Dinender Singla, professor and head of the College of Medicine鈥檚 Division of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Sciences, developed a system that turns exosomes 鈥� vesicles that cells secrete to communicate with one another 鈥� into delivery vehicles for medical treatments.

This innovative technology, for which 麻豆原创 is seeking patent protection, places therapeutics inside exosomes and coats them with cell-specific markers that direct them to an exact area of the body to deliver the drug.

鈥淚 call these smart tiny bubbles,鈥� Singla says. 鈥淢illions of people have heart disease, and they take multiple drugs in extremely high doses. But we have no way to be certain these drugs are getting to where they need to go. We need innovative technologies to get treatments exactly where they need to go to cure the problem.鈥�

How the Therapy Works

This discovery is part of Singla鈥檚 work to provide therapies to treat and prevent heart disease, including heart damage caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted radiation to the chest. That heart damage seems to be caused by inflammatory factors that treatments use to kill cancer cells. Technology developed by Singla encapsulates anti-inflammatory heart treatments in exosomes and then delivers the drug to the exact area of heart damage.

鈥淭hey can treat cancer and protect the heart.鈥� 鈥� 麻豆原创 Professor Dinender Singla

As part of this research, Singla鈥檚 team also developed technologies to deliver cancer-killing drugs inside exosomes. They chose triple-negative breast cancer for their research, the deadliest form of the disease, with a 77%鈥�78% five-year survival rate. In the lab, the therapy showed significant promise in killing cancer cells 鈥� at much lower doses that are used in chemotherapy 鈥� while also protecting the heart. So the exosome therapy could help cancer patients without the severe side effects of chemotherapy.

鈥淭hese therapies can work hand-in-hand,鈥� Singla said. 鈥淭hey can treat cancer and protect the heart.鈥�

Financial Investment is Key for Drug Development

The next step will be manufacturing the therapy for clinical use and advancing into FDA clinical trials for heart disease and cancer treatment. To help accelerate that path, Singla partnered with Orlando investor and 麻豆原创 donor Chakri Toleti, a healthcare technology entrepreneur focused on building category-defining businesses through AI and agentic platforms, biomedical innovation and ambient intelligence including most recently care.ai, which was acquired by Stryker in 2024.

Through his innovation fund, TCapital, Toleti backs transformative technologies designed to improve healthcare delivery and reduce human suffering at scale. Together, Singla and Toleti invested in and formed Exomic to fund continued research, clinical development, and commercialization of the technology.

鈥淭his was an opportunity to do something truly innovative in cancer and cardiovascular treatment.鈥� 鈥� Chakri Toleti, 麻豆原创 donor

Toleti says his passion for advancing cancer research is deeply personal after losing his father to the disease.

鈥淭his was an opportunity to do something truly innovative in cancer and cardiovascular treatment,鈥� he says. 鈥淒r. Singla鈥檚 work represents a fundamental shift toward new biomedical platforms not only in how targeted therapies are delivered in the human body, but in how we think about treatment and healing itself.鈥�

Such public-private partnerships are one of the goals of , which drives innovation, enterprise, and collaboration across disciplines.

鈥淒r. Singla鈥檚 groundbreaking exosome delivery system perfectly exemplifies how university innovation translates into significant, life-saving benefits for society,鈥� says Winston V. Schoenfeld, vice president for research and innovation. 鈥淎s demonstrated by the creation of Exomic, industry partnership is essential for driving such pioneering technologies towards successful translation and real-world clinical use.鈥�

The effort is also providing exciting learning opportunities for College of Medicine graduate students. Jonatas De Mendonca Rolando 鈥�23MS 鈥�26PhD聽earned his Ph.D. in biomedical sciences earlier this month. He is staying at 麻豆原创 as a post-doctoral researcher to continue creating the exosome therapy.

He helped develop protocols and procedures for the delicate technology and saw its impact in the lab. He鈥檚 excited to have a financial supporter who can help take the therapy from lab to, he hopes, patients.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been amazing to part of a high-tech project and see leadership in science,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 am very excited for my future.鈥�

Researcher Background

Singla is the AdventHealth Endowed Chair of Cardiovascular Sciences at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences and is a faculty fellow with the 麻豆原创 Office of Research. He earned his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees from Punjabi University, Patiala, India, and his Ph.D. from the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and has continually been funded by the American Heart Association and/or the National Institutes of Health since 2004.

About TCapital

TCapital is an AI, Frontier Tech and Life Sciences innovation fund investing in category-defining platforms and infrastructure. Founded by healthcare technology entrepreneur Chakri Toleti, T-Capital invests in companies shaping the future of treatment, care, and biomedical innovation. For more information, visit TCapital.com.

All were among 109 College of Medicine graduates who became Physician Knights on May 15 and promised to become what their dean calls one of 鈥渢he Good Doctors 鈥� a 麻豆原创 tradition.鈥�

This year鈥檚 M.D. program commencement was the medical school鈥檚 14th and the last for Vice President for Health Affairs and founding Dean Deborah German, who announced earlier this year she will transition from the role she has held for 20 years.

鈥淕raduates, today you become alumni of an innovative medical school committed to improving health for all,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hrough your time here, you learned, you grew, and you cared for patients with courage, dedication, and grace. I couldn鈥檛 be prouder of the work you have done.鈥�

With this year鈥檚 commencement, 麻豆原创鈥檚 young medical school, which opened in 2009, has prepared 1,421 physicians to care for Floridians and the nation at large.

Inspired by Her Research Mentor

Moots is the third M.D./Ph.D. graduate in 麻豆原创鈥檚 history. She enrolled at the university in 2013 to pursue her bachelor鈥檚 degree in biomedical sciences and began her combined doctoral degree in 2018. Now she will go to Lakeland Regional Hospital for internal medicine training 鈥� her first choice for residency because of the hospital鈥檚 focus on innovation, research and clinical trials.

