office
GRANTS MANAGEMENT TEAM
Gamaliel L. Ballard
Director, Grants Management Office
Business Official
gballard@mmc.edu
Office: 615-327-6738
Christopher Crowell, EdD
Associate Director
Grant Review, Progress Reports ccrowell@mmc.edu
Office: 615-327-6739
Anil Shanker, PhD
SVP, Research and Innovation
Authorized Organizational Representative &
Signing Official Meharry Medical College ashanker@mmc.edu
Nasrin Karim, MS
Senior Grants Review Manager
Grant Review, Subcontracts, Data Base nkarim@mmc.edu
Office: 615-327-6730
Tonya Micah
Grants Management Specialist
Subcontracts, Grant Review, Resource Tools tmicah@mmc.edu Office: 615-327-6715
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS SUBMISSION FORM
PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT USING THE ASSIST MODULE
SCIENCE
BIOSKETCH (EFFECTIVE JAN 25, 2026)
SECTION SUMMARY
Purpose
Guide for creating SciENcv Biosketch per NIH requirements
Scope Applies to Senior/Key Personnel for NIH applications
Responsibilities
Maintain ORCID ID, link to eRA Commons, use SciENcv
NIH Requirements Mandatory use of SciENcv, Common Forms, ORCID linkage
APPLICATION
ROUTING, COMPLIANCE CHECK, AND SUBMISSION
SUBCONTRACT EXECUTED IN NOVATUS
PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress reports are usually due 60 days before the start of the next budget period. Progress report forms are available through the eRA Commons or the agency’s website.
The final progress report is due 120 days from the project end date. The investigator is also required to submit an invention statement.
CLOSE OUT REPORT
• NIH requires a Final Federal Financial Report (FFR)
• Submitted by Grants and Contracts Office in the Division of Finance
• Final Research Performance Progress Report
• Submitted by PI and GMO
• Final Invention Statement and Certification within 120 calendar days of the end of the period of performance (project period)
• Submitted by PI and GMO
PROCEDURE FOR TERMINATING F31,T32 FELLOWSHIPS
• Initiates termination notice
GMO-BO
• Routes to SOGS Sponsor and GC (Grants & contracts) Admin
SOGS
• Reviews and approves termination with GC Admin
• Routes termination notice to GMO-BO (GMO-Buisness official)
GMO-BO
• Reviews termination notice
• Routes to Agency
• Agency reviews, approves termination notice
Unified Grants Hub: Strengthening Research Finances & Compliance
Javan D. Reed, PhD, MBA
Interim AVP, Research Finances and Compliance
Team: Cynthia Clemons, CFO
Anil Shanker, SVP, Research & Innovation
Javan D. Reed, PhD, MBA | Interim AVP
Unified Governance across Finance, Research Administration, and Compliance
Alignment with Workday, Kuali, and federal reporting standards (FFR, SF-425)
Focus on sustainability, audit readiness, and institutional risk mitigation
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP & FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP
INTRODUCING THE GRANTS TEAM
Rashmi Chethan – Senior Grants Manager (State Grant Manager)
Van Hong – Grants Financial Analyst & Subaward Manager
Hannah Bookland – Data Systems & Financial Analyst (Effort Cert Manager)
Letter of Credit & reimbursement-based drawdown management.
3. Subaward & Contract Oversight
Centralized Subaward Manager
Templates for subrecipient monitoring, risk assessment, invoicing, and compliance.
Automated routing and tracking through Kuali and Workday.
4. Compliance & Risk Management
Managed through joint alliance with Regulatory Affairs and Finance & Research.
Uniform Guidance compliance (2 CFR 200).
Audit preparation, internal controls, and data integrity workflows.
Petty cash controls, restricted funds review, and AP-to-Grants alignment.
