2019 Annual Board Meeting
Simmaron Executive Board:
Dr. Jan Armstrong, MDiv., DMin., Chairman of the Board
Courtney Miller, Board President, Treasurer
Wes Brown, Secretary
Gunnar Gottschalk, PhD, Board Member
Scientific Advisory Board:
Daniel Peterson, MD, Sierra Internal Medicine
Konnie Knox, PhD, Coppe Laboratories
Maureen Hanson, PhD, Cornell University
Mady Hornig, MA MD, Columbia University
Paul Guyre, PhD, Dartmouth University
Stephanie Grach, MD, Mayo Clinic
David Kaufman, MD, Center for Complex Diseases- Seattle, WA
Bela Chedda, MD, Center for Complex Diseases-Palo Alto, CA
Chief Scientific Officer and Section Chief, Neurobiology
Avik Roy, Ph.D. has extensive scientific experience in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases. Dr. Roy has conducted groundbreaking research in the role of glial activation and inflammation in the pathology of Parkinson’s disease, and he is interested in apply his work to the complex disease manifestations of ME/CFS. He has demonstrated that the loss of function in bpoz2 gene plays a crucial role in the development of Lewybody pathology causing the death of DA neurons. His pioneering work in deciphering the role of an ankyrin repeat-rich protein BPOZ2 in the amelioration of alpha-synuclein pathology was awarded with Rapid Response Innovation Award by Michael J Fox Foundation of Parkinson's disease. Dr. Roy has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Nature Chemical Biology, Cell Metabolism, Cell Reports, PNAS, Journal of Clinical Investigation. He was named as an associate editor of Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease for 2022. Indices of his publications are linked here:
CEO and Section Chief, Translational Science
Gunnar Gottschalk PhD, has been with Simmaron Research since its formation. Prior to attending graduate school, Dr. Gottschalk was the lead research coordinator for Sierra Internal Medicine and was responsible for the execution of several large multi-centered investigations in ME/CFS funded by NIH, The Chronic Fatigue Initiative, The Open Medicine Institute, and the Centers for Disease Control. In 2020, he was named the Foundation’s Executive Director. Since then, Dr. Gottschalk has served a dual role in the organization as the Executive Director and Principal Investigator. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Gottschalk led Simmaron’s Local Response to COVID-19 Program in collaboration with Konstance Knox, PhD member of the Simmaron Scientific Advisory Board and CEO of Coppe Laboratories. This program provided free critical early access to COVID testing for residents of North Lake Tahoe, supported the development of the Simmaron COVID-19 Biobank and initiated a number of related research projects. In 2021, Dr. Gottschalk recruited Avik Roy, PhD, to be Simmaron’s Chief Scientific Officer. Since that time, the two have received multiple competitive grants including a Ramsay Award from SolveME and an NIH R21. At present, Dr. Gottschalk is the PI for Simmaron’s multi-centered clinical trial of Rapamycin in ME/CFS. His laboratory is located at the Indiana Center for Biomedical Innovation (ICBI) on the campus of the Indiana University Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, IN.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1HMrmLhAo2aAln/bibliography/public/
Senior Scientist and Section Chief, Oncology
Animesh Barua, PhD joined Simmaron in 2024 as a Senior Scientist. Dr. Barua is an internationally recognized expert in gynecological cancers with a focus on ovarian cancer (OVCA) and benign conditions which may increase the risk of OVCA. Prior to joining Simmaron, Dr. Barua led the Laboratory for Translational Research on Ovarian Cancer for 20 years at the Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. In addition, Dr. Barua was the Program Director of the MS and PhD in Integrated Biomedical Sciences (IBS) programs of Rush University, Chicago, IL for 6 six years. His extensive research projects funded via NIH, Department of Defense (DOD) and foundations/philanthropy mechanisms include the development of an early detection test for OVCA using molecular-targeted ultrasound imaging in association with a panel of serum markers, elucidation of mechanisms of ovarian tumor-induced evasion/suppression of NK cell immunity, and development of anti-tumor immunotherapies using natural products. In addition, and closely related to ME/CFS and Long-COVID, are his projects related to endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and examine the risks of these benign conditions to malignant transformations as well as determining the effects of natural product-based interventions. Dr. Barua’s laboratory, formally known as the SRI DX lab, is located at the Technology Innovation Center at the Milwaukee County Research Park. Dr. Barua has dedicated AAALAC approved animal facilities and access to core facilities located a few miles away at The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM).
Clinical Supervisor & Scientific Advisory Board Member
Daniel Peterson, MD, is a founding member of Simmaron Research. Dr. Peterson is internationally regarded as a leading expert in ME/CFS with a 40-year clinical history, and he uses his unique position as a medical doctor to aid in the development of robust translational science research projects. Dr. Peterson’s clinic, Sierra Internal Medicine based in Incline Village NV, works as a complement to Simmaron Research’s mission. Through the Scientific Advisory Board, Dr. Peterson oversees Simmaron Research’s project load and uses his clinical acumen to both direct inquiry and interpret findings.
Want to work with us?
Legacy Training
At Simmaron, we believe in supporting the academic and professional goals of young scientists. Our fellowship and internship programs are designed to bring young people into a space where they learn about an underserved population in medicine, develop or refine research skills, and grow as young professionals.
Internship
The purpose of the Simmaron Undergraduate Internship is to provide qualified candidates clinical research experience in the field of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). The competitive internship program runs in 10-week cycles throughout the year in Incline Village, NV. For more information or to submit a resume, click here (link to the “Get Involved” form)
Fellowship
The Fellowship program is designed to enhance the learning experience of a graduate-level student studying life sciences. Our current Research Director began as an intern to a nascent Simmaron a decade ago, became the Research Fellow as he pursued a PhD in the neuroscience, and now leads much of the day-to-day work of Simmaron as a staff member.