鈥淚鈥檝e spent almost half my life at 麻豆原创,鈥� she says. 鈥淕raduating is incredibly exciting, but it feels strange to close such a long and meaningful chapter.鈥�

She said her medical training at 麻豆原创 was most shaped by her research mentor, Otto Phanstiel, a College of Medicine cancer researcher. 鈥淗e exemplifies the qualities I aspire to carry into medicine through the way he communicates, collaborates, and approaches every interaction with humility, curiosity, and a drive for excellence,鈥� she says. 鈥淗is influence has shaped how I hope to approach research, teamwork, and patient care throughout my career.鈥�

鈥淢ost Monumental Moment of My Life鈥�

Shaylor will do his . He hopes to become a hand surgeon. Medical school military officers are promoted when they receive their M.D. degree, and 麻豆原创鈥檚 tradition is to honor that promotion at commencement. After receiving their diplomas, military officers are pinned with their new rank by a faculty member of their choosing.

Shaylor was inspired to enter military service by Jose Borrero, a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during Vietnam before becoming a founding faculty member at the College of Medicine. Now retired, Borrero continues to serve as a mentor to 麻豆原创 medical students. He returned to commencement May 15, pinned Shaylor and proudly saluted the young military physician. Shaylor describes the pinning as 鈥渢he most monumental moment of my life.鈥�

Connecting with Others

Castellano and Threatt met playing volleyball during their first year of medical school, then started a band with other M.D. students. They went through the fear of 鈥渃ouples matching鈥� into residency 鈥� unsure if they would be selected to train at the same hospital or even city.

Today they鈥檙e simultaneously planning their move to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore and their wedding. He鈥檒l practice anesthesiology because it combines his love of chemistry and connecting with people.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a small window that you have to talk to patients before surgery, but it is one of their most vulnerable moments in which you really have an ability to make this individual feel comfortable,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat is a very special relationship to me.鈥�

She鈥檚 training to be a pediatrician.

鈥淢y biggest dream and aspiration is to be an advocate for children and for families,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 think that through Johns Hopkins there will be a lot of opportunities to do so and go into communities to be helping and educating children.鈥�

When NASA launches its latest voyage to the International Space Station on May 12, it will carry a blood clotting experiment from the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine鈥檚 newest faculty member. The research will include illuminated bone marrow cells floating in space to find better ways to keep astronauts and Earthlings healthier.

Hansjorg Schwertz specializes in occupational health and focuses his research on how microgravity and radiation in space impact the body鈥檚 blood-clotting functions. After an extensive career overseas and at the University of Utah, he comes to 麻豆原创 to serve as the associate director for Translational Aerospace Medicine Research at the 麻豆原创 Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM).

As humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond, the center is exploring how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention for patients on Earth.

鈥淲hen it comes to putting footprints on the moon, there is no better place to be than 麻豆原创,鈥� he says.

NASA Concerned About Blood Clots in Space

Pre- and post-mission medical testing of astronauts on the International Space Station has shown that spaceflight changes their immune system and blood clotting ability. A few astronauts have even developed blood clots during a flight or after returning. For that reason, Schwertz is leading the NASA-funded Megakaryocytes Orbiting in Outer Space and Near Earth (MOON) study, which he began working on at the University of Utah and continues to collaborate with the university’s researchers on.

鈥淲hen it comes to putting footprints on the moon, there is no better place to be than 麻豆原创.鈥� 鈥� Hansjorg Schwertz

Megakaryocytes are bone marrow cells that create platelets, which circulate in the blood stream and can stop bleeding or form blood clots. Both cells also play a key role in immune responses.

The MOON study is examining how space flight affects the development and function of megakaryocytes as they create platelets. The results could provide important knowledge about the risks of inflammation, immune responses and blood clot formation that will help space travelers and patients on Earth, Schwertz says.

His team is sending human cells to the ISS on board the SpaceX 34 resupply mission. Once they are aboard the space station, astronauts will culture the cells and help to develop megakaryocytes in space.

One part of the experiment is to watch the cells in real time, and how they develop their 鈥渄aughter cell,鈥� the platelets. Because the research will be in microgravity, the cells will float. They鈥檒l be stained with fluorescent dye so 麻豆原创鈥檚 researcher can examine them remotely at better accuracy.

Schwertz says mentors taught him, 鈥渟eeing is believing,鈥� so he is 鈥済enuinely excited鈥� to see megakaryocytes float in space.

Advancing Personalized Medicine

One of the challenges of space medicine research is that so few people have gone to space, so the sample pool is small. As space travel and colonization progress, more people will be traveling to and working on the moon and beyond.

Healthwise, many will be different than astronauts who are selected after going through vigorous testing and selection criteria. Thus, space is a new frontier of healthcare.

Schwertz hopes his study will unlock technologies and therapies to keep astronauts鈥� blood clotting mechanisms controlled, prevent abnormal clotting and bring those discoveries back to Earth.

鈥淲e鈥檙e examining the impact of space flight on each person鈥檚 cells,鈥� he says. 鈥淭his is personalized medicine, and isn鈥檛 that what healthcare is all about?鈥�

Emmanuel Urquieta, vice chair for Aerospace Medicine at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine and founding director of CASEEM, Schwertz’s work reflects the program’s broader mission to connect spaceflight research with practical clinical and operational solutions.

鈥淥ur aerospace medicine program is intentionally designed to be operational and translational in nature,鈥� Urquieta says. 鈥淲e are building a program that can support the real medical needs of exploration missions while rapidly translating discoveries from spaceflight and extreme environments into innovations that improve health here on Earth.鈥�

Schwertz received his M.D. and Ph.D. from the School of Medicine at the University of Mainz, Germany. After a residency in Internal Medicine/Cardiology at the University of Halle, Germany, he did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Utah, where he also served as faculty.

In 2012, he 聽was awarded a prestigious Lichtenberg-Professorship for Experimental Hemostasis and returned to Germany where he directed a research laboratory. He returned to Utah in 2015, where he completed his residency training in Occupational Medicine and was a faculty member, researcher and community physician.

The material is based upon work supported by NASA under award No. 80NSSC22K0255. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

麻豆原创 is the leading producer of talent among Florida鈥檚 universities, awarding nearly 19,000 degrees annually to Knights who go on to work in high-demand industries. About 85% of our alumni stay in Florida because of the ample opportunity to thrive as part of our state鈥檚 workforce.

