Clinical and Research Collaborators
DR. TIM N. ZIEGENFUSS, Ph.D, FISSN, CSCS: CEO
An internationally recognized author, speaker, and researcher with expertise in exercise science, dietary supplements, nutrition, and sports performance, Dr. Tim Ziegenfuss is the Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the Center for Applied Health Sciences. He is a past President (2009-2011) and Fellow of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. Dr. Ziegenfuss earned a Bachelor of Science from Lock Haven University (Magna Cum Laude, Health Sciences), a Master of Science from Purdue University (Exercise Physiology), and a Doctorate from Kent State University (Exercise Physiology, cognates in Nutrition and Statistics). During his five-year tenure as a professor, he taught undergraduate and graduate level courses in exercise physiology, metabolism, body composition, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and sports nutrition.
In addition to publishing over 80 scientific papers, 8 book chapters, and more than 600 articles in mainstream magazines, Dr. Ziegenfuss has been quoted in Scientific American and made presentations in Washington DC on behalf of the dietary supplement industry. Because of his unique ability to connect the dots between dietary supplements, nutritional habits, and physical activity within academic, industry, and legal channels, Tim is routinely sought after by top 25 print media and as a consultant to top supplement companies, raw material manufacturers, elite athletes, and high-level executives.
Dr. Ziegenfuss is also a renowned scientific advisor to the U.S. Sports Nutrition market. His input has led to the creation of products that currently grace the shelves of every major retailer in a dozen countries around the world, accounting for millions of dollars in revenues.
JENNIFER SANDROCK, MS, RD/LD, CCRC Chief Operating Officer
A Licensed and Registered Dietitian and a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator, Jennifer Sandrock is the Chief Operating Officer at the Center for Applied Health Sciences. As a Certified Sports Nutritionist, her research interests focus primarily on sports performance, weight loss, and cardiovascular disease prevention. She also consults for local fitness facilities and teaches disease and lifestyle management courses as well as instructing healthy cooking classes for personal clients. Jennifer’s enthusiasm and passion for cooking has led her to become actively involved with local Ronald McDonald House charities.
Jennifer received her Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences) degree from Lock Haven University, and a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) from D’Youville College. She is an active member of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
ALAN NGUYEN, DO
Dr. Alan Nguyen specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation and interventional spine and sports medicine. He treats a wide range of neuromusculoskeletal conditions and focuses on offering comprehensive solutions for back pain and sports injuries. As an avid advocate for proactive healthcare, he promotes education and injury prevention strategies, empowering individuals to make informed decisions to optimize recovery and regain peak performance.
Dr. Nguyen actively contributes to the sports community as a member of the Florida Athletic Commission. His involvement in this capacity has given him the opportunity to treat and support professional athletes from some of MMA's top promotions, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator, One Championship, Professional Fighters League, Combate Global, and more. Through this role, he plays an integral part in promoting athlete safety, ensuring rigorous standards are met, and offering his insights to enhance sports performance and injury prevention.
Beyond his clinical practice, Dr. Nguyen harbors special interests in brain health as it relates to contact sports and tactical athletes, cognitive decline in the aging population, exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and human performance. His involvement in academic societies including the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the Society for Sports Neuroscience, and the American Society for Pain and Neuroscience allows him to stay at the forefront of research and developments in said topics and further enriches his ability to address the needs of his patients and the active population, considering the intricate interplay between physical and cognitive well-being and athletic pursuits.
MICHAEL SAGNER, MD, FRSM, FRCP, FESPM
Dr. Sagner is a medical doctor and researcher specializing in sports and preventive medicine. He was the medical director at Europe's first university medical center section for preventive and lifestyle medicine, overseeing a diverse team of medical professionals and working with top athletes. He co-founded a private clinic group and research institute focused on cardiology, metabolism, endocrinology, preventive medicine, and sports medicine. His work encompasses elite athletes, VIPs, and executives.
Dr. Sagner is recognized for interventions in endocrinology and cardiometabolic prevention, like utilizing GLP1 agonists in Europe. He emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, viewing the human body as an integrated system and translating these principles into clinical practice. He aims to transform medicine into a predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory (P4) model, working at the intersection of systems biology and consumer-driven healthcare.
