Investigator-Initiated Research

Investigator-initiated research is conceived and designed by a Cook Children's staff member and is conducted solely at Cook Children's. With these projects, the investigators are responsible for coordinating and facilitating the entire project life-cycle. This includes the research design, initiation and conduction of the study, as well as analysis and publication of the clinical research. These are most often smaller scale studies aimed at evaluating drugs already on the market or providing open access to drugs in development that are not otherwise available.

Leadership

A Texas native, I grew up under the wide-open skies of west Texas and stayed relatively close to home to pursue higher education at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, TX. There I received a Bachelor's degree in psychology in 1999 and Master's degree in counseling psychology in 2001. My pursuit for higher education took me further as I moved to the metroplex in 2001 and began working at Cook Children's. A few years later I began a doctoral program at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX, where I earned a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with an emphasis in Cognitive Neuroscience in 2013. During my graduate training, I spent a two and a half years working in the Neurotherapy Program conducting neurofeedback, where I learned to interpret EEGs and quantitative EEGs.

My career at Cook Children's began in 2002, working in the Life After Cancer Program in the Hematology & Oncology Center, where I conducted research in the areas of quality of life and cognitive outcomes of cancer therapy in pediatric cancer survivors for eight years. I then transitioned to the Research department where I spent several years conducting research in the areas of epilepsy, movement disorder, and neurosurgery while working with neurologists and neurosurgeons in the Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center. My role in the research department continued to expand and in 2014, I moved into a manager role. While still providing services directly to Neurosciences, I also began to focus on increasing the investigator-initiated research support service line at Cook Children's. In my new role, I provided direct and indirect support and oversight of scientists focused on internally developed, investigator-initiated and Sponsor-Investigator IND clinical research protocols. In 2015, in an effort to fully develop a collaborative program to offer a research experience during medical school, I was appointed Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Since that time, we have hosted numerous medical students through the Pediatric Research Program.

As part of my ongoing effort to continually expand the breadth and depth of investigator-initiated research at Cook Children's, I accepted the role of Director in the newly formed division of Research Data Science & Analytics in 2019. This division was developed to accelerate data-driven research, promote collaboration, and train future leaders. The division connects data science experts with investigators in all fields to spark discovery and pairs research scientists with investigators to provide comprehensive research support for investigators pursuing investigator-initiated research at Cook Children's.

Outside of my work, I serve on a couple of boards for non-profits. One focused on innovative primary care and public health research and the other is focused on providing childhood experiences to children who come from hard places. My free time is often spent at camps and retreats for these children or with my son at the pool, at the movies, working on computers, or just doing what he wants to do. I enjoy music, cooking, and doing anything that allows me to work with power tools.

MyNCBI

Research Gate

I was born in Irving, Texas where I attended high school and met my wife. We moved to Abilene, Texas to attend Hardin-Simmons University where I completed my bachelor's degree. I then attended the University of North Texas Health Science Center where I earned my master's degree. Prior to working at Cook Children's, I worked as a scientist in an immunogenomics laboratory where I developed TCR-mimic antibodies, and a pain management medical device company where I developed a three dimensional skin simulator used to visualize radiofrequency ablations. While at Cook Children's, I have worked as a clinical scientist for endocrinology and genetics, and have authored over 25 publications and written 2 textbook chapters. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two boys and staying active through running, weight training, and hiking.

Google Scholar: ‪Luke Hamilton‬ - ‪Google Scholar‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

ResearchGate

I was born in England, but grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. After my first winter at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, I transferred back to warmer weather and completed my bachelor's degree from Texas Christian University. During my undergrad at TCU, I worked as a clinical research intern at Cook Children's Medical Center. I then attended the University of North Texas Health Science Center where I earned my master's degree in biomedical sciences. Following graduation, I returned to working at Cook Children's as a clinical scientist. Outside of work, my husband and I stay busy with our two young children and two energetic dogs

Research Scientists

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, but I grew up in Arlington, Texas. I attended the University of Houston and received my Bachelor's degree in chemistry. After completing my undergraduate education, I came across an opportunity in clinical research field and worked as ac clinical research coordinator in dermatology. I attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where I earned my Master's in Physiology. During my time at Cook Children's, I worked as clinical research coordinator on the Leukemia and Lymphoma team. I later transitioned to my current role as a research scientist in Oncology where I work specifically with the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program. In my free time, I enjoying cooking, going to the gym and traveling.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-ademola-ojo-87702a101