Graduates will hear from six esteemed speakers whose leadership and impact span some of Central Florida鈥檚 most influential industries:

• Barry Miller 鈥�95, president of Voloridge Investment Management
• Brian Adams 鈥�04MBA, president and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division
• Gloria Caulfield, vice president of strategic alliances, Tavistock Development Company
• Barbara Gellman-Danley, president of Higher Learning Commission
• Maj. Gen. James Smith, commander, space training and readiness command at Patrick Space Force Base
• Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Science

Commencement Festivities

Held in the Addition Financial Arena, spring commencement will take place over six ceremonies spanning Friday, May 8, and Saturday, May 9.

All guests, including children and infants,鈥痭eed a ticket for admission. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate will receive five commencement ceremony tickets when they pick up their regalia packet.

Guests who do not have tickets may watch the鈥痩ive ceremony via a simulcast viewing鈥痠n the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. Ceremonies will also be livestreamed .

Commencement Photo-ops Across 麻豆原创

Graduating Knights are unable to take photos at the Acrisure Bounce House Stadium this semester due to ongoing construction.

Grad Walk

On Thursday, May 7, 2:30-7 p.m. (doors close at 6 p.m.), spring graduates are invited to a photo-op 鈥� Grad Walk 鈥� within the Addition Financial Arena. This will be a first-come, first-served occasion for graduates and up to 10 of their well-wishers to take photos and videos on the ceremony stage.鈥疓raduates are required to .

Commencement Schedule

Graduates and guests can review the below commencement ceremony schedule, listing colleges, ceremony dates and streaming links:

Friday, May 8

9 a.m.

College of Business

Rosen College of Hospitality Management

2 p.m.

College of Health Professions and Sciences

College of Medicine

College of Nursing

7 p.m.

College of Arts and Humanities

Nicholson School of Communication and Media

Saturday, May 9

9 a.m.

College of Community Innovation and Education

2 p.m.

College of Sciences (excluding Nicholson School of Communication and Media)

7 p.m.

College of Engineering and Computer Science

College of Graduate Studies

College of Optics and Photonics

For more details and FAQs about Spring 2026 commencement celebrations, visit ucf.edu/graduation.

Commencement Speakers

Barry Miller 鈥�95

President of Voloridge Investment Management

Barry Miller 鈥�95 serves as president of Voloridge Investment Management, quantitative hedge fund manager, and Voloridge Health, a data science-based health tech company, both Florida based.

Miller, who graduated with honors from 麻豆原创 with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in finance, recently made a transformational $50 million gift this spring to establish the Barry S. Miller College of Business at 麻豆原创. The largest single philanthropic investment in 麻豆原创 history, the gift will accelerate a bold new model of business education designed for a world where technology, data and decision-making are inseparable.

Miller, also a member of the 麻豆原创 College of Business Hall of Fame, brings years of executive experience, having previously served as CEO of LASAS Technologies, a finance and insurance company that he co-founded in 1998. His career experience includes financial analysis, capital raising, financial markets, actuarial experience, software development and in-depth company infrastructure formation.

After gaining valuable experience as an entrepreneur and chief executive officer, Miller鈥檚 ambition led him to join and invest in Voloridge Investment Management and then Voloridge Health. For both companies, he is responsible for many facets of leadership, including trading, back-office operations, compliance, sales and marketing, vendor relationships and strategic planning.

Brian Adams 鈥�04MBA

President and CEO of AdventHealth Central Florida Division

Brian Adams is president and CEO of AdventHealth鈥檚 Central Florida Division, one of the nation鈥檚 largest faith-based health systems, whose 37,000 dedicated team members provide care for more than 3 million patients.

Known for building high-performing teams and ensuring the organization grows to meet the care needs of the community, Adams has led efforts to expand access to care, elevate quality and bring innovative solutions to rapidly growing communities. His leadership has continued to position AdventHealth as a trusted and innovative partner in Central Florida.

As a part of AdventHealth for more than 24 years, Adams has held senior leadership roles across the organization, including CEO positions in Tampa and Polk County, where he oversaw major expansions, facility investments and quality improvements.

He earned his master鈥檚 of business administration from the 麻豆原创 and a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Union College in Nebraska. Originally from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, Adams and his wife have two teenage sons.

Gloria Caulfield

Vice president of strategic alliances, Tavistock Development Company

In her multifaceted role as vice president of strategic alliances at Tavistock, Gloria Caulfield manages business development and corporate partnerships, collaborates with national and global stakeholders to advance health innovation, and leads the development of cutting-edge strategies for the Lake Nona community.

She is the chief architect and creative force behind the Lake Nona Impact Forum. The revered global health innovation summit brings together many of the world鈥檚 most preeminent thought leaders and serves as a signature event of the Tavistock Group.

Caulfield serves on boards that reflect her passion for advancing the future of human health, including the StartUp Health Impact Board, which focuses on mobilizing entrepreneurs to solve the biggest health challenges of our time, and the LFE Capital Advisory Board, which supports female founders and impactful, wellness-oriented companies.

Prior to joining Tavistock, she had a distinguished career at AdventHealth. As senior executive director for community development, she provided strategic leadership for corporate partnerships and spearheaded critical community initiatives across Central Florida. Caulfield is an alumna of the University of Arizona and brings visionary leadership to every aspect of her work.

Barbara Gellman-Danley

President of Higher Learning Commission

Barbara Gellman-Danley is president of the Higher Learning Commission, which accredits colleges and universities to ensure they meet high-quality standards and continuously improve.

Prior to beginning this role in 2014, she was president of the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. She previously served as vice chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents, president of Antioch University McGregor, vice president at Monroe Community College and vice chancellor at the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Gellman-Danley sits on the boards of Credential Engine, which she chairs, and GlobalMindED. Her career includes previous board and commission memberships with the Association of Governing Boards Council of Presidents, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements, the American Council on Education鈥檚 Education and Attainment group and the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning.

Gellman-Danley holds degrees from Syracuse University, Simmons University, Oklahoma City University and the University of Oklahoma. She did post-graduate work at New York University, Cornell, Harvard, the University of Chicago and MIT.