FROM FRAGMENTATION TO INTEGRATION
Issues:
Disparate systems and manual tracking
Inconsistent reporting and delayed issue identification
Limited visibility across the institution
Solution - Transition to standardized, transparent, and technology-enabled processes
THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK: FOUR FRAMES TO GUIDE INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION
1. Structural Frame – Building the Infrastructure
• Establish unified pre-award, post-award, contracts, compliance, and analytics units
• Implement clear workflows, SOPs, internal controls, and integrated systems
• Align Workday + Kuali Research for transparency and efficiency
2. Human Resource Frame – Supporting Faculty & Staff
• Improve PI experience with consistent service pathways
• Provide training, communication, and upskilling for research administration staff
• Build a collaborative culture centered on support, clarity, and development
3. Political Frame – Navigating Stakeholder Interests
• Address audit concerns and regulatory expectations across departments
• Partner with Finance, Legal, Compliance, IT, and academic units to gain alignment
• Demonstrate how the Hub mitigates institutional risk and supports mission-critical goals
4. Symbolic Frame – Inspiring Transformation
• Position the Hub as a symbol of modernization, accountability, and excellence
• Reinforce Meharry’s identity as a research-driven institution preparing for R1/R2 growth
• Communicate a compelling vision of innovation, trust, and institutional renewal
Gallos, J.V., & Bolman, L. G. (2021). Reframing academic leadership. Jossey-Bass.
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT WITH INSTITUTIONAL STRATEGIC PLANS
Strategic Goals Addressed
Goal 1: Establish a performance culture based on excellence and accountability.
Goal 3: Develop pioneering approaches to research, health equity, and public health innovation.
Goal 5: Build a transformed, sustainable institutional economy through expanded funding and research capacity.
This project fulfills Goal 3.C of the Strategic Plan:“Develop and sustain a physical and technological infrastructure for research conducive to increased interdisciplinary productivity.”
STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT WITH MEHARRY LEADERSHIP PRIORITIES
The Innovative Grants Hub supports:
• Operational Excellence through standardized workflows.
• Financial Integrity via accurate reporting, reconciliations, and risk mitigation.
• Research Growth by increasing proposal competitiveness and award success rates.
• Compliance Strengthening to reduce audit findings and enhance internal controls.
PORTFOLIO SNAPSHOT & RISK-INFORMED DECISION MAKING
Federal Awards
Portfolio Snapshot (Dashboard-
EnabledView):
State Awards
Private Foundations
Clinical & Research Contracts
Training & Capacity-Building Grants
Why Diversification Matters:
Reduces reliance on any single funding source
Balances high-risk/high-reward and stable awards
Strengthens institutional sustainability and resilience
Supports mission-aligned research growth
How the Dashboard Enables
Strategy:
Real-time visibility by sponsor and funding type
Early identification of concentration and compliance risk
Monitoring burn rates across diverse award classes
Informs executive and CFO-level portfolio decisions
LAUNCHING THE INNOVATIVE GRANTS HUB & RESEARCH
TECHNOLOGY TASKFORCE
Cross-functional design and implementation body
Faculty, research administration, finance, compliance, and IT representation
Charge: design, test, scale, and institutionalize the Grants Hub model
TASKFORCE FOCUS AREAS
Workflow and process design
Policy and compliance alignment
Technology and data integration Training, communication, and change management
Reduced administrative burden
Clear points of contact and faster issue resolution
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR FACULTY
Improved proposal competitiveness
Protection from financial and compliance risk
Standardized processes and documentation
Improved audit readiness and reporting accuracy
Stronger internal controls
Reduced institutional risk
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR COMPLIANCE
& FINANCE
Scalable research enterprise infrastructure
Enhanced credibility with sponsors and regulators
Datainformed decisionmaking
Long-term institutional resilience
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR MEHARRY
THE ROAD AHEAD
Phased implementation and pilot activities
Dashboard rollout and system integration
Faculty and staff training
Continuous assessment and improvement
Q&A PANEL
Gamaliel Ballard, MS Director, Grants Management Office & Business Official
Dr. Javan Reed, Interim AVP, Office of Finance, Research and Compliance
SESSIONVI
Immigration&EmploymentLandscape
Immigration & Employment Update
Terry Olsen, Esq
COUNTRY BANS
U.S. Government Will Deny Entry and Benefits to Foreign Nationals from “high-risk countries.” It Will Also Facilitate a Comprehensive Rereview ofApproved Benefit Requests for Nonimmigrants from those Countries; “Partial Limitation” for Entry of those coming from 20Additional Countries: Entry is fully suspended for countries including Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Myanmar (Burma), Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, andYemen. Those partially suspended include Angola,Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal,Tanzania,Togo, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Venezuela, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
COLLECTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS & OTHER BIOMETRIC DATA
“Final Rule” Allows DHS to Collect Photographs and Other Biometric Data from All Foreign Nationals Entering or Exiting the United States:
The final rule, effective Dec. 26, 2025, amends existing DHS regulations to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect facial biometrics from all noncitizens upon entry and exit at airports, land ports, seaports, and other authorized points of departure. This removes prior exemptions including diplomats and most Canadian visitors. It also removes limitations on pilot programs and expands biometric collection to new transportation modalities, including sea exit, private aircraft, vehicle entry/exit, and pedestrian exit.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
CBP May Search Electronic Devices of any Traveler Crossing the US Border; This may be a “Basic” or “Advanced” Search;All Travelers are Obligated to Comply on Pain of Denial ofAdmission; Individual Electronic Devices may be Detained:
A basic search is any border search of an electronic device that is not an advanced search.A basic search generally entails an officer reviewing the contents of the device manually without the assistance of any external equipment.
