Program Administrators
Letisha R. Wyatt. Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). She earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology & Toxicology from the University of Southern California in 2013. Her graduate and postdoctoral research focused on purinergic signaling in the central nervous system as a molecular target for developing new treatments for alcohol use disorders and stroke.
In previous faculty roles within the OHSU Library and the Center for Cancer Early Detection Advanced Research (CEDAR) at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Dr. Wyatt supported researchers in adopting open science practices and data stewardship to enhance scientific rigor and transparency. She brings extensive experience in both preclinical and clinical research, as well as expertise in data stewardship and mentorship. This experience is grounded in a strong publication record, mentorship of trainees across all career stages, and service as an advisory committee member to the NIH Director.
Dr. Wyatt is deeply committed to developing and implementing programs that support and empower the next generation of scientists, with the goal of broadening participation in the biomedical workforce.
Angela Ozburn, Ph.D., is a Native American neuroscientist and the Co-Director of the OHSU Fellowship for Diversity in Research. As a first generation college student, she found support in structured mentoring and research experiences that were pivotal for advancement in her academic research career. She now dedicates a significant portion of her time to training underrepresented individuals to become the next generation of scientists and physicians. Dr. Ozburn earned a PhD in Neuroscience (2009) from the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Ozburn is a member of the NIH-funded Integrative Neuroscience Initiative on Alcoholism-Neuroimmune Consortium, where her lab collaborates with others in the consortium to use novel approaches in bioinformatics to identify and test therapeutic compounds that oppose drug-induced molecular signatures. Her VA-funded project focuses on identifying the brain circuitry and neural substrates involved in binge-like alcohol drinking. Visit Dr. Ozburn’s website to learn more about her research.
Karen Bromley is the Program Administrator of OFDIR and IRACDA at OHSU. She is a second-generation Filipina American with over 20 years of experience as a non-profit and education administrator in the areas of fund development, program management, and communication. After receiving her BA in English at the University of San Francisco, Karen went on to support organizations that advocated for the arts, education, and Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. She deepened her understanding of AAPI issues as a graduate student in San Francisco State University’s Asian American Studies program, which strengthened her dedication to community-building and multicultural advancement. She is an active volunteer at her children’s elementary school in the Hillsboro School District, where she particularly loves supporting the amazing neurodiverse students in the classroom.
Angelica (an-jeh-luh-kuh) Dominguez was born in in Mexico and grew up in Los Angeles, California before moving to Portland, Oregon at the age of 12. She now resides in Eugene, OR with her partner and 2 cats. She loves the Pacific Northwest and all the outdoors has to offer. Angelica has been with OHSU for the last 9 years. She serves as the Administrative Coordinator for various departments within the Research umbrella. She loves being able to help others, it’s a career path that she finds to be very rewarding.
Founders
Co-Founder: Damien Fair, PA-C, PhD
Dr. Fair is the Co-Director of the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MiDB) at the University of Minnesota. He obtained his BA from Augustana College and his PhD in Neuroscience from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis under the primary guidance of Dr. Bradley Schlaggar and Dr. Steven Petersen. Dr. Fair completed postdoctoral training at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) with Dr. Joel Nigg and Dr. Bonnie Nagel. He spent over 10 years at OHSU as a champion for diversity, equity and inclusion efforts as well as the principal investigator of the Developmental Cognition and Neuroimaging (DCAN) Labs. He co-founded OFDIR in 2014 along with Dr. Marguerite Matthews and now serves OFDIR as an external advisory committee member.
Supporters
Our program is generously supported by the OHSU Office of Research and Innovation. We gratefully acknowledge the leadership of:
Bonnie Nagel, Ph.D., Chief Research Officer
Dr. Bonnie Nagel serves as OHSU’s Interim Chief Research Officer and Executive Vice President. A professor of psychiatry and behavioral neuroscience, Dr. Nagel has been a longtime supporter of OFDIR having served as a mentor to an OFDIR Fellow and previously mentored OFDIR’s co-founder, Dr. Damien Fair. Her commitment to mentorship, mental health equity, and the advancement of research at OHSU continues to shape the next generation of diverse scientists.
Peter Barr-Gillespie, Ph.D., Former Chief Research Officer
Dr. Peter Barr-Gillespie’s steadfast support and advocacy were instrumental in launching and sustaining OFDIR. We are honored to continue building on the foundation he helped establish. A committed advocate for racial justice and equity at OHSU, Dr. Barr-Gillespie also served as a valued member of our advisory committee.