As a public health expert, he leads global initiatives in systems biology-driven preventive medicine in collaboration with governments and NGOs. He strives to bridge the gap between clinical practice and public health through partnerships with organizations like the World Heart Federation, World Obesity Federation, and World Health Organization.
Dr. Sagner is the director of the European Society of Preventive Medicine and is involved in various international health platforms. He has significant media presence as a health expert and consults for companies, organizations, and governments worldwide.
Currently, he serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Progress in Preventive Medicine, a peer-reviewed journal, and has authored and edited several textbooks on preventive medicine. His current focus lies in disease prediction and prevention using a systems biology approach, collaborating with diverse interdisciplinary groups.
LUKE BUCCI, Ph.D, CCN, CNS
Dr. Luke Bucci attained earned his bachelors in Chemistry (Magna Cum Laude) from St. Edward’s University and a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Texas at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, with Postdoctoral appointments in Experimental Radiotherapy. Dr. Bucci has been instrumental in educating and certifying health care practitioners and clinical nutritionists as Board Member, Instructor and Adjunct Faculty. Dr. Bucci taught the first Dietary Supplement Regulations course for undergraduates at the University of Utah Department of Nutrition. Dr. Bucci is a member of the American Nutrition Society, American Nutrition Association (Certified Nutrition Specialist), International and American Association of Clinical Nutritionists (Certified Clinical Nutritionist) and the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
Dr. Bucci has particular interests and publications in AUB of nutrients (Absorption, Uptake & Bioavailability), bone/joint health, sports nutrition, adaptogens and functional nutrients. Dr. Bucci has authored academic books and book chapters, books for the public, patents and peer-reviewed articles on nutritional topics. Dr. Bucci has lectured on nutritional topics in Asia, Europe and North America. In addition, Dr. Bucci has a strong Regulatory background in successfully supporting dietary supplement claims and science by necessity.
BETSY RAUB, RN, BSN Research Nurse: Lab Coordinator
Betsy Raub received her BSN at Shenandoah University within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia where research and community outreach was promoted. Utilizing her strengths at the bedside, Betsy began and advanced her career as a critical care nurse. After 15+ years of caring for patients with serious disease and illness, her interest in research emerged, steering her focus to promoting healthy lifestyle and disease prevention.
For the past 7 years, Betsy has transformed the lead role of Research Nurse and Lab Coordinator at CAHS. She participates in and oversees the day to day operations of data collection, documentation, specimen processing and staff coordination while assuming a leadership role in specialty studies involving pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics and muscle biopsies.
Betsy has expanded her research responsibilities to include the role of primary investigator and also co-author of several published manuscripts. Betsy is a CPR instructor and holds certifications in radiation safety and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).
Mike LaMonica, Ph.D., CSCS*D Senior Research Associate
Michael La Monica received his bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and his master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Central Florida. Michael has worked as an Exercise Physiologist for a hospital where he interacted with special populations (diabetes, bariatric, cancer, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular rehabilitation), individuals undergoing rehabilitation, and athletes (youth to professional). He later taught a variety of undergraduate and graduate courses within Kinesiology at the University of Central Florida and Missouri State University. He has published multiple peer-reviewed research articles within sports science, exercise physiology, and nutritional supplementation. Additionally, Michael regularly attends and presents research at national conferences including the American College of Sports Medicine, Experimental Biology, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
DR. DOUGLAS M. BIBUS, MS, Ph.D
Dr. Doug Bibus is community faculty member at The Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota and a researcher in the area of fatty acid biochemistry and nutrition. Dr. Bibus is considered one of the top omega 3 experts in the world and stems from the academic lab of Dr Ralph T. Holman who invented the term ‘omega 3’, discovered the metabolism and definitive essentiality nature of omega 3. In addition to his work with the Center, Doug directs Lipid Technologies, LLC., an analytical and consulting group that focuses on fatty acid and lipid analysis and integration of lipid nutrition in biotech and food applications.
His research interests include the role of essential fatty acids in human and animal nutrition, the role of omega 3 fatty acids in the down regulation of the inflammatory response and the application of fatty acids in the treatment of disease. Other ongoing research has or is examining the role of omega 3 and fatty acid nutrition and its implications in the treatment of depression, schizophrenia, Tourette’s syndrome, cystic fibrosis, Crohn’s disease, heart disease, arthritis, critically injured and adult respiratory distress patients and in patients with autoimmune disorders. Dr. Bibus has also recently developed an Omega 3 blood test (www.Omega3Test.com) to identify levels of omega 3 in the blood.
