Investigators:
MPI
Hudson Santos, PhD, RN, FABMR, FAAN is Dean, Professor, and Dolores J. Chambreau Endowed Chair in Nursing at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies (SONHS). Originally from Brazil, Dr. Santos immigrated to the United States to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University School of Nursing in 2015, after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the State University of Paraiba and a PhD in Nursing Science from the University of Sao Paulo. During his Doctoral studies, he spent a year as a visiting scholar at both the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). Before joining the University of Miami, Dr. Santos was a tenured distinguished associate professor and director of the biobehavioral laboratory at UNC-CH School of Nursing.
Dr. Santos is an internationally renowed nurse researcher and prinicipal incvestigator of multiple funded studies, including the ECHO (Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes) study at the University of Miami. His research focues on the mechanisms of social determinants of health (SDOH) and developmental health trajectories for at-risk populations, with a strong emphasis on Latinx communities. He specifically investigates how SDOH and adverse life events impact maternal-child health and development outcomes among at-risk children. His methodological expertise includes bio-social studies, longitudinal cohorts, and clinical interventions. His work bridges the gap between biological and social domains in nursing science, addressing the developmental origins of health and disease.
Leading the ECHO study, Dr. Santos explres how environmental factors influence child heath outcomes, aiming to improve helth trajectories from early life onwards. The ECHO study under his guidance seeks to understand and mitigate the impact of adverse environmental exposures on children’s health, with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.
Dr. Santos is also dedicated to mentoring the next generation of nurses and health professionals. He mentors undergraduate and graduate students, as well as early career faculty from various disciplines and institutions. He has extensive experience teaching across undergraduate and graduate programs in nursing and public health.
MPI
Michael Paidas, MD is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami. He also serves as Chief of Service at the University Health Tower, University of Miami, and Jackson Health System. Dr. Paidas graduated from Fairfield University in 1982 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, before receiving his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in 1987. He completed his internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Pennsylvania hospital in 1991, before completing a Fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York.
Dr. Paidas has dedicated his career to advancing women’s health, with a particular focus on blood disorders, reproductive health, and pregnancy complications, and their impact on long-term health and disease. His research is supported by both federal and non-federal funding agencies, highlighting his significant contributions to the field. His expertise spans pre-, peri-, and postnatal outcomes and neurodevelopment, with work that aims to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes through both research and clinical practice. An acclaimed expert in maternal-fetal medicine, Dr. Paidas co-leads the ECHO study at the University of Miami alongside Dr. Hudson Santos, committing to the continued improvement of health care for women and children.
Integrating clinical excellence with groundbreaking research, Dr. Paidas has authored numerous publications and contriburted to the development of guidelines and protocols for managing complex pregnancy conditions. Dr. Paidas’s leadership at the University of Miami encompasses both academic and clinical roles, where he continues to mentor the next generation of healthcare professionals and lead initiatives to advance the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
CO-I
JoNell Efantis Potter, PhD, APRN, FAAN is a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, with joint appointments in the Department of Pediatrics and the School of Nursing. She serves as Vice Chair of Research for the Division of Reproductive Sciences and Chief of the Women’s HIV Service. Dr. Potter received her Bachelor’s degree in Nursing from Florida State University, before recieiving her Master’s and PhD in Nursing from the University of Miami.
Dr. Potter manages one of the largest clinical programs for women living with HIV/AIDS and is the Prinicipal Investigator for the HRSA-funded Ryan White Care Act Part C program and two Department of Justice-funded grants supporting the THRIVE Clinic. Her research has significantly impacted women’s health, particularly in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
As a Co-Investigator for ECHO-Miami, Dr. Potter, alongside Dr. Hudson Santos and Dr. Michael Paidas, investigates how environmental factors impact maternal and child health outcomes. Her focus within the ECHO study includes examining the effects of viral exposures and adverse environmental factors on the developmental health of at-risk children.
Dr. Potter’s clinical and research expertise has enabled her to design and implement innovative care models for women, with an emphasis on low-income and vulnerable populations. She has been a dedicated investigator and collaborator for the past 35 years, supporting the advancement of clinical research.
CO-I
Lunthita Duthely, Ed.D., MS.CTI., MS, RYT-200 is a Research Assistant Professor at the Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami. Dr. Duthely received her Master’s of Science in both Computer Science and Clinical Translational Science Investigations from the University of Miami, before receiving her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.
She leads the mCARES Lab, which focuses on understanding the risk and protective factors of advancing disease, with an emphasis on social determinants of risk and personal-level approaches such as building strengths and resiliency through mind-body techniques. The lab employs a tech-equity approach to mHealth/eHealth, placing the patient at the center and taking a multilingual and multicultural approach to improving health outcomes for minoritized populatins in the U.S.
As a co-Investigator for ECHO-Miami, Dr. Duthely’s research interests include pre-, peri-, and postnatal outcomes, with a focus on how psychosocial and viral exposures effect the developmental health of at-risk children. Her other active investigations include a NIDA-funded patient navigator assisted intervention, a CFAR Pilot of ORCHID (Miami) addressing ano-genital HPV and stress biomarkers, and a UCSF-funded proof of concept study – mCARES-H, exploring novel biomarkers for measuring medication adherence.
CO-I
Karen C. Young, MD is a Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Neonatology Fellowship Program, and Director of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine/Holtz Children’s Hospital. Originally from Jamacia, she earned her medical degree at the University of the West Indies and completed her pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship training at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Dr. Young’s research focuses on understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms contributing to endothelial dysfunction in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH). She also conducts translational research on stem cell-based therapies for BPD and PH, supported by grants from the National Institute of Health, American Heart Association, Florida Biomedical Research Program, Batchelor Research Award for Excellence in Pediatric Research, and Project Newborn. As a co-investigator for ECHO-Miami, Dr. Young’s collaboration further investigates the effects of environmental exposures on the developmental health of at-risk children.
In addition to her extensive research, Dr. Young is dedicated to improving resident education and training future generations of physician-scientists. She serves on several local and national committees, including those of the American Heart Association and the Neonatal Kidney Collaborative, and is committed to mentoring underrepresented minorities and women in medicine.
CO-I
Ruby Natale, PhD, PsyD is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Miller School of Medicine/Mailman Center for Child Development at the University of Miami. Her research addresses critical gaps in pediatrics by evaluating and implementing evidence-based services and programs in childcare centers to improve children’s developmental trajectories. Through her role as Principal Investigator on local and NIH, DOE, and USDA grants, she has developed widely distributed toolkits for childcare providers.
Dr. Natale earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Biology from the University of Miami, followed by a PhD and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship in Child Clinical and Pediatric Psychology at the UM/Mailman Center UCCED/LEND.
Dr. Natale’s expertise lies in early intervention and prevention for children ages 3-5, behavioral health issues, and infant mental health. She uses measures to identify risk and resiliency in at-risk preschool populations and works on preventing child abuse by enhancing maternal responsiveness. As co-investigator for ECHO-Miami, Dr. Natale’s primary interests include understanding the effects of psychosocial exposures on obesity-related outcomes in children.
Program Director:
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Isabel Maldonado
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Senior Research Associate:
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Jennifer Perez |
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Research Staff
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Karla Cardoso Garcia
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Daniela Gonzalez |
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Juliana Paulino
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Caroline Ormeus |
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Laboratory Team
Laboratory Manager