An honorary member of Phi Theta Kappa, she is a professional certified coach, certified executive coach and certified life coach. She holds certifications in change management, Agile and Lean Six Sigma, a professional credential validating expertise in data-driven process improvement aimed at reducing waste and defects.

Maj. Gen. James Smith

Commander, space training and readiness command at Patrick Space Force Base

As commander, Maj. Gen. James E. Smith is responsible for preparing the U.S. Space Force and more than 14,000 military and civilian guardians to prevail in competition and conflict through innovative education, training, doctrine and test activities.

Originally from Boise, Idaho, Maj. Gen. Smith commissioned in 1997 as the top graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy. His career spans numerous space operations and acquisition positions, including command at the squadron, group, wing, garrison and Field Command levels.

Maj. Gen. Smith has deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and to the U.S. Embassy in Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Prior to his current position, Maj. Gen. Smith served as the vice director, Joint Force Development, J-7, the Joint Staff, Arlington, Virginia.

Peter Lee

President of Microsoft Science

Peter Lee is president of Microsoft Science, where his responsibility is to accelerate the pace of discovery in the physical, biological and medical sciences through the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Previously, he led the world laboratories of Microsoft Research. Before joining Microsoft in 2010, he established a new technology office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency within the U.S. Department of Defense, creating operational capabilities in machine learning, data science and computational social science.

From 1987 to 2010, Lee was a professor and the head of the computer science department at Carnegie Mellon University. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and serves on the boards of several institutions in AI and medicine, including the board of trustees of the Mayo Clinic and the board of directors of the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine. He served on President Obama鈥檚 Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity and has testified before both U.S. House and Senate committees.

He is the co-author of the book, The AI Revolution in Medicine: GPT-4 and Beyond. In 2024, Lee was named by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in health and life sciences.

Four outstanding undergraduate students are redefining the boundaries of STEM through their high-impact research 鈥� and in doing so, placing the university among the nation鈥檚 top producers of Goldwater Scholars.

The prestigious Goldwater Scholarship identifies and supports the nation鈥檚 best student researchers in the fields of engineering, mathematics and natural sciences.

This year鈥檚 honorees 鈥� all expected to graduate next spring 鈥� have propelled 麻豆原创 into an elite tier of research institutions, surpassing several Ivy League institutions and tying for fourth in the nation in total Goldwater Scholars produced alongside Stanford University, the University of Notre Dame and the University of Chicago. Their impactful work reflects 麻豆原创’s commitment to building a high-level research environment that empowers students to lead projects addressing significant global and scientific challenges.

Supporting Space Exploration

Goldwater Scholar: Keanu Brayman

Major: Mechanical engineering

Ultimate Goal: To develop robotic systems to support human exploration on Mars.

Keanu Brayman鈥檚 passion for space began early.

鈥淥ne of my earliest memories is watching a Space Shuttle streak across the sky from a beach in South Florida,鈥� Brayman says. 鈥淚 remember being amazed there were people on board and feeling drawn to one day help explore the stars and discover what lies beyond our planet.鈥�

At 麻豆原创, Brayman has refined that dream with the support of faculty and mentors 鈥� including Department of Physics Chair and Professor Adrienne Dove, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Tarek Elgohary and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Engineer Christopher Proctor 鈥� as well as through programs like the .

He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in aerospace engineering to support lunar exploration and NASA鈥檚 Artemis program, as well as develop robotic systems that can extract resources and build infrastructure to support human exploration on Mars.

Engineering the Brain

Goldwater Scholar: Kyle Coutray

Majors: Computer engineering and biomedical sciences

Ultimate Goal: To research ways to restore communication, movement and cognitive function to the brain through engineering methods.

Kyle Coutray is focused on the intersection of neuroscience and technology.

鈥淚鈥檓 interested in building systems that interact directly with the brain,鈥� Coutray says. 鈥淚n the lab, 鈥� [I鈥檓] blending [both majors] into one approach.鈥�

He aims to pursue a doctoral degree in neural engineering to further his research on brain-computer interfaces that translate complex brain activity into useful functions.

A 2026 Order of Pegasus inductee and a Burnett Honors Scholar, Coutray credits his success to disciplined focus and strong mentorship, particularly from Charles N. Millican Professor of Computer Science Joseph LaViola and Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Helen Huang.

Advancing Patient Care

Goldwater Scholar: Varun Nannuri

Major: Molecular and cellular biology

Ultimate Goal: To pursue a career as a physician-scientist.

Varun Nannuri is driven by a desire to understand why people experience different health outcomes and improve care.

“Through my clinical experiences, I have seen how much patients and families rely on physicians during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Nannuri says. “My research experiences have shown me that better care depends on asking better questions.”

Nannuri plans to pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree and become a physician-scientist. His ambition earned him recognition as a 2026 Order of Pegasus inductee while also completing his Honors Undergraduate Thesis. Nannuri is also a member of the Burnett Honors College as a Burnett Medical Scholar, a program that offers guaranteed admission to the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine upon completion.

鈥溌槎乖� has given me opportunities to grow as a student, researcher, leader and future physician,鈥� Nannuri says.

Restoring Human Senses

Goldwater Scholar: Trevor Overton

Majors: Electrical engineering and biomedical sciences

Ultimate Goal: To improve the lives of people with disabilities through advanced robotic prostheses.

Burnett Honors Scholar Trevor Overton鈥檚 work centers on neuroengineering and next-generation prosthetics.

鈥淚鈥檝e always had a passion for building things, and I also love reading and watching sci-fi,鈥� Overton says. 鈥淲hen 麻豆原创 offered me the opportunity to join the MEDD [ 鈥� I knew I had to take it.鈥�

麻豆原创鈥檚 MEDD program provides scientifically driven students like Overton with a unique opportunity to integrate engineering principles into medicine.

Much like the development of cochlear implants, Overton imagines similar breakthroughs with vision and touch.

鈥淚 envision a future where robotic prostheses are so advanced that they could completely replace or enhance the abilities of humans,鈥� Overton says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not entirely impossible.鈥�

After earning a doctoral degree in electrical engineering with a focus on neuroengineering, he hopes to inspire the next generation 鈥� just as his professors inspired him 鈥� emphasizing that 麻豆原创鈥檚 strength lies in professors who actively invest in their students.