I was raised outside of Houston in Magnolia, Texas. I then attended Texas A&M University in College Station, TX as a 3rd generation Aggie. During my time there I was involved with Aggies for Christ, Reed Rowdies (Basketball club), an avid attender of A&M football games, as well as an undergrad research assistant in an evolutionary genetics lab. In 2018 I graduated with my bachelors degree in Genetics with a minor in public health. I started my career at ST Genetics, where I was a laboratory technician and later became a data analyst. While there I began pursuing my masters in Statistics, which I would later complete in 2022. In 2023, my wife and I spent time teaching English abroad in Argentina through Let's Start Talking. Later that year I began my time here at Cook Children's Hospital as a Research Scientist with the neuroscience department. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family and our standard poodle Theo. I also love camping, just about all outdoor activities, playing basketball, and studying the word of God!

I was born in the beautiful Caribbean island of Jamaica W.I. I migrated to the US as an international student at Prairie View A&M University where I completed my BBA-Management (2005). I later completed my Masters of Business Administration-Finance and Masters in Healthcare Administration (2008), and Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies (2015) at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). After completing my doctoral studies, I worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow with the LINK Research Lab, UTA for one year (2016) where I further pursued research on college graduates' career transitions. My personal career path later transitioned to the Oakwood University as Assistant Professor, Finance and Strategic Management, where I taught and continued my research (2016 – 2019).

In February 2020, my career took another turn when I joined Cook Children's Health Care System in Fort Worth, Texas as Research Project Manager. My time has been with both the Genetics and Pain Management research teams. Within each respective department, our emerging research focuses on pharmacogenetic variability in pediatric patients with depression and the usage of massage therapy and virtual reality to help mitigate patients' anxiety and pain.

In my spare time, I like reading spiritual books, swimming, and above all enjoying my family.

Google Scholar

I was originally born in Buffalo, New York before moving to Gardner, Massachusetts when I was in middle school. I then went on to receive my bachelor's degree in physical education from Bridgewater State University in 2014. After graduation, I moved to Fort Worth to obtain a master's degree in 2017 and then a PhD in 2022 from Texas Christian University. During my time as a PhD student, I worked as a research associate for an intervention which increased time for recess and outdoor play during the school day for elementary students. My research as a student focused on the effects of this intervention on physical activity and body composition. Currently at Cook Children's, I work as the Research Scientist for surgery and trauma research and oversee all UNTHSC TCOM medical student research. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, traveling, watching sports, and music festivals.

I was born in Texas and raised in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Biology from New Mexico State University. During the last two years of undergrad, I worked on plant biology aimed at benefiting local farmers. After graduation, I interned at the National Institutes of Health in the National Human Genome Research Institute, identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms related to neural tube defects. Following that, I completed my PhD in Cancer Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, studying the interplay between germ cell development, sex determination, and cancer susceptibility. I briefly transitioned into aerospace and defense as a program manager overseeing projects spanning different parts of the manufacturing process. Eventually, I returned to my scientific roots as a Research Scientist at Cook Children's Health Care System. Here, I work with medical students and clinical research interns on Investigator-Initiated studies.

I was born and raised in Germany. In 2009, I moved to Boise, ID, where I completed my undergrad degree at Boise State University and met my wife. We moved to Fort Worth, TX for grad school in 2012. I earned my master's degree and PhD in Exercise Physiology from Texas Christian University. Between the graduate degrees, I worked in the Pulmonary Physiology Lab at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in Dallas, TX. During my PhD, I worked as a Laboratory Coordinator and Instructor for the Kinesiology Department at TCU, where I was involved in research projects ranging from sport and exercise performance to athlete and general population health. After a one-year appointment as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Texas Woman's University in Denton, TX, I joined Cook Children's as a Research Scientist in 2023. Here, I work with Dr. John Robertson at the Exercise Respiratory Center in Prosper, TX, where we research Exercise Induced Laryngeal Obstruction (EILO) and Dysfunctional Breathing. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two daughters and our dog.