An advanced search is any search in which an officer connects external equipment to an electronic device not merely to gain access to the device, but to review, copy, and/or analyze its contents.
EAD 18 MONTH VALIDITY
EAD Validity Time Reduced to 18 Months for:
Refugees &Asylees
Those Granted Withholding of Deportation or Removal
Those PendingAylum or Withholding of Removal
Those PendingAdjustment of Status through INA 245
Those Pending Suspension of Deportation, Cancellation of Removal, or Relief under the NicaraguanAdjustment and Central American ReliefAct
F-1 Students on OPT
ADDITIONAL SCRUTINY
All thoseApplying for Nonimmigrant Visas must Schedule theirVisa Interview at the US Embassy or Consulate of their Country of Nationality or Residence
AllApplicants for H-1B, H-4, F, M, and J Visas must set their Social Media Profiles to “Public” to Facilitate a Department of State Online Presence Review
CBP is Enhancing its Electronic Screening Process to Facilitate the Review of Social ESTAApplicants’ Social MediaAccounts,Texts, and Emails for up to the past ten years; ESTA Mobile Will Now be the
Only Way toApply for a New ESTA; Screening of Social Media and Email/Text will likely be Required of any/all VisaApplicants
All Foreign Nationals (including previously registered) UnderAge 14 Must apply for Reregistration and Fingerprinting via G-325R within 30 days of 14th birthday
PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR TO BE AVOIDED
I-9 Forms are completed and I-9 documentation is reviewed without consistent accuracy for detail.
Inability to obtain needed workers creates a reluctance to question the authenticity of I-9 documentation.
Allowing employees to present new documentation inconsistent with original I-9 documentation without further inquiry.
PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR TO BE AVOIDED
Receiving Social Security no-match letters and not taking reasonable steps in response to discrepancies.
Not addressing rumors or complaints that there are unauthorized employees or unauthorized contractors.
The pool of new hires comes mainly from the existing workforce including their friends and relatives.
PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR TO BE AVOIDED
Hiring decisions are not subject to review and made by those that may be sympathetic to those desperately seeking employment or willing to hire for personal gain.
Ignoring communications from agencies—e.g., worker’s compensation or other benefit issuing agencies—that advise the employer either that the submitted employee information is not valid, or that a rightful holder of the social security card faces denial of benefits because one of their employees is using the rightful holder’s information.
Q&A PANEL
Terry Olsen, Esq, Global Programs & Services Officer
Mark Smith,VP, Human Resources
SESSIONVII
LeadershipSummitPanel
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT PANEL
EMERGING RESEARCH AND COMPLIANCE LANDSCAPE
MEHARRY’S STRATEGIC DIRECTION BEYOND 2026
From The Right to Left:
Ivanetta Davis Samuels, JD
SVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
Cynthia Clemons, MHA
SVP & Chief Financial Officer
Juan McGruder, PhD
SVP for Institutional Advancement
Anil Shanker, PhD
SVP for Research and Innovation
PANEL DISCUSSION
DISCUSSIONS
Q & A with Leadership Panel
Q & A WITH LEADERSHIP PANEL
McGruder, PhD, SVP for Institutional Advancement & Anil Shanker, PhD, SVP for Research and Innovation
Juan
Insights, strategies, and reflections from the leadership
President Hildreth’s Advice:
“We are no more F-150, but Ram 1500.”
About Ivanetta Davis Samuels
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT PANELIST
IVANETTA DAVIS SAMUELS, JD
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Ivanetta Davis Samuels is Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for Meharry Medical College, where she oversees all legal affairs and transactions, including litigation management, policy management, immigration services, compliance, risk management, and environmental health and safety. She serves on the President’s Executive Leadership Council, helping to set policy and map the strategic direction of the institution. Prior to her current role, she served as Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary, and was recruited to Meharry in November 2006 as Associate General Counsel and Director of Corporate Compliance and Risk Management.