A Growing Research Powerhouse

With four 2026 Goldwater Scholarship recipients, 麻豆原创 continues to strengthen its position as a leader in undergraduate research. The achievement reflects both students鈥� immense dedication and a university-wide commitment to driving innovation, mentorship and hands-on discovery. As these Knights prepare for the next steps in their academic journeys, they carry forward a shared mission: to turn research into real-world impact.

Students interested in applying for the Goldwater Scholarship or other major national awards should contact the Office of Prestigious Awards at聽opa@ucf.edu.

They proclaimed there is no better place than 麻豆原创, the closest medical school to Kennedy Space Center, to create a new frontier in healthcare as humans prepare for longer missions to the moon, Mars and beyond.

鈥淵ou are in a global destination for medical innovation,鈥� Michal Masternak told participants in the Star Nona 2026 event in Lake Nona鈥檚 Medical City. An anti-aging and cancer researcher at the 麻豆原创 College of Medicine, Masternak organized the event as part of the Lake Nona Research Council, which is focused on encouraging interdisciplinary scientific partnerships between industry, academia and healthcare.

Space medicine is one of the council鈥檚 priorities. Deep space travel and the commercialization of space bring unique health challenges that science is just beginning to explore. The College of Medicine鈥檚 focuses on how factors such as microgravity, radiation and isolation impact the human body in space and how that knowledge can drive innovation into diagnostics, treatment and disease prevention for patients on Earth.

Former NASA Administrator and U.S. Senator Bill Nelson told attendees the Artemis voyage鈥檚 return to the moon should inspire space medicine experts to make new discoveries.

鈥淲e鈥檙e in a whole new era, an exciting era, of space exploration that makes this time so special,鈥� Nelson said.

Star Nona鈥檚 goal was to bring together experts to understand current research on the health impacts of space travel and what challenges need to be addressed as more professional and commercial space travelers go to the moon and beyond.

The Physical Challenges of Space Flight

Former NASA astronaut Robert Curbeam holds the record for most spacewalks on a single mission. He described how the body feels during launch and splashdown when G-forces are so strong you must remind yourself to breathe. He presented with his former NASA flight surgeon, Smith Johnson, now a faculty member at 麻豆原创鈥檚 new Center for Aerospace and Extreme Environments Medicine (CASEEM). The two discussed the important relationship between physicians and space travelers before, during and after a mission.

鈥淚 loved being an astronaut and flying space shuttles,鈥� Curbeam says. 鈥淭he only problem with space travel is that not a lot of people get to do it.鈥�

Your Brain Actually Shifts in Space

Living in space causes the body鈥檚 fluids to move up to the head and brain. But symptoms of that condition do more than cause puffy faces. Space travel actually causes the brain to shift. Jogi Pattisapu, of the Hydrocephalus and Neuroscience Institute, said as astronauts go to Mars for years-long missions and settle on the moon, scientists will have to understand how living in space affects brain function and create predictive tests and preventative measures. Eye health will be key, as fluid buildup has caused spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS)聽in 70% of astronauts on the International Space Station, leading to farsightedness, optic nerve swelling and eyeball flattening.

鈥淲hat are we going to do if the pilot goes blind 210 million miles from Earth?鈥� he said.

Team Dynamics in Space

Interpersonal communication is key to any team鈥檚 success, but how do relationships change for crews in confined spaces and face additional challenges such as sleep deprivation, isolation and differences in rank and roles. Shawn Burke and Stephen Fiore from 麻豆原创鈥檚 Institute for Simulation and Training have researched team dynamics in space to understand and prevent collaboration failures that can impact mission success.

Their research has also identified the formal and informal roles crew members play in encouraging positive social interactions and teamwork, especially in long-term missions. Missions to Mars may take up to 36 months and include 20-minute communications delays to and from Mission Control. Team dynamics will impact performance, mental health and affect, Burke said, because 鈥測ou鈥檙e stuck with the people you have.鈥�

Conducting Medical Research in Microgravity: Everything鈥檚 Upside Down

The weightlessness of space provides a unique research environment for new discoveries in areas including nutrient production, waste treatment, crystallization and biomanufacturing, said Alain Berinstain, director of the Florida Space Institute at 麻豆原创.

鈥淭errestrially, whenever space can make a difference, it’s a great economic driver,鈥� he said.

In space, air doesn鈥檛 slow down processes, he explained, so experiments that involve weight, separation, sedimentation, fluid flow and buoyancy change. His advice to researchers considering space as a lab?

鈥淭urn your experiment upside down. Does it still work? If the answer is no, you have a lot of work to do.鈥�

Over the course of nearly a full academic year, peers, departmental and college leadership, and the university promotion and tenure committee engaged in a rigorous, multi-stage review to ensure candidates met 麻豆原创鈥檚 high standards in teaching, research, and service. Ultimately, they recommended 100 faculty members for promotion, including 23 for tenure.

Following the review process, the president and provost make final decisions on promotions, while the 麻豆原创 Board of Trustees provides final approval for tenure candidates. These decisions directly advance 麻豆原创鈥檚 strategic plan and its focus on recruiting and retaining highly qualified faculty 鈥� especially those who elevate student success, accelerate discovery and research, and strengthen the talent pipeline that drives innovation and economics for the state of Florida.

鈥淎t 麻豆原创, promotion and tenure reflects a thoughtful, rigorous review process and the high standards we set as an institution and state,鈥� says John Buckwalter, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a significant moment for these faculty, not just for the years of hard work it recognizes, but for what promotion and tenure represents: a sustained commitment to excellence, a deep dedication to student success, research that boldly improves lives, and the future we鈥檙e building together.鈥�

Promotions and tenure conferrals annually take effect on Aug. 8.

The faculty members recognized below represent the continued strength and momentum of 麻豆原创.

Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure

• John Gardiner, College of Arts and Humanities
• Tadashi Ishikawa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sara Raffel, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jeffery Redding, College of Arts and Humanities
• John Bush, College of Business
• Seongho An, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Cynthia Williams, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Jiannan Chen, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Chinwendu Enyioha, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Ozlem Garibay, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yao Li, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Miguel Bandres, College of Optics and Photonics
• Robert Fitak, College of Sciences
• Shyam Kattel, College of Sciences
• Kelsey Larsen, College of Sciences
• Kangsang Lee, College of Sciences
• Xialing Lin, College of Sciences
• Emily Zavodny, College of Sciences
• Kayode Aleshinloye, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• Carissa Baker, Rosen College of Hospitality Management
• YunYing Zhong, Rosen College of Hospitality Management

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine with Tenure

• Taj Azarian, College of Medicine
• Thomas Kean, College of Medicine

Promotion to Professor (Tenured)

• Thaddeus Anderson, College of Arts and Humanities
• Ann Gleig, College of Arts and Humanities
• Lanlan Kuang, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sandra Sousa, College of Arts and Humanities
• Mel Stanfill, College of Arts and Humanities
• Melanie Guldi, College of Business
• Xin He, College of Business
• Laurie Campbell, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Eric Merriam, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Woo Hyoung Lee, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Thomas Wahl, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Yang Yang, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jacqueline Towson, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Romain Gaume, College of Optics and Photonics
• Jacopo Baggio, College of Sciences
• Matthieu Baudelet, College of Sciences
• Karin Chumbimuni Torres, College of Sciences
• Geoffrey Cook, College of Sciences
• Amy Donley, College of Sciences
• Hsin鈥慔siung Huang, College of Sciences
• Brigitte Kovacevich, College of Sciences
• Arkadiy Lyakh, College of Sciences
• Peter Smith, College of Sciences
• Xiaohu Xia, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Professor of Medicine

• Maria Farooq, College of Medicine

Promotion to Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine

• Naziha Slimani, College of Medicine
• Sharon Wasserstrom, College of Medicine

Promotion to Clinical Professor of Medicine

• Mariana Dangiolo, College of Medicine

Promotion to Research Associate Professor

• Crystal Maraj, Office of Research

Promotion to Associate Lecturer

• Jonathan Barker, College of Arts and Humanities
• Sara Willox, College of Business
• Elizabeth Yost, College of Business
• Michael Gilbrook, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Alison Redd, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Redd, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Michael Chetta, College of Sciences
• Heather Edwards, College of Sciences
• Seongchun Kwon, College of Sciences
• Adam Parrish, College of Sciences
• Jamie Vega, College of Sciences
• Tong Wan, College of Sciences
• Rong Zhou, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

• Christy Flanagan鈥慒eddon, College of Arts and Humanities
• David Head, College of Arts and Humanities
• Deborah Leitch, College of Arts and Humanities
• Amanda Snyder, College of Arts and Humanities
• Jeanine Viau, College of Arts and Humanities
• Constance Goodman, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Daniel Stephens, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Shane Trenta, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Marino Nader, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Sudeshna Pal, College of Engineering and Computer Science
• Rachid Ait Maalem Lahcen, College of Sciences
• Cynthia Bayer, College of Sciences
• Martha Hubertz, College of Sciences
• Tamra Legron鈥慠odriguez, College of Sciences
• Hyung Park, College of Sciences
• Widaad Zaman, College of Sciences

Promotion to Associate Instructor

• Meeghan Faulconer, College of Arts and Humanities
• Yukari Nakamura, College of Arts and Humanities
• Carolina Salazar, College of Arts and Humanities
• Punam Desormes, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Jorri Bright, College of Sciences
• Richard Hall, College of Sciences
• Nicholas Zuccarello, College of Sciences

Promotion to Senior Instructor

• Rita De Luca Guerriero, College of Arts and Humanities
• Steven Ton, College of Community Innovation and Education
• Todd Fix, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Julie Matura, College of Health Professions and Sciences
• Lance Speere, College of Sciences
• Abigail Ferreira, 麻豆原创 Global

Promotion to Associate Instructional Designer

• Rebecca McNulty, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Senior Instructional Designer

• Amy Sugar, Division of Digital Learning

Promotion to Associate Librarian

• Renee Montgomery, 麻豆原创 Libraries

Promotion to University Librarian

• Sai Deng, 麻豆原创 Libraries
• Sarah Norris, 麻豆原创 Libraries
• Andrew Todd, 麻豆原创 Libraries

Nearly half聽of the world鈥檚 citizens聽live in areas with a聽risk of catching dengue fever,聽according to聽the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.聽As聽the mosquito-borne聽illness rapidly聽spreads, especially in the Americas and Caribbean, a聽聽researcher is playing a crucial role in finding solutions.

James聽Earnest, an assistant professor at the Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, is聽leading聽two聽new聽research projects to examine how humans build an immune response to dengue and the Zika virus over time, in pursuit of creating better preventative measures.

Tackling a Global Problem

Both聽dengue and聽Zika聽are carried by the聽Aedes aegypti聽mosquito,聽which has expanded聽its habitat from Africa to tropical,聽subtropical聽and even聽temperate聽areas worldwide.聽According to the World Health Organization, dengue infections in humans climbed聽from聽505,430 in 2000聽to聽14.6 million in 2024, an increase of more than 2,700%.

Dengue can be asymptomatic or cause severe pain, fatigue and high fever. Repeated infections can be fatal.

Since 2017, there have been few cases of聽Zika聽recorded in the U.S., but the disease persists sporadically in Africa, the Americas and Asia. The virus鈥� biggest health concern is聽for聽pregnant聽women because contracting聽Zika聽can increase risks for聽serious聽congenital birth defects.

While people in Mexico and Uganda聽may聽benefit聽from this research,聽Florida鈥檚 location as a worldwide travel destination聽adds to聽the聽growing聽need for solutions.聽U.S.聽dengue聽cases聽are on the rise and聽have been reported in Florida, California,聽Texas聽and Hawaii. Most are related to travel.聽Dengue is also prevalent in聽Puerto Rico.