Google Scholar

ResearchGate

I grew up in Georgia, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at Mercer University. I later received my MSPH in Epidemiology from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. While attending Emory, I interned with CDC in the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) and with Emory Healthcare. I moved to Fort Worth in 2017 to continue my research career at John Peter Smith Hospital. In my 6 years there, I developed and executed studies using EMR-based registries for HCV and substance use. I joined Cook Children's in 2024 as a Research Scientist supporting NICU/PICU research interests. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dogs, Millie and Murphy, and volunteering with the United States Pony Club.

I graduated from University of Benin in Benin-City, Nigeria with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Degree. My research there focused on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of exclusive breastfeeding among working mothers' in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. I worked as a physician in Nigeria for a few years before deciding to study Epidemiology in the United States. I received my Master of Public Health (MPH) Degree from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX. I am a certified public health professional, and have worked in research since 2013. Prior to joining Cook Children's, my research has focused on factors affecting hospital readmissions, orthopedic studies and Maternal & Child Health. I joined Cook Children's in 2018, and my work has been centered around cardiology and cardio-thoracic surgery research studies within the Heart Center. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, gardening, singing, working with children and youth groups, and volunteering for community outreaches.

I was born in Frankfurt, Germany, but consider myself a native of San Antonio, Texas. I attended the University of Oklahoma where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Health and Exercise Sciences. Prior to joining Cook Children's, I worked at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) for 16 years. During my career at OUHSC I held various roles from a Research Assistant and Exercise Physiologist for both the General Clinical Research Center and the Children's Metabolic Research Institute and most recently as a Research Program Coordinator for the Adult and Pediatric Urology departments. My proudest accomplishment at OUHSC was being selected to implement Oklahoma's only Pediatric Bone Clinic at OU Children's Physicians Endocrinology Clinic. I was responsible for clinically administering and analyzing bone density and body composition scans of patients using a GE Luna DEXA (Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry) machine.

In 2016, I joined Cook Children's Medical Center as a certified Clinical Research Coordinator for the newly established Pediatric Urology clinic. I'm assigned as the Lead Research Coordinator for the department's primary study titled, DSD Long-Term Outcomes of Interventions for Reproductive Dysfunction: Continence, Behavioral Outcomes, and Novel Predictors of Brain Masculinization (STUDY 1 - 4); a 10-year project which consist of thirteen national sites and is sponsored by the National Institute of Health (NIH). Since arriving at Cook Children's I have expanded to working with investigators from the Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics, Pain Medicine and Trauma departments to initiate new research projects. In 2019, I earned the Cook Children's Medical Center Team Peak Performer Award for my work with the Aim for Safety team regarding Gun Safety and our intervention project, Increasing Utilization of Gun Safety Devices. To date, I have 27 peer-reviewed research articles as well as numerous conference presentations.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, working out, watching college football, vacationing, and cheering for my favorite teams – Oklahoma Sooners, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

ResearchGate

I was born and raised in California and later moved to Utah to attend the University of Utah. During my time as an undergraduate, I worked as a science and health journalist. While covering a story about a new autism research program, I connected with the program director who invited me to join their research team. From that experience, I developed a passion for research. I earned my master's degree in Human Development and Social Policy from the University of Utah. My research focused on development of a peer teaching program for adolescents with autism. After becoming a Certified Child Life Specialist, I moved to Texas to attend Texas Christian University for my doctorate. As a PhD student in experimental psychology, my research has focused on child, parent, and family factors that influence parenting behaviors and child behavioral outcomes. Since joining Cook Children's, I have worked as a research scientist assisting with clinical research in endocrinology and the Congenital Hyperinsulinism Center. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog and travelling.

Sumith Roy is a Project Manager actively involved in the life cycle of investigator-initiated studies involving advanced endoscopic procedures in Gastroenterology. She joined Cook Children's Health Care System in 2022. She is a physician by training and received a Master of Public Health with a focus in Epidemiology from New York Medical College, NY. She is also a doctoral candidate, at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health where she previously worked as a Research Scientist on a longitudinal cohort study investigating the association of periodontal microbiota, inflammatory phenotypes and insulin resistance among diabetes-free adults.

