Archana J McEligot, Ph.D.

Dr. Archana McEligot’s primary research interests include examination of the association between dietary intake and cancer control and prevention.  Specifically, Dr. McEligot has assessed the influence of dietary intakes on breast cancer outcomes, as well as the role of nutrition in health disparities.  She is also interested in assessing the relationship between dietary circulating biomarkers in blood such as folate and carotenoids in conjunction with genetic polymorphisms on cancer risk.  She is the first awardee at CSUF to receive the prestigious National Cancer Institutes, K07 Career Development Award investigating the interaction between DNA repair genes and diet on breast cancer risk. The findings of this study will help further explore not only diet, but also the role of diet and genes on breast cancer risk and survival.  Dr. McEligot has also been co-investigator on several studies, including a hereditary breast cancer study, and studies assessing health among Pacific Islanders.

Recent publications:

• McEligot, A. J., McMullin, J., Pang, K., Bone, M., Winston, S., Ngewa, R., Tanjasiri, S. (under review). Macro and micronutrient intakes and cultural health behaviors in Native Hawaiians in Southern California. Hawai'i Medical Journal.
• McEligot, A. J., Ziogas, A., Pfeiffer, C. M., Fazili, Z., Anton-Culver, H.  (under review at CDC internal offices for submission). The association between circulating total folate and folate vitamers with overall survival after breast cancer diagnosis. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention.
• McEligot, A. J., Ziogas, A., Pfeiffer, C. M., Fazili, Z., Anton-Culver, H.  (In preparation).  Folate and DNA repair gene interactions on breast cancer outcomes. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers, & Prevention.

Francene Steinberg, Ph.D.

Dr. Steinberg’s overall research aim is to investigate nutrition interventions which reduce chronic disease risk. The focus of her laboratory group is on the physiologic role of bioactive food phytochemicals on risk factors for cardiovascular disease, including markers of inflammatory responses, lipid metabolism and vascular function. She is also interested in evaluations of diet quality and health biomarkers. Her research utilizes translational approaches, from in vitro and in vivo models to randomized clinical trials and community interventions.

Recent publications:

• Heneman K., Block-Joy A., Zidenberg-Cherr S., Donohue S., Garcia L., Martin A., . . . Steinberg F. M. (2005). A "contract for change" increases produce consumption in low-income women: a pilot study. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 105(11), 1793-1796.
• Froyen, E. B. & Steinberg, F. M. (2011). Soy isoflavones increase quinone reductase in hepa-1c1c7 cells via estrogen receptor beta and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 binding to the antioxidant response element. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 22(9), 843-848.
• Steinberg, F. M., Murray, M. J., Lewis, R. D., Cramer, M. A., Amato, P., Young, R. L., . . . Wong, W. W. (2011). Clinical outcomes of a 2-y soy isoflavone supplementation in menopausal women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 93(2), 356-367. 

Natalie Tran, Ph.D.

Dr. Tran's research focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of curriculum and programs related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and examining factors that affect students’ learning experiences both in the classroom and out-of-school settings. These areas align with her research interest in evaluation of policies and programs aimed at improving the learning outcomes of students from diverse social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds. Her methodological research interests include hierarchical linear modeling, experimental design, quasi-experimental design, and survey studies.

Recent publications:

• Tran, N. A., Schneider, S., Duran, L., Conley, A. M., Richland, L., Burchinal, M., . . . Martinez, M. E. (2012). The effects of mathematics instruction using spatial temporal cognition on teacher efficacy and instructional practices. Computers in Human Behavior, 28 (2), 340-349.
• Nathan, M. J., Atwood, A. K., Prevost, A., Phelps, L. A., & Tran, N. A. (2011). How professional development in Project Lead the Way changes high school STEM teachers’ beliefs about engineering education. Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research, 1(1), 15-29.

Jie Wu Weiss, Ph.D.

Dr. Weiss focuses her research on utilizing the behavioral decision-making model to examine people’s risk perception, emotions, lifestyle choices (such as drug use, physical activity, and eating behaviors), motivation for health related behavior change and maintenance, and their relations to health outcomes. In addition, her research incorporates the “real-time” data collection and mobile health technology to record people’s thinking, emotion, and health related behavior choices.

Recent publications:

• Weiss, J. W., & Weiss, D. J. (2012). Irrational – at the moment. Synthese.
• Weiss, J. W., Mouttapa, M., Nacpil, L. M., Rubin, D., and Gedissman, A. (2012). Evaluation of the effectiveness of an obesity intervention program for Latino youth. Journal of Behavioral Health.
• Weiss, J.W., Merrill, V., & Akagha, K. (2011). Substance use and its relationship to family functioning and self-image in adolescents. Journal of Drug Education, 41(1), 79-97.

Debra Lynn Patterson, Ph.D.

Dr. Patterson's research interests include investigating teacher behavior and its effects on students' physical activity levels. Additional interests include Curriculum and Instruction and ways to support beginning teachers in teaching physical education.

Recent publications:

• Patterson, D. L., & Collins, J. (2012). Middle school girls’ perceptions of their physical education classes and teachers. Medicina Sportiva, 16(1), 12-16.
• Sheppard, A., Rubin, D. A., Sherman, C. P., & Patterson, D. L. (2012). The effect of course configuration of the mile run on preference and performance of elementary school runners. The Physical Educator, 69, 20-35.
• Patterson, D. L., & van der Mars, H. (2008). Distant interactions and their effects on children’s physical activity levels during fitness instruction. Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, 13 (3), 277-294.

Tu-Uyen Nguyen, Ph.D., MPH

Dr. Nguyen's research focuses on reducing health disparities by understanding the socioecological influences of culture and ethnicity on the health-related behaviors of medically underserved communities. Her current work includes research on effective cancer education strategies for diverse Asian and Pacific Islander communities; program evaluation using qualitative and mixed research methods; community-based patient navigation; community and organizational capacity building strategies; and linguistic-cultural competency in health promotion programs and health services delivery.

Recent publications:

• Dang, J., Lee, J., Tran, J. H., Kagawa-Singer, M., Foo, M. A., Nguyen, T. U., Dadia, A. V., Thomson, J., & Tanjasiri, S.P. (2010). The role of medical interpretation on breast and cervical cancer screening among Asian American and Pacific Islander women. Journal of Cancer Education, 25(2). 
• Nguyen, T. N., Tanjasiri, S. P., Kagawa-Singer, M., Tran, J. H., & Foo, M. A. (2008). Community health navigators for breast and cervical cancer screening among Cambodians and Laotian women: intervention strategies and relationship building processes. Health Promotion Practice, 9(4), 356-67.
• Kagawa-Singer, M., Tanjasiri, S. P., Lee, S. W., Foo, M. A., Nguyen, T. N., Tran, J., & Valdez, A.  (2006). Breast and Cervical Cancer Control among Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian Women:  Participatory Action Research Strategies for Baseline Data Collection in California.  Journal of Cancer Education, 21(1), S53-S60.

Laura Chandler, Dr.PH., MPH

Dr. Laura Chandler’s research interests include adolescent and college health issue. She is particulary interested in the role fitness assessments play in motivation for physical activity.