鈥淭he threat to the U.S. is growing over time. … We want to be the leaders at looking at these viruses.鈥� 鈥� James Earnest, 麻豆原创 Assistant Professor

鈥淲ith more favorable temperatures and with people traveling around the globe these days, the threat to the U.S. is growing over time,鈥� Earnest says. 鈥淚 think, especially here in Florida, the potential for these mosquitoes to live in these areas and start transmitting these diseases in the very near future is high. 麻豆原创 recognizes that this is an important avenue of research for this region, and so we want to be the leaders at looking at these viruses.鈥�

How the聽麻豆原创聽Research Works

Earnest鈥檚 lab is focused on how the immune system responds to mosquito-borne viruses. Before arriving at 麻豆原创 in 2024, he tracked dengue via longitudinal sampling in Mexico鈥檚 Yucatan Peninsula.

Earnest is collaborating with the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) through a five-year $970,813 subcontract, part of a larger grant awarded to UVRI from Wellcome, a London-based charitable organization that supports science to solve urgent health challenges. The project aims to study immune system and antibody responses to dengue and Zika in large cohorts of people in Uganda and in Mexico.

麻豆原创 will also collaborate with Emory University on a聽$578,157聽grant from the National Institutes of Health, with Earnest subcontracted to Emory to study whether combining two current dengue inoculations used in Brazil gives humans better protection against repeat infections.

鈥淚t’s important that we understand what good and bad immune responses look like to these viruses.鈥� 鈥� James Earnest, 麻豆原创 Assistant Professor

鈥淚t’s聽important聽that we understand what good and bad immune responses look like to these viruses,鈥澛燛arnest聽says. 鈥淲hen we know those factors, then聽we can try to steer people in聽the right聽direction so that their antibodies will protect them from聽disease.鈥�

Earnest will coordinate with teams in other countries to regularly collect blood samples and measure antibody production to get a comprehensive look at how different people鈥檚 bodies react to dengue and Zika over time. The samples will be collected and processed in Mexico and Uganda, and Earnest will analyze the results in his lab.

鈥淚 think what’s unique about聽this work is that we鈥檙e聽following people over time and not necessarily聽just聽when they get sick,鈥澛燛arnest says.

His research focuses on B cells, which are white blood cells that make antibodies and help the body remember how to fight infections. By tracking how聽people鈥檚聽B cells change over time, his team aims to understand how immune responses differ across regions.

In a related project with Emory, the lab will聽identify聽the most effective memory B cells and antibodies induced by two existing methods of inoculation for dengue, then test whether combining those methods in Brazilian trial participants produces a stronger immune response.

Students Aim to Save Lives Through Lab Work

With this new research,聽Earnest鈥檚 lab has welcomed聽two new 麻豆原创聽students聽who have聽personal聽experience聽with聽dengue and聽Zika.

Maiesha聽Mahmood, a聽second-year聽biotechnology聽master鈥檚 student,聽is from Bangladesh, where the threat of dengue looms.

鈥淚 have been around dengue a lot growing up,鈥� Mahmood聽says.聽鈥淚 know people who have been in hospital聽with聽severe forms聽of dengue, and聽people聽who’ve聽passed away聽suddenly.聽People become scared of mosquitos and dengue.鈥�

She聽says she聽hopes聽麻豆原创鈥檚 research will someday save lives.

鈥淏ack in Bangladesh,聽we don’t really have a lot of facilities that can support virology research,鈥澛爏he says. 鈥淚t was聽a huge opportunity to be able to come here and be able to work聽with Dr. Earnest.聽I want to continue looking into these kinds of聽viruses聽and聽find聽a way to help people who keep suffering from聽these聽diseases.鈥�

叠谤耻苍辞听笔颈苍丑别颈谤辞听鈥�25, a first-year Ph.D. candidate,聽joined Earnest鈥檚 lab聽to further his education and hopes research will聽help people close to him.

鈥淢y family is from Brazil and so聽Zika聽was a very big thing for them,鈥� says聽Pinheiro, who聽earned his bachelor鈥檚 degree in聽biotechnology聽鈥淚t鈥檚 great to work on something that you can feel will impact the community that you’re a part of.鈥�

Researcher Credentials:

Earnest joined 麻豆原创鈥檚 College of Medicine as聽an assistant professor聽in 2024. He聽earned聽his doctorate in聽microbiology and聽immunology from Loyola University Chicago in 2017. He performed postdoctoral research at Washington University in St. Louis studying antibody responses to mosquito-borne viruses and Emory University where he managed clinical field trials in Latin America.

Funding聽and Disclosure:

Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number U01AI186860. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily聽represent聽the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

With more than 200 participating funds and so many opportunities for inspiration, activation and growth 鈥� we鈥檙e counting down to liftoff by highlighting unique areas to consider supporting with your gift this 麻豆原创 Day of Giving.

As Knights, we challenge status quo. We charge boldly ahead toward industry evolutions and technological advancements. We dare to build a future the world has only begun to imagine. And it鈥檚 all driven through moments like this and individuals like you.

Together,聽we鈥檙e聽launching Knights to new heights.

When the unexpected arises,聽help聽sometimes聽comes in the form of .聽Created to support聽Knights聽facing聽hardship that may聽hinder聽their education,聽this fund聽provides聽financial support聽for textbooks,聽fees聽and other education-related聽expenses聽for qualifying students.

Your gift ensures that聽when聽life鈥檚聽trials聽test our聽Knights,聽they聽pass聽with flying colors,聽securing聽the education聽and future聽they聽deserve.

The 鈥痯rovides services, programming and resources for thousands of military-connected students currently enrolled at 麻豆原创.

helps ensure聽that聽those who have served and their connected students are fully supported as they pursue their educational and career goals.

麻豆原创 has been recognized聽with a聽Gold Award聽on the聽Military Friendly聽Schools list, as a Florida Collegiate Purple Star Campus, a Best Military-Friendly Online College and on the Military Times鈥� 聽2025聽Best for Vets Colleges List.聽Help us聽continue that legacy聽of聽serving those聽who鈥檝e聽served.

offers an intensive, comprehensive therapy program聽to those聽navigating Aphasia, a聽language聽disorder that can arise from聽health challenges such as聽stroke,聽brain聽cancer聽and brain injury,聽and聽affects聽an individual鈥檚 ability to聽read, write,聽speak聽and聽comprehend聽language.

