PACR Faculty
The PACR supports collaborative research projects, outreach initiatives and education programs between scientists and educators in Seattle, Washington and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Faculty at each institution conduct collaborative research projects, and contribute to outreach and education initiatives in NM and WA.
The PACR Team in Seattle, Washington
Principal Investigators
Beti Thompson, Ph.D.
Dr. Thompson’s research focuses on developing community approaches to reducing cancer and other health disparities in underserved populations, both in the US and abroad.
Julian Simon, Ph.D.
Dr. Simon researches the development of small molecules as mechanistic probes for cellular processes and as potential lead compounds for the development of therapeutic agents.
Co-investigators
Shirley Beresford, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Roger Brent, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Ruth Etzioni, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Chris Kemp, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Chris Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Project lead
Karen Peterson, Ph.D.
Core Lead
Peggy Porter, M.D.
Project Lead
Rachel M. Ceballos, Ph.D.
Project Lead; Core Lead
India Ornelas, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Elizabeth Loggers, M.D., Ph.D.
Project Lead
Frances Lewis, RN, MN, Ph.D., FAAN
Project Lead
Eric Holland, M.D., Ph.D.
Project Lead
Program Staff
The PACR Team in Las Cruces, New Mexico
As the state’s land grant institution, New Mexico State University has a presence in every county in the state through its branch campuses and Extension Service, allowing much of New Mexico’s population access to educational opportunities. NMSU’s main campus is located in Dona Ana County, which has a 65% Hispanic population.
With 62% minority enrollment, the NMSU undergraduate program is a minority-majority institution. Further, NMSU is the only Doctoral/Research University-Extensive ranked by the National Science Foundation with significant representation of both Hispanic and Native American students.
Principal Investigators
Mary O’Connell, Ph.D.
Dr. O’Connell’s research expertise encompasses plant molecular genetics, biochemistry and natural product isolation and analysis. She studies plant gene expression and genetic diversity, with specific emphasis on capsaicinoid and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways, and has characterized a number of plant extracts and purified plant metabolites for anti-cancer activities.
Graciela Unguez, Ph.D.
Dr. Unguez’s research interests focus on the mechanisms responsible for the formation, plasticity and regeneration of different components of neuromuscular and other electromotor circuits in adult vertebrates. Her lab uses electric fishes to study how the skeletal muscle program is modified to become the electric organ, that is, a non-contractile tissue specialized to generate electricity, and determine the role played by the nervous system in the differentiation of electrogenic cell types.
Co-investigators
Amanda Ashley, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Ryan Ashley, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Ivan de la Rosa, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Charlotte Gard, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Jessica Houston, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Kevin Lombard, Ph.D.
Project Lead
Rebecca Palacios, Ph.D.
Project & Core Lead
Mary Alice Scott, Ph.D.
Core Lead
Paul Tian, Ph.D.
Project Lead