![University of Alabama](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/UA_Banner-1.jpg)
The University of Alabama
ABOUT US
The University of Alabama (UA) is excited to be a part of this historic research study and advocate for our community members to be represented. People of all kinds and Food of all types are just two of the love languages of the UA HBCD team. The interdisciplinary team at UA focuses on community and helping to improve outcomes for community members in rural Alabama. Together Dr. Lea Yerby, (Department of Community Medicine and Population Health) and Dr. Sharlene Newman (Director of the Alabama Life Research Institute and UA MRI Facility) lead a crew of individuals with backgrounds in: obstetrics & gynecology, pediatrics, business healthcare management, social work, psychology, public health, human development, and neuroscience to name a portion of the teams areas of expertise. We are a group of diverse individuals who strive for excellence in everything we do from interacting with patients in the clinic to collecting the best research data we can. We are excited to continue building trust within our rural communities and working closely with our participants over the span of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study.
![Alabama HBCD Team](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/1-Alabama-Team.jpg)
Some of the UA team outside of the UA MRI Facility: From the left is Shakira Savage (Research Assistant), Sally Sutherland (Study Coordinator), Jamilah Channel (Lead Research Family Navigator), Stephanie Petsilis (Research Assistant), and Dr. Lea G. Yerby (one of UA's Multiple Principal Investigators).
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INVESTIGATORS
![Sharlene D. Newman](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Sharlene-Newman_PhD_MPI-2.jpg)
Sharlene D. Newman, PhD
Principal Investigator
![Lea Yerby](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Untitled-design-copy-33.png)
Lea Yerby, PhD
Principal Investigator
![Lilanta Joy Bradley](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Lilanta-Joy-Bradley_PhD_CoI.jpeg)
Lilanta Joy Bradley, PhD
Co-Investigator
![Brian Gannon](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Brian-Gannon_MD_CoI.jpg)
Brian Gannon, MD
Co-Investigator
![Catherine Lavender](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Catherine-Lavender_MD_CoI.jpg)
Catherine Lavender, MD
Co-Investigator
![John McDonald](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/John-McDonald_MD_CoI.jpg)
John McDonald, MD
Co-Investigator
![Yanyu Xiong](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Yanyu-Xiong_PhD_EEG-Support.jpg)
Yanyu Xiong, PhD
Co-Investigator
RESEARCH TEAM
![Jamilah Channel](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/JamilahChannel_Lead-Family-Research-Navigator.jpg)
Jamilah ChannelLead Family Research Navigator
![Rishi Deshpande](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Rishi-Deshpande_MS_MRI-Technical-Director.jpg)
Rishi Deshpande, MS
MRI Technical Director
![Emily Gann](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Emily_Gann.jpg)
Emily GannResearch Assistant
![Sally Sutherland](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Sally_Sutherland.jpg)
Sally SutherlandStudy Coordinator
![Stephanie Petsilis](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Stephanie_Petsilis.jpg)
Stephanie PetsilisResearch Assistant
![Shakira Savage](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Shakira_Savage.jpg)
Shakira SavageResearch Assistant
![Hannah Thomas](https://hbcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Hannah_Thomas.jpg)