Before joining Meharry, she served on the executive team in the Office of the Mayor for Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County as Director of Legislative & External Affairs and senior policy advisor. She has practiced both criminal and civil law extensively, including serving as a Metro Attorney in the Metro Department of Law, where she worked as a civil litigator for the city and handled regulatory, administrative, legislative, and a wide range of legal matters for Nashville and Davidson County.
She earned a B.A. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University and has practiced law in the state of Tennessee for 30 years. She is a member of the Tennessee Bar Association, Nashville Bar Association, Napier-Looby Bar Association, the National Association of College and University Attorneys, and the Association of Corporate Counsel. She is also a Tennessee Bar Foundation Fellow in recognition of her professional achievements and service to the legal profession.
Ms. Samuels is deeply committed to serving the Nashville nonprofit community. She has held leadership and board roles with numerous organizations, including the University School of Nashville, where she was the second alum to serve as Board President; Metro Parks & Recreation Board (Board Chair); Nashville Ballet; YWCA; Metro Nashville Arts Commission; Metro Nashville Study & Formulating Committee; the Nashville Parks Foundation (founding member); and Interdenominational Services of America, a nonprofit devoted to empowering minority youth through career exposure and mentoring. She is also a member of the Nashville Chapter of The Links, Inc.
She currently serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Pathway Lending, Tennessee’s largest Community Development Financial Institution, which has provided more than $500 million in capital and educational services over 25 years to support businesses in underserved markets. She recently served on Renasant Bank’s Middle Tennessee Community Advisory Council, advising on outreach to the minority community. In December 2020, she was appointed to the Board of Directors of Amedisys (AMED), one of the nation’s largest home health and hospice providers; the board oversaw its acquisition by United Health Group’s Optum in August 2025.
Her honors include induction into the YWCA Women of Achievement (2024), the 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award, and service as Commencement Speaker for University School of Nashville. Additional recognitions include the Nashville Cable Board Walk of Fame Individual Honoree (2021), Athena Leadership Award nominee, Nashville Business Journal Woman of Influence (2018), and Nashville Medical News “InCharge 2020.”
About Cynthia Clemons
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT PANELIST
CYNTHIA CLEMONS, MHA
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
After nearly two decades of strategic leadership across finance, budget and revenue planning, clinical operations, and revenue cycle management—including physician billing—Ms. Clemons brings exceptional fiscal stewardship and visionary leadership to her role as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Meharry Medical College. As a key member of the President’s Executive Leadership Council, she guides the institution’s financial strategy at a pivotal moment of growth, ensuring that Meharry’s mission to advance health equity and biomedical excellence is supported by strong, sustainable financial foundations.
Over the course of nearly two decades in senior leadership roles spanning finance, budget and revenue planning, clinical operations, and revenue cycle management, Ms. Clemons has built a proven record of success with billiondollar organizations including the University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Baylor College of Medicine. Across these complex and highly dynamic environments, her leadership has been instrumental in maintaining financial stability, strengthening operational resilience, and supporting mission-driven growth across healthcare, higher education, and biomedical research enterprises.
Ms. Clemons thrives on tackling large-scale organizational challenges and navigating periods of change, guided by a deep belief that the most impactful and sustainable solutions emerge from listening, clear communication, and a genuine understanding of people and systems.
Before joining Meharry Medical College in 2025, Ms. Clemons provided financial oversight for a Health Science Center campus that included schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, and Public Health and Information Sciences, with a combined revenue budget exceeding $900 million. In this role, she was responsible for stewarding complex financial operations that supported academic, clinical, and research missions across the institution.
She also served as an executive partner to the Office of Human Resources, working closely to align financial and operational goals with the recruitment, development, and long-term support of organizational talent. Through this partnership, her work advanced enterprise-wide human capital strategies encompassing faculty and staff recruitment, onboarding, employee development, retention, and engagement—recognizing that people are central to institutional success.
Ms. Clemons holds a Master of Science in Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman’s University and a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration from Texas Southern University. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), and she proudly serves as a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Gulf Coast, reflecting her commitment to mentorship and community service.
Originally from Houston, Texas, Ms. Clemons relocated from Louisville, Kentucky, and has now transitioned to Nashville, Tennessee, where she brings her leadership, expertise, and passion for service to Meharry’s mission and future.
