PBC Spotlight: Outstanding Accomplishments in Life Science Research from ASU, NAU and U of A

The Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC) is proud to be the home of groundbreaking life science research. Having access to what’s going on behind the lab doors, we are thrilled to highlight the recent accomplishments of researchers hailing from each of Arizona’s three public universities.

Chad Stecher Awarded Fulbright Scholarship:

Chad Stecher (right) teamed up with artist James Angel to take part in the Artist + Researcher Exhibition (ARx3), an exhibition put on by the Phoenix Bioscience Core Arts Committee.

Chad Stecher, behavioral health economist and assistant professor at the ASU College of Health Solutions, has been honored with a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship. His pioneering research focuses on integrating artificial intelligence with wearable health devices to analyze data and enhance behavioral health interventions. This scholarship will allow Stecher to expand his research internationally, fostering global collaboration and advancing health technology.

For his Fulbright project, Stecher will be involved in a six-month project to clean, organize and begin conducting research using the electronic health-records (EHR) data that has been recorded at the Mildmay Uganda Hospital over the past nine years. He will also lead data science trainings for hospital staff and researchers with the goal of assisting Mildmay personnel in the completion of their own research and grant writing using the EHR data.

The project will produce a secure solution for remotely accessing the hospital’s EHR data, provide readily accessible data science educational materials for future Mildmay researchers and enhance the stability of Mildmay’s research program.【ASU News

Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth Named 2024 Health Care Heroes Finalist:

Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth (left) teamed up with artist Suzanne Wittaker to take part in the Artist + Researcher Exhibition (ARx2), an exhibition put on by the Phoenix Bioscience Core Arts Committee.

Dr. Amy Armstrong-Heimsoth, NAU Occupational Therapy Department Chair and Associate Clinical Professor of Occupational Therapy, has been recognized as a finalist in the Phoenix Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes Awards.

Dr. Armstrong-Heimsoth was nominated because she embodies the health care hero at every level-educating doctoral students at NAU’s Phoenix Bioscience Core, mentoring occupational therapy faculty, and advocating for foster children in Arizona.

This accolade simply highlights her exceptional contributions to healthcare education and her unwavering commitment to community health. Armstrong-Heimsoth’s impactful work underscores the vital role of educators in the health sciences.【Phoenix Business Journal

Dr. Shenfeng Qiu’s Research Grant:

Shenfeng Qiu, PhD (right) and Jing Wei, a research scientist, in the lab.

Dr. Shenfeng Qiu, a leading researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, has received a significant grant for his team’s innovative research on intellectual disabilities. Dr. Qiu’s study investigates the links between protein mutations and intellectual disabilities, aiming to uncover new therapeutic approaches. This grant will support his continued research into the molecular mechanisms underlying these conditions, with the potential to develop groundbreaking treatments that could significantly improve the lives of those affected.【UofA College of Medicine – Phoenix News

These accomplishments underscore the commitment to advancing life science research and improving health outcomes. The achievements of Stecher, Armstrong-Heimsoth, and Qiu not only highlight the exceptional talent within the PBC but also reaffirm our community’s role as a leader in life sciences research and innovation.


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