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My Latest Milestones in Allergy Research, Scientific Leadership, and Public Engagement

2024–2025 has been a dynamic period in my journey as a researcher, educator, and advocate for public health and scientific equity. From launching a new discovery lab to national recognitions, here’s a roundup of recent developments I’m excited to share.

1. Advancing Science & Public Health

  • Nationwide Research Project:
    I joined the “All of Us” program, a transformative NIH initiative aiming to understand how biology, environment, and lifestyle influence health. My focus: representing diverse populations in biomedical research. Click here for more details.

  • Respiratory Infection Research Recognition:
    My team and I were honored for our research on respiratory infections — a project that explores the immunological mechanisms behind environmental triggers. Click here for more details.

  • Environmental Health Spotlight:
    I had the opportunity to publish in the South Florida Sun Sentinel on the intersection of environmental conditions and public health — an issue close to my heart. Click here for more details.

2. New Ventures in Education and Leadership

  • Educational Biomarker Discovery Lab:
    I launched this lab to train the next generation of scientists and expand the scope of allergy and immunology education at Lynn University. Click here for more details.

  • Conference Contributions:
    I contributed to strategic planning at a major national allergy conference, working alongside fellow members of the Aerobiology community. Click here for more details.

  • Microbiology in Puerto Rico:
    Presented at the 2025 Puerto Rico Society of Microbiologists — reconnecting with my scientific roots and contributing to our shared knowledge ecosystem. Click here for more details.

3. Recognition and Scientific Service

  • National Committee Appointment:
    I was nominated as vice chair of the Microbial Triggers Committee by the American Academy of Allergy — a role that enables me to shape national discourse on immunological risk factors. Click here for more details.

  • Inspiring Black Scientists Nomination:
    Honored to be recognized in the Index of Inspiring Black Scientists, a reflection of the importance of visibility, equity, and mentorship in STEM. Click here for more information.

  • Scientific Memoir Contribution:
    Joined the scientific community tribute in a memoir honoring influential voices in allergy and respiratory science. Click here for more details.

Final Thoughts:

It’s humbling to see these efforts gain traction, but science is always a team sport. I remain committed to mentorship, innovation, and using science to improve lives — especially in communities that need it most.

Find in this link (click here) other related news!

Keep reading

New Publication in Aerobiology: Ambient Fungal Spores and Asthma Healthcare Use in San Juan, 2018–2021

Our new open-access article in Aerobiology (MDPI) links four years of daily fungal spore counts from San Juan to 168,578 asthma encounters across the post-Hurricane María recovery and the COVID-19 pandemic. The associations are small and depend on age and period—an honest ecological result from a long collaboration with Dr. Benjamín Bolaños-Rosero, with two UPR trainees as co-authors.

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Congratulations, Dr. Amirah Ellis-Gilliam: From Dissertation to Publication in the Delaware Journal of Public Health

Eleven days after defending her PhD dissertation, Dr. Amirah Ellis-Gilliam has published its first study in the Delaware Journal of Public Health: an analysis of 4.5 million adults showing that neighborhood-level social and economic factors alone cannot identify who develops Long COVID (PASC). I am proud to be a co-author and prouder to be her mentor.

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Congratulations, Dr. Amirah Ellis-Gilliam: A Dissertation on Long COVID, Defended

Today Amirah Ellis-Gilliam, MPH, successfully defended her PhD dissertation at the University of Delaware: three studies dissecting post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (Long COVID) through neighborhood-level risk prediction, machine-learning biomarker discovery, and systems-level pathway analysis. I was honored to serve on her committee.

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