About Dr. Juan McGruder
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
PANELIST
JUAN A. MCGRUDER, PHD Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Dr. Juan McGruder is the Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Meharry Medical College. Serving as a key member of the President’s Executive Leadership Council, he is responsible for designing and executing the overall strategy for advancement. He leads Meharry’s Institutional Advancement team of 18, which includes Alumni Relations, Corporate and Foundation Relations, Development, Donor Relations & Prospect Research, Gift Management Services, and Marketing & Communications.
Most recently, he served as Vice President for Advancement at Oglethorpe University leading the institution’s development efforts. Prior to joining Oglethorpe University, he was the Senior Vice President & Chief Development Officer at Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA), where he managed JA’s statewide comprehensive resource development activities throughout Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, and Savannah. Prior to joining JA, he was Director of Development for Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts at Georgia Institute of Technology— while the Institute launched and successfully completed its historic $1.5 billion capital campaign, the largest university campaign in the State of Georgia, surpassing the goal by over $300 million. Under Juan’s leadership, the College also successfully surpassed its campaign goal of $35M, while assisting colleagues across all colleges and schools to raise over $958M in the campaign. During his thirteen-year tenure at Georgia Tech, he also served in progressive roles as Associate Director of Development for the College of Computing and later as the first Director of Development for the School of Computer Science.
Higher education administrative experience also comprises tenure as the former Assistant Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Morehouse School of Medicine and serving on the Administrative Cabinet as Special Assistant to President Thomas W. Cole, Jr., and later as Director of Alumni Relations at Clark Atlanta University. Prior, he served on a national level as Assistant Director of the Consortium for the Advancement of Private Higher Education at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) in Washington, DC—managing and providing technical assistance on multimillion-dollar grant programs for small liberal arts colleges throughout the country.
Earlier in his career, he held positions in Student Affairs at Radcliffe College, Simmons College, Western Kentucky University, University of Louisville, and Morehouse College. He also served as an instructor in General Education at Clark Atlanta University and as a Teaching Assistant in Organizational and Human Development at Vanderbilt University Peabody College. Juan was also a faculty member at LaGrange College’s Philanthropy and Development Master’s Program for five years teaching courses in Capital Campaigns Management and Strategy.
He completed a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Higher Education Administration and Human Development at Vanderbilt University in 1999, where his research included HBCUs and institutional advancement a dissertation entitled: The Impact of Intuitional Collaboration on Mission, Character and Financial Stability: The Case of the Atlanta University Center. McGruder earned a master’s (Ed. M.) at Harvard University’s School of Education in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy (APS). He holds a master’s (M.A.) in Counseling and Human Development from Clark Atlanta University, an Education Specialist (Ed. S.) in Student Affairs from Western Kentucky University, and a Certificate in Romanesque and Gothic Architecture in Britain and Europe from the University of Cambridge, England. His baccalaureate (B.A.) is in Political Science/pre-law from Clark College. He also earned the Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) international professional designation (2008).
Dr. McGruder is the past President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) – Greater Atlanta Chapter (500+ members), served as a member of the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) International Job Analysis Task Force and the Committee on Directorship, as a Board member of the African American Development Officers Network (AADO), and is on the Practitioner Advisory Board of The Science of Philanthropy Initiative (SPI) at the University of Chicago. He was also President of Midtown Atlanta Rotary Club and a member of Leadership Atlanta Class of 2018.
About Dr.Anil Shanker
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT PANELIST
ANIL SHANKER, MS, PHD Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation
Focused on mission, excellence, community trust, and innovation, Dr. Anil Shanker builds strategic partnerships and operating systems that translate biomedical innovation into health impact especially for communities historically left out of discovery and care. As Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation at Meharry Medical College and a key member of the President's Executive Leadership Council, Dr. Shanker leads a $125M+ annual R&D enterprise, scaling trisector sponsored programs and collaborative networks 4.5-fold aligning strategy, governance, talent, and resource allocation to drive institutional transformation.
Across complex external landscapes, Dr. Shanker forges mission-aligned alliances with NIH/NSF, major foundations, and biopharma to move programs from concept to execution. This includes NIH’s $165M+ AIM-AHEAD national consortium building AI talents, technology, and capacity, and multi-partner initiatives that expand diverse clinical research participation (e.g., Novartis/Sanofi Beacon of Hope and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Accelerate Precision Health). In moments that tested institutional resilience, Dr. Shanker drove cross-campus alignment and stakeholder diplomacy to secure reinstatement of $30M+ in NIH grants through compliance-forward risk remediation.