Despite being a Texan for quite some time now, I called St. Louis, Missouri, and the Chicago area “home” while growing up. I attended Hope College in Holland, Michigan for my undergraduate degree in Biology and received my MPH in Epidemiology from Texas A&M University. In my early career I interned with the CDC at the National Center for Emerging Zoonotic Infectious Diseases and with the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. In 2014 I moved to Dallas where I met my husband, and began my clinical research career at Mary Crowley Cancer Research. In my 5 years there, I matched patients to targeted clinical therapies and served as the staff epidemiologist. Since joining Cook Children's, I have worked as the Project Manager over Stroke and Thrombosis research. In my free time, I enjoy camping and traveling with my husband, watching hockey (Go Blues!), and relaxing by the pool with my dog Moose.

ResearchGate

I was born in Colorado, but my parents brought me to Texas as a toddler, and I have not left so I consider myself a naturalized Texan. I graduated with my BSc in Biology in 2002, my Master's in Agriculture in 2003 and my PhD in Immunology in 2008. I have 10+ years of experience in human and animal research. My training included a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Hyperion Biotechnology in San Antonio working on a variety of projects in both human trials and animal models for the United States government. I went on to UT Southwestern and, for a brief time, worked in the animal welfare Institute of Animal Care and Use Committee. I came to Cook Children's in 2017 and began working on neurology research projects, specifically in epilepsy and movement disorders, in the Research Administration Office before moving over to the research center upon its founding in 2019. My research interests include infant feeding and its relationship to brain injury.

I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii but have called Texas home since I was 2 years old. I attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned a BS in Life Sciences. With that came 5 years of service in the US Army as an infantry officer. During this time I had the honor of leading soldiers on two combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After my military service, I decided to dive into research and earned a master's degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio as well as a PhD from Rice University both majoring in bioengineering. Prior to coming to Cook Children's, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Houston Methodist Research Institute where I conducted research in tissue engineering for congenital heart defects. My research focused on the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into functional beating cardiomyocytes as well as developing biomimetic materials for full cardiac wall repair. While at Cook Children's I have been able to continue my interests in pediatric cardiovascular research as a project manager in the Heart Center assisting cardiologists and surgeons in their clinical research endeavors. In my free time, you'll either find me spending time with the family, smoking meat or building stuff, anything from furniture to fly rods.

Google Scholar

I received my Ph.D. in Behavioral Neuroscience from Baylor University. My graduate research investigated the neurobiological correlates of alcohol use and its impact on memory and motor function throughout different life stages, including adolescence, adulthood, and aging. My research during my NIH T32-funded postdoctoral fellowship at the Barshop Institute of Longevity and Aging Studies focused on the brain's vascular system and its role in age-related cognitive decline during healthy aging and in Alzheimer's disease. I identified a specific pathway, mTOR, which could be targeted to treat age-related cognitive impairment by restoring several different aspects of brain vascular function. After this, I transitioned to clinical research, specializing in data analysis for a medical device company in San Antonio that provides innovative solutions for non-compressible hemorrhage.

At Cook Children's, I am a Research Scientist who is partnered with the medical director of neuro-oncology, Dr. Sibo Zhao. Together, our goal is to bring low-intensity focused ultrasound, a cutting-edge non-invasive treatment option, to neuro-oncology patients at Cook Children's. In current neuro-oncology clinical trials, acoustic energy is delivered to a specific location in the brain without damaging the surrounding brain tissue, which can be used to enhance the delivery of therapeutics through targeted drug activation and/or blood-brain barrier opening. Low-intensity focused ultrasound in pediatric neuro-oncology is currently limited to clinical trials and is not an FDA-approved treatment. Please reach out to learn more about the current and upcoming clinical trials with low-intensity focused ultrasound at Cook Children's.

Associate and Assistant Research Scientists

I was born and raised here in Fort Worth, Texas, just a few miles away from the CCMC main campus. With a passion for research and neuroscience, I attended Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. During my college career, my main areas of focus were on a clinical trial focusing on brain biomarkers for Major Depressive Disorder, as well as drug-related animal research for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. After obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience in May 2020, I returned to Texas to work as a Clinical Research Assistant at Baylor Scott & White Research Institute in Dallas, Texas. During that time, I worked on clinical trials for COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies and vaccine studies. Since joining Cook Children's in August 2021, I have worked as a Research Assistant and an Associate Research Scientist where I have had the privilege to work with children with an array of different neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy and drug-resistant epilepsy. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy traveling, cooking, watching sports, and being outside as much as I can!

