TRDRP STAFF UPDATE

The University of California appointed on June 23, 2008 an interim Director and an interim Associate Director of the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), a statewide program housed in the Office of Research and Graduate Studies within the University of California’s Office of the President. Drs. George Lemp and Bart Aoki, currently the Director and Associate Director of the California HIV/AIDS Research Program, respectively, were named interim Director and interim Associate Director of TRDRP, effective immediately. Drs. Lemp and Aoki will lead both programs on an interim basis until a more permanent organizational structure for TRDRP can be put into place. Dr. Lemp has extensive experience leading another statewide program, the HIV/AIDS Research Program for the past 13 years. Dr. Aoki has served in key roles within the HIV/AIDS Program for the past 11 years. Dr. Lemp replaces acting TRDRP Director Dr. Charles Gruder, who retired from the University in 2008.


Kamlesh Asotra, Ph.D.
Research Administrator for Cardiovascular Disease & General Biomedical Sciences

Kamlesh Asotra joined the staff in November 2003. His research background is in a myriad of biomedical research disciplines including heart disease, stroke, cancer, reproduction, metabolism, neuroscience and drug delivery.

 

M.F. Bowen, Ph.D.
Research Administrator for Cancer & Pulmonary Disease

Prior to joining the staff in August 1998, M.F. taught basic and comparative biology while an assistant professor at Northern Illinois University and conducted research at SRI International as the PI on several NIH RO1 grants in cellular neurophysiology. She has also served as a consultant to several Fortune 500 corporations.

Jewel Charles
Program Assistant

Jewel joined TRDRP staff as a Program Assistant in March 2003. Jewel brings years of administrative work experience to TRDRP from the health care field. She works closely with the director and staff as well as Scientific Advisory Committee members and performs a wide variety of administrative and other duties.

Sharon L. Davis
Media Designer

Sharon is the Media Designer for TRDRP. Her areas of responsibility are the design/production of TRDRP publications and maintenance of the program’s website.
She joined TRDRP in 1999 with experience in Advertising and Marketing. She holds a B.A. in Fine Arts and Design from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco.

Phillip Gardiner Dr. P.H.
Research Administrator for Social Behavioral Sciences, Nicotine Dependence &
Policy Research

Phil joined TRDRP in February 1997, and is a trained survey researcher and evaluator. He has written numerous articles on health disparities and African Americans menthol cigarette use, is the editor of the TRDRP Newsletter, Burning Issues, and was the motive force behind the adoption of the Community-based Participatory Research Awards. Among other external tobacco-related activities, Phil has been the Chairperson for Clear Way Minnesota’s Priority Population Research Review Panel.

Teresa E. Johnson
Administrative Coordinator

Teresa is the Program Administrator for TRDRP, joining the program in 1995. She develops, coordinates, manages and refines all administrative operations and supervises the administrative staff. In addition, she is responsible for the organization, preparation, set-up and implementation of all systems, processes and procedures as well as the day-to-day management of program projects. Teresa holds a B.A. in Mass Communications from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Christine Tasto-Olsen
Program Grant Analyst for all award portfolios

Christine joined TRDRP in November 1999 as a Grant Analyst. She holds an MPA degree from the California State University, Hayward. Prior to working for the University of California, Christine worked for the Alameda County Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

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