Dr. Shanker steers globally scaled, long-horizon science partnerships through the Diaspora Human Genomics Institute (a Meharry-incorporated nonprofit) to advance community-anchored data governance and global collaboration. He codeveloped Together for CHANGETM a 10-year, $80M public–private consortium with Regeneron, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Roche to build a genomics resource of ≥500,000 African-ancestry participants, among the largest global efforts, while enabling under-resourced institutions to lead discovery.
He published on practical roadmaps for institutional growth (Academic Medicine, Nature World View). Dr. Shanker serves on the U.S. National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Board on Health Sciences Policy and the AAMC Research Advancement and Development leadership group. Distinctions include Overseas Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (UK), Fellow of the International Union Against Cancer, Champion of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer, and recognition by the United Nations Academic Impact.
With more than three decades across three continents as a scientist-educator, Dr. Shanker completed Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management executive program. Central to his work in cancer immunology is mentoring 200+ emerging leaders and building cultures of excellence, integrity, and execution so AI-enabled translational engines can advance health across all populations.
Dr. Shanker earned his PhD in biotechnology with a focus on tumor immunology from the School of Biotechnology at Banaras Hindu University and his MS and BS degrees in zoology (specialization in cell biology) from the University of Delhi. He conducted postdoctoral studies at the Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, France and worked as a Scientist at the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland before joining Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN in 2010. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center; the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology and Inflammation, and the Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center.
Professor, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Physiology, School of Medicine
Dr. Chaudhuri is the recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation Excellence in Research Award ($899,894). Her project will characterize, biochemically and structurally, a unique member of phosphatases in the haloacid dehalogenase (HAD) superfamily – translocase of the inner mitochondrial membrane (Tim), known as Tim50. This work on the mitochondrial phosphatase Tim50 advances our understanding of mitochondrial function and illuminates mechanisms relevant to human diseases.
Associate Professor & Founding Chair, Department of Integrative
Genomics and Epidemiology, School of Graduate Studies
Dr. Gaye leads innovative, interdisciplinary research that integrates genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and socio-environmental factors to advance cardiometabolic and cancer-related discovery. Trained in Germany and the United Kingdom, Dr. Gaye earned advanced degrees in biotechnology, bioinformatics, and genetic epidemiology, followed by postdoctoral training at NIH. Over the past 12 months, Dr. Gaye published 10 peer-reviewed research articles, including a senior author high-impact (10.2) publication in Hypertension 82:1195-1207: “Regulatory
Roles of Long Noncoding RNAs in Arterial Stiffness and Hypertension”.
Department of Biochemistry, Cancer Biology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology School of Medicine
Dr. Ochoa conducts research at the intersection of neuroimmunology, aging and cancer. Over the past 12 months, he has advanced the field by elucidating critical receptor signaling pathways and cellular cross-talk published in two peer-reviewed high-impact research articles as first author in iScience (28:112772) and Frontiers in Immunology (16:1593913).
2025TopContributingAuthors:MeharryCoreFacilities
StaffScientistsinHighImpactResearchPublications
Vineeta Sharma, MS, PhD
Cells (14:1777)
Cell Biochemistry and Function (43:e70138)
Aging Cell (7:e70054)
Current Microbiology (82:314)
Derek Wilus, MS
Pathogens (14:1255)
Journal of Neurovirology (31:389-394)
Pathogens (14:311)
Journal of Clinical Medicine (14:635)
Olga Korolkova, MD, PhD
Cells (14:1777)
Aging Cell (7:e70054)
Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology Research (9:1-9)
Harshana Rajakaruna, MS, PhD
Diagnostics (15:3052)
Frontiers in Immunology (16:1593913)
From left to right: EVP and Provost Dr. Jeannette E. South-Paul, staff scientist Dr. Olga Korolkova; postdoctoral associate Dr. Salvador González Ochoa; faculty researcher Dr. Amadou Gaye; staff scientist Dr. Vineeta Sharma; faculty researcher Dr. Minu Chaudhuri; staff biostatistician Derek Wilus; staff scientist Dr. Harshana Rajakaruna; and Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation Dr. Anil Shanker.