Through the program,聽individuals are聽empowered to聽make progress on their long-held goals, like talking with their grandchildren or ordering their favorite restaurant meal.

聽on 麻豆原创 Day of Giving聽supports the continuation of this聽important聽service for our community, as well as the hands-on experience 麻豆原创 student clinicians聽receive.

Support 麻豆原创 College of Medicine researchers as they聽break聽into new realms of聽understanding聽around聽the聽country鈥檚聽second leading cause of death聽鈥� cancer.聽Through聽innovative science,聽they鈥檙e聽exploring key聽avenues of discovery聽including聽the role that聽genes play聽in聽determining聽a person鈥檚 cancer risk, what causes cancer to spread聽and how to harness the body鈥檚 immune system to kill cancer cells.

The goal: to prevent cancer and find new therapies that improve quality of life聽for patients.聽 brings聽us one聽step closer聽to聽lives saved,聽families unburdened聽and a cure聽realized.

Did you know聽that 麻豆原创 has one of the top Moot Court聽teams in the nation, ranking聽among the top 15聽overall聽by the American Moot Court Association?聽Supervised by the , these student advocates聽are challenged聽with arguing聽mock supreme court cases聽on constitutional amendments.

and聽national聽leadership聽by聽making a gift on 麻豆原创 Day of Giving.聽Help聽cover聽competition travel expenses, as well as聽the聽cost of聽the聽annual tournament聽hosted聽at 麻豆原创 Downtown聽each fall.

It鈥檚聽time for launch, Knight Nation! Join us聽as聽we rally around聽our favorite causes, and聽maybe even聽uncover some聽new聽ones, during 麻豆原创 Day of Giving.聽Find聽more areas of support聽by聽别虫辫濒辞谤颈苍驳听迟丑别听,鈥痑nd聽save the date to聽聽on Thursday, April 9.聽聽

Florida is turning to 麻豆原创 experts to find better ways to prevent domestic violence and give survivors a stronger voice in the services they need.

Through a $257,384聽two-year grant聽from the Florida Partnership to End Domestic Violence,聽faculty from聽麻豆原创鈥檚聽Violence Against Women聽research cluster聽are聽conducting聽a聽statewide聽domestic violence needs assessment.聽Their findings will聽help policymakers and local agencies聽develop better strategies to fund and support聽domestic violence prevention聽programs聽that聽empower survivors.

鈥淭he collective goal of our work is to give people聽working in these programs and people using these services聽a voice,鈥澛爏ays聽Bethany聽Backes,聽associate professor of social work at聽, who leads the Violence Against Women cluster and is the project鈥檚 principal investigator. 鈥淗aving research that practitioners can understand and interpret in a way that鈥檚 helpful is important to us. “What we’re creating now is hopefully something that can be used for years to come.”

The World鈥檚 Women

Violence against women is a global issue. According to UN Women, nearly one in three women worldwide have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their life. In 2024, around 50,000 women and girls worldwide were killed by their intimate partners or other family members.

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at criminal justice, sociology, health, and so much more that altogether could create solutions beyond any one discipline.鈥� 鈥� Kim Anderson, Professor of Social Work

麻豆原创鈥檚 faculty cluster 鈥� working across the disciplines of education, social work, criminal justice, sociology and medicine 鈥� was created a decade ago to change these outcomes. 鈥淲e know how complex this social problem is,鈥� says Kim Anderson, a professor of social work and cluster member. 鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at criminal justice, sociology, health, and so much more that altogether could create solutions beyond any one discipline.鈥�

Informing Florida鈥檚 Strategy

The聽researchers聽have already聽identified聽some key聽needs for the state to聽examine.

鈥淔or example,聽we鈥檙e seeing people facing abuse who are having to spend more on food or other necessities as聽they navigate shifts in funding for certain assistance programs,鈥澛燘ackes聽says.聽鈥淲hat we鈥檙e also seeing is the effect of population booms, and how rapid growth and rapid decline in some areas聽affects聽the need for services.鈥�

The researchers are analyzing data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Florida鈥檚 Departments of Law Enforcement and Children and Families and are surveying organizations that provide domestic violence services. They are interviewing survivors who sought services and those who didn鈥檛 to understand access to care and risk factors.

Creating聽opportunities where more people feel聽comfortable sharing their聽domestic violence聽experiences is聽cluster聽member聽Karina Villalba鈥檚聽expertise.

鈥淢y focus is on intimate partner violence, specifically within the Hispanic community,鈥� says Villalba, an assistant professor in the聽鈥檚 Population Health Sciences Division.聽鈥淭here聽are聽certain beliefs, like the concept of聽鈥榤achismo鈥�,聽that聽may give聽an avenue for some men to pursue this kind of violence.聽Because it can be part of the cultural acceptance, it might not even be seen as violence聽by the survivors.鈥�

She hopes efforts to聽prevent domestic violence in the U.S.聽will have impact globally.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e seeing a ripple effect in countries聽in Latin America where people are becoming more aware,鈥� Villalba聽says.聽鈥淚t helps us keep pushing forward with our work so we cannot just be a beacon here in Florida and the United States, but to show the world what we can do.鈥�

Keys to Preventing Violence

Preventing domestic violence means聽identifying聽early warning signs and behaviors and聽providing services to lower the risk of continuing violence, Backes聽says.

Domestic violence is 鈥渘ot always聽physical聽and it鈥檚 not just seeing someone with a black eye,鈥澛爏he聽says.聽鈥淧hysical violence can happen after there鈥檚聽been psychological abuse such as coercion, controlling, isolation or stalking.鈥�

Cluster member聽Alison Cares,聽associate professor of sociology at聽, says聽preventing domestic abuse involves changing misconceptions.

鈥淭here鈥檚聽this expectation of how abusers or survivors look.聽It鈥檚聽easy to think the people doing this聽abuse聽look like monsters,鈥� she聽says. 鈥淏ut the reality is these are people we know. They can be friends or family members or people we work with.鈥�

The researchers say they are encouraged by the resilience of the survivors and service providers they have met.

鈥淲e聽see incredible聽bravery聽of聽people who talk to聽a support person,鈥澛燗nderson聽says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping that information we get from this assessment can elevate the voices of staff and survivors.鈥