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-brock-a970781b1/

Born in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico. I hold an MPH in Epidemiology from UNT Health Science Center and a bachelor's degree in Biology. My experience includes working as a foodborne illness surveillance specialist in Tarrant County Public Health Department and completing a practicum in Trauma Administration at Texas Health Resources Dallas. Outside of work, I stay active through running and CrossFit.

My relationship with Cook Children's began when I was born at 26 weeks and spent the first few months of my life in the NICU. I continued to be treated at Cook Children's for epilepsy until I graduated from the High School of Medical Professions at North Side High School in Fort Worth, TX. I earned my bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Health Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. After graduation, I came back to Cook Children's as a volunteer in neurosciences for some of the same doctors who treated me as a child. After a year-and-a-half, I was offered a full-time position in the research department where I have been working for over 10 years. I have managed data for neurosciences, NICU, and cardiology. I am responsible for multi-site registries, investigator initiated databases and assist with regulatory processes.

Born and raised in Fort Worth, I always dreamed of working in the "blue castle" downtown. I left Fort Worth for College Station where I attended Texas A&M University (WHOOP!), graduating in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Communication and Secondary Education. During my time at A&M, I worked at the Texas A&M Health Science Center as a lab tech in the Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology department. Working there grew my love for research, and when I moved back to Fort Worth, I began working for Cook Children's. Currently, I work with Dr. Sani Roy's endowed chair focused on Prader-Willi Syndrome Research. In my free time, I like exploring DFW, trying new food, and weightlifting!

Clinical Data Management

I was born and brought up in India. I completed my school and got my Associate degree in Nursing from there. After I got married, we migrated to USA as part of my husband's job. Then I continued my studies, got my Bachelor's in Nursing and later on earned Master's degree in Healthcare informatics. Prior to working at Cook Children's, I worked as a NICU nurse in Texas Health Recourse for 10 years and as a quality coordinator at JPS Health network. Currently I work as a Clinical Data Manager at Cook Children's, maintaining and supporting the data needs for NEST database. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family and cooking.

Research Nurse Coordinator

I was born and raised in North Texas receiving my Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Texas Woman's University in 2018. I worked as a bedside nurse for six years in chronic care, acute care and critical care. I joined Cook Children's PICU as a charge nurse in 2022 with the opening of Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper campus. In the Fall of 2023, I began my master's degree in health sciences at the University of Texas at Tyler. In May of 2024, I began my position as a research nurse coordinator with John Robertson, M.D., at the Exercise Respiratory Center in Prosper, Texas researching exercise induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and dysfunctional breathing. I also work with Lauren Akers, D.O.

Investigator-Initiated Research

Leadership

Laurie Bailey - Director

Luke Hamilton - Supervisor

Alice Hoeft - Supervisor

Research Scientists

Daniel Ademola-Ojo - Research Scientist, AYA

Avery Caraway - Research Scientist, Neurosciences

Throy Campbell - Research Scientist, Pain

David Farbo - Research Scientist, Student Research

Angelica Gonzalez - Research Scientist, Student Research

Andy Kreutzer - Research Scientist, Exercise Respiratory Center

Brooke MacDonald - Research Scientist, Critical Care

Fadeke Ogunyankin - Research Scientist, Heart Center

Kristy Reyes - Research Scientist

Deborah Rafferty - Research Scientist, Hyperinsulinism Center

Sumith Roy - Research Scientist, Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy Program

Allyson Schenk - Research Scientist, Stroke and Thrombosis Program

Sabrina Shandley - Research Scientist, NEST Clinic

Chris Tsao - Research Scientist, Heart Center

Candice Van Skike - Research Scientist, Focused Ultrasound Program

Associate and Assistant Research Scientists

Emily Brock - Associate Research Scientist, Neurosciences

Isabel Vega Calderon – Associate Research Scientist, Stroke and Thrombosis Program

Courtney Gilson - Associate Research Scientist

Amy Trejo - Associate Research Scientist, MPoWER Center

Clinical Data Management

Shiji Philip - Clinical Data Manager, NEST Clinic

Research Nurse Coordinator

Rebecca Brovina - Nurse Research Coordinator