Key Takeaways from the Summit
• Meharry is climbing the ranks to be an R1 Institution (Carnegie Classification)
• As an institution, we don’t need to catchup but leapfrog toward our destination
• We can lead in biomedical discovery, artificial intelligence and global health challenges
• MMC must increase the number of faculty with NIH R01 grants
• It is a clear necessity for Research, Institutional Advancement, Finance and Legal divisions to work together
• The regulations may not be the same for private philanthropy but the responsibility is the same
• Infrastructure and collaboration are important to advance MMC
• Institutional Advancement is working on a toolkit for faculty to use for fund solicitation
• We have been working on bolstering OfRI facilities and infrastructure
• West Basic Sciences building built around 1975, a $6M infrastructure grant will renovate laboratories and research facilities on the 3rd floor
• All five schools need to generate new PhD programs and bring in more research dollars
• MMC needs to bolster its post-award finance management and spend at minimum $50M in research dollars annually to qualify for R1 status
The Roadmap to R1 Status
The Carnegie Classification is a national framework for categorizing universities in the United States. Under the Carnegie Classification system, doctoral-degreegranting research universities fall into one of three categories:
● Very high research activity (R1)
● High research activity (R2)
● Doctoral/professional universities (R3)
Currently only 146 universities in the U.S. out of the 3939 included in the classification system have an R1 designation and only one (Howard University) of the 107 HBCUs has the designation. R1 status will enhance Meharry’s competitiveness for external funding and attract top-tier faculty, staff and students. Often R1 institutions are invited to apply for more generous grants allowing for additional investments in state-of-the-art facilities, dollars to secure highly sought after faculty, and expanded resources for students. By pursuing R1 classification, MMC also has the potential to significantly impact our local economy and businesses by attracting and developing top-tier talent to live, work, and discover healthcare breakthroughs in Middle Tennessee.
We will need to…
• Increase and diversify our research and sponsored programs funding portfolio
• Meet and/or exceed annual research expenditure threshold of $50M
• Award an average of 70 doctorate degrees each year
• Recruit and/or develop high caliber research faculty
• Promote interdisciplinary and collaborative research
• Increase the number of research publications
• Optimize the research efforts, revenue, and services provided by Research Units
• Prioritize technology transfer and commercialization activities
~Acknowledgements
Successful events require the talents, time, and service of dedicated staff. The Office for Research and Innovation sincerely appreciates and acknowledges the contributions of the following MMC team members for making this year’s Research Advancement, Regulatory and Compliance Summit a success.
Ms. Karen Smith
Ms. Yvette Burgess
Ms. April Hill-Jackson
Ms. Evelina Naish
Mr. Stephon Briscoe
Ms. Tamela Ensrud
Ms. Smruti Mohanty
Ms. Lisa Jones
Ms. Jannie Frierson
Ms. Robin Griffin
Mr. Gamaliel Ballard
Dr. Harshana Rajakaruna
Mr. Nihad Sakic
Dr. Pallavi Mukherjee
Dr. Temicka Logan
Dr. Qingguo Wang
Dr. Sarrah Widatalla
Dr. Karen Winkfield
Mr. Donnie Frierson
Mr. Lucius Patenaude
Mr. Kenneth Morris
Ms. Kimberly Thomas
Mr. Brandon Battle
Mr. Jeff Mitchell
Mr. Terry Olsen
Mr. Mark Smith
Ms. Shannon Roberson
Mr. Reginald D. Holt
Ms. Tonya Micah
Dr. Christopher Crowell
Ms. Nasrin Karim
Ms. Rashmi Chethan
Dr. Samuel Adunyah
Dr. Sakina Eltom
Dr. Frank Harris
Dr. Alexys Ferguson
Dr. Adul Sawas
Dr. Virginia Brennan
Dr. Chandravanu Dash
Dr. Awadh Binhazim
Dr. Pandu Gangula
Dr. Michael Caldwell
Dr. Uttam Ghosh
Dr. Akintomiwa Akintunde
Dr. Gladys Simiyu
Mr. Jeff Mitchell
Ms. Lisa Jones
Dr. Xinhong Dong
Dr. Menaka Thounaojam
Dr. Alfred Nyanda
Dr. Rajbir Singh
Dr. Byeongwoon Song
Dr. Minu Chaudhuri
Dr. John Salinas
Dr. Aramandla Ramesh
Dr. Rajbir Singh
Dr. Javan D. Reed
Ms. Rashmi Chetan
Prof. Vence Bonham
Dr. Pius N. Nde
Dr. Amos Sakwe
Mr. Brandon Battle
Dr. Pamela M. Martin
Dr. Ritu Chauhan
Ms. Ronette Adams-Taylor
Dr. Suresh Nekuri
Dr. Josiah Ochieng
Dr. Chaunice Saundra-Johnson
Dr. Ritu Chauhan
Dr. Robert Cooper
Dr. Bindong Liu
Dr. Ben Ogunkua
~Acknowledgements ~
The Meharry Office for Research and Innovation sincerely appreciates and acknowledges the guidance and the support of the following CollegeOfficers and Deans for making this year’s Research Advancement, Regulatory and Compliance Summit a success.