Dr. Bibus is a member of several organizations including the American Oil Chemists’ Society, the American Chemical Society, the Society for Critical Care Medicine and the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids. He has been the recipient of the American Oil Chemists’ Honored Student Award and a two-time winner of the American Chemical Society’s Award in Analytical Chemistry. Doug is also a board member for the American Oil Chemists’ Society and also serves on that society’s Foundation board.
In addition to presenting at numerous professional meetings, Dr. Bibus is a sought after lecturer and author in the area of human and animal health
DR. STEPHEN SCHMITZ, MD, MPH
Stephen Schmitz, MD, MPH is the Co-founder of Supplement Safety Solutions. He was originally trained and board certified in Family Medicine, and later Occupational Medicine. He received in medical degree from Rutgers Medical School, and Master of Public Health from Boston University.
For over 10 years, he has worked full-time in drug safety and clinical development for several leading biotech and medical imaging companies in the Boston area, and for a contract research organization (CRO). He is on the editorial board of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN), and has served as the medical monitor for a variety of drug and medical device studies. He consults with leading dietary supplement companies in safety and risk assessment.
Bob Lemieux, BS, MS
Bob Lemieux is in his 21st season at Kent State University. He works directly with Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Wrestling, Gymnastics and both Men’s and Women’s golf programs. In his tenure, he has served as an assistant strength coach, working with every Golden Flashes athletic program and as head strength coach in which he served as interim coach for football twice while overseeing all Olympic sport programs and has played a role in winning 50 MAC Championships over the past 20 seasons. He has been the Director of Strength and Conditioning for over 10 years overseeing the staff providing the year-round training for all Varsity Athletic Programs. In 2016, Lemieux was promoted to be the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance, overseeing the comprehensive program that supports the competitive needs of Kent State University student-athletes.
In 2014, Lemieux was named Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa), the highest honor given in the profession. The title must meet a number of requirements including CSCCa certification and a minimum of 12 years of experience as a full-time strength and conditioning coach on the collegiate and/or professional level. He is an approved mentor through the CSCCa which teaches and mentors young strength coaches and prepares them for national certification and a future career.
Lemieux received his undergraduate degree from Kent State University in exercise science, his Master’s in Sport and Recreation management has additional postgraduate coursework in nutrition. He is certified through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa) and has held certifications from the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), USA Weightlifting (USAW) and the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) as a Golf Fitness Instructor.
As an adjunct professor he teaches coursework in strength & conditioning, advanced strength & conditioning and provides additional lectures in exercise science, nutrition and career development and planning.
Prior to Kent State, he served as the head strength and conditioning coach and assistant varsity ice hockey coach and at Gilmour Academy in Mayfield Village, Ohio (2000-2001) and as the director of health and fitness for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland (1998-2000).
Remaining active in his industry, he is on the scientific advisory board for The Center for Applied Health Sciences. Lemieux has co-authored multiple publications in peer reviewed strength training and nutrition journals and has spoken at local and regional clinics and conferences on strength training, program development and nutrition. He is married to former Kent State women's basketball player Alison Drews ('99) and live in Twinsburg, Ohio with their two sons, Bobby and Ryan
DR. ARNY FERRANDO, Ph.D.
Dr. Ferrando’s academic training consists of a B.S. in Engineering from West Point, a M.B.A. from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Ph.D. in Nutrition from Florida State University, and a post doc in Protein Metabolism and Space Physiology at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Dr. Ferrando’s research endeavors have focused on the amelioration of muscle loss during sarcopenic or cachectic states. His research has involved the examination of muscle protein metabolism in circumstances ranging from inactivity to critical illness to disease states to aging. These research efforts include inactivity as a clinical paradigm and model of microgravity, space flight, orthopedic surgery, pediatric and adult burns, end-stage renal disease, and the sarcopenia associated with aging. In particular, his research has focused on hormonal and nutritional control of muscle protein metabolism in these situations. Overall, these studies have demonstrated that the restoration of anabolic influence on skeletal muscle can ameliorate the loss of lean body mass and improve survivability and functionality, while decreasing hospitalization and/or rehabilitation.
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