THE COLLEGE OFFICERS AND DEANS OF THE SCHOOLS
James E.K. Hildreth Sr., Ph.D., M.D.
President and Chief Executive Officer
Peter Edmund Millet, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Jeannette E. South-Paul, M.D., DHL (Hon), FAAFP
Executive Vice President and Provost
Cynthia Clemons, M.H.A.
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ivanetta Davis-Samuels, J.D.
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Anil Shanker, M.S., Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Research and Innovation
Juan McGruder, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Fortune Mhlanga, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President, Enterprise Data and Analytics
Founding Dean, School of Applied Computational Sciences
Daniel E. Dawes, J.D.
Senior Vice President and Founding Dean, School of Global Health
Lori Donnell, M.B.A.
Senior Vice President for Health Affairs, Executive Director, Meharry Medical Group
Lawrence Hall Jr., M.P.A.
Senior Vice President for Government Relations, Business Development and Community Engagement
Charles F. Cooper Jr. Vice President, Information Technology
Sandra A. Williams, D.B.A., M.P.S.
Vice President for Board Relations, Chief of Staff, Director of Title III Administration
Sonja Harris-Haywood, M.D., M.S, М.А. Dean, School of Medicine
Cherae Farmer-Dixon, D.D.S., M.S.P.H., M.B.A., FACD, FICD Dean, School of Dentistry
Merry Lindsey, Ph.D.
Dean, School of Graduate Studies
~Acknowledgements ~
The Meharry Office for Research and Innovation sincerely appreciates and acknowledges the guidance and leadership of the following MeharryBoard of Trustees and their support in making this year’s Research Advancement, Regulatory and Compliance Summit a success.
MEHARRY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Dr. Nelson L. Adams III, M.D., Chairman
Mr. Milton H. Jones Jr., Vice Chairman
James E.K. Hildreth Sr., Ph.D., M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer
Dr. LaVeil M. Allen
Dr. Brandon H. Barton Jr.
Mr. Christian Boone
(Student Observer)
Mr. Kevin Bryant
Ms. Cynthia Day
Dr. Coyness L. Ennix Jr.
Rev. Roland Fernandes
Dr. Eric A. Floyd
Dr. Bianca M. Frederick
Dr. Dawn B. Griffin
Dr. Lewis Hargett
Dr. Ethel Harris
Mr. Aubrey Harwell Jr.
Dr. Martin D. Jeffries
Dr. Smita Misra
(Faculty Senate Representative)
Dr. Audrey J. Murrell
Mr. Edgar G. Rios
Dr. Thomas A. Scott
Dr. Edith F. Smith-Rayford
Dr. Felix Vincent
Mr. James E. Williams
Dr. Kenneth Williams
Dr. Robert L. Williams Jr.
Ms. Carol H. Williams-Hood
Dr. Kevin Woods
70TH ANNUAL
MARCH 4-5, 2026
CAL TURNER FAMILY CENTER FOR STUDENT EDUCATION
Meharry Medical College commemorates seven decades of research excellence withthe 70th Meharry Research Symposium.
This annual event provides a forum for students and researchers from across the College to present innovative scholarship, engage in cross-disciplinary exchange, andreflect on the evolving nationalresearch landscape. Meetthe pathfinders shaping future research. Explore the latestbreakthroughs, andMeharry’s rising research impact.
IN PERSONANDVIRTUAL PRESENTATION OPTIONS WILLBE AVAILABLE. FORELIBILITY CRITERIAAND ABSTRACTSUBMISSION,CHECKYOURMEHARRY EMAIL.
Joinus for the AIM-AHEADSEHub 2026Symposium at MeharryMedicalCollege, Cal Turner FamilyCenter forStudent Education (101121st AveN,Nashville,TN 37208), bringingtogether investigators, trainees, and stakeholders toshowcaseresearch,foster collaboration,andstrengthenthe AIM-AHEAD community.
