The F1RST Up® exclusive alliance of research sites was created to simplify and accelerate the startup of clinical trials for renal research. The Faces of F1RST Up® profiles some of the principal investigators and researchers of F1RST Up® and introduces you to the most influential thought leaders working in renal research today. Take a moment to meet our team:
As a principal investigator for the Boise Kidney & Hypertension Institute, Dr. Arnold Silva brings more than 30 years of clinical research and patient care experience to F1RST Up®.
Dr. Silva is the director of the Home Hemodialysis and Peritoneal Dialysis programs at Boise Kidney & Hypertension Institute. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in biology from California State University in Fresno, Calif., and his Ph.D. from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Silva received his M.D. from the University of Arizona, followed by residency training in internal medicine and a nephrology fellowship at the University of Arizona affiliated hospitals.
Twice awarded for excellence in teaching at the University of Arizona, Dr. Silva served as a clinical assistant professor of medicine and also taught in many areas of biology, biochemistry and physiology for California State University and the University of California. He has been very active as an independent investigator in the basic sciences and clinical research throughout his career. Dr. Silva acts as an advisor, national leader and regional mentor on many studies, is a regular high enroller and supports the F1RST Up program with his experience and expertise in the field.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Jill Meyer easily communicates with a diverse population of patients and research subjects in the San Diego area. Experienced in a wide range of conditions, Dr. Meyer brings her skill to renal research areas including kidney failure, kidney infection, polycystic kidney disease and renal artery stenosis.
In addition to her nephrology experience, Dr. Meyer provides F1RST Up® with language versatility to form stronger patient connections that often can otherwise be hindered by language barriers.
In practice as a nephrology specialist for more than 16 years, Dr. Meyer is associated with health care institutions in the area including Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado and Scripps Chula Vista. She earned her medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Coral Gables, Fla., in 1996.
As a study startup accelerator, experienced change agent and proactive workflow optimizer, Christina Kahn manages the network of operations for Frenova’s F1RST Up® alliance of sites.
As senior director site alliance manager, Kahn oversees all trial activities occurring at research sites staffed by Frenova throughout the life of the trial. This includes oversight of research site protocol adherence, data quality, patient safety, site payment, regulatory obligations to the FDA and IRB, drug accountability and site performance. She is a central resource for research personnel, investigators and sponsors.
Prior to joining Frenova, Kahn was the senior manager for clinical research operations for the Sarah Cannon Research Institute and a quality assurance manager for the MediSphere Medical Research Center. An author of numerous publications, she is a certified clinical research professional and an affiliate member of the American Society of Nephrology. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with highest honors from Purdue University.
Experienced in all phases of site management, Shalali Cassim began her career as a project manager and over several years was promoted through a succession of positions, including enrollment manager, operations manager and senior manager of physician relations.
As Frenova’s senior director of site services, she oversees the F1RST Up® program, site support staff and leads operational efforts to ensure orderly administration of clinical trials. Cassim earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and global studies from the University of Minnesota as well as a master’s degree in clinical research organization management from Drexel University College of Medicine.
Dr. Dylan Steer has an enduring interest in the care of patients with chronic kidney disease, including end stage kidney disease and kidney transplantation. He serves as president and CEO of Balboa Nephrology Medical Group in San Diego, where he leads a group of 45 nephrologists who are focused on consistently delivering superior care to every patient with kidney disease.
Dr. Steer has conducted a number of clinical trials in ESRD. His interest is in bringing novel therapies and new technologies to improve the care and quality of life for patients with kidney disease.
He earned his medical degree at Duke University and completed a residency in internal medicine at Duke University Hospital. He went on to complete a fellowship in nephrology and hypertension at the University of California at San Diego. He is affiliated with several hospitals in the region, including Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla and Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego.
As a clinical research coordinator, Melanie Haydel is dedicated to protecting the safety of the patients involved in renal studies and is responsible for coordinating important aspects of clinical research such as subject recruitment, patient care, adverse event reporting, and preparing and submitting case report forms.
Haydel studied nursing research and clinical nursing in a pre-nursing program at Louisiana State University, where she went on to earn her R.N. She earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi. Before joining Southwest Mississippi Nephrology, she was an ICU nurse at Ochsner Medical Center and at Methodist Hospital, both in New Orleans.
Treating kidney patients and performing research for more than 16 years, Dr. Angela Riley is a well-respected nephrologist in the Columbus, Miss. area. She is a constant scholar and has co-authored an article which appeared in the American Journal of Medical Science titled Favorable outcome after Aggressive Treatment of Infection in a Diabetic Patient with MRSA-Related IgA nephropathy. Dr. Riley’s passion for volunteering has led her to provide health screenings and education for various community organizations.
Dr. Riley earned her M.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine in Memphis, which is where she also completed her internship and residency as well as a fellowship in nephrology. She is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She has also been certified in CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1.
In addition to her affiliation with Nephrology Associates, Dr. Riley is affiliated with several leading hospitals, including Baptist Memorial Hospital, Golden Triangle, Greenwood Leflore Hospital, OCH Regional Medical Center and the University of Mississippi Medical Center Grenada.
With more than 45 years of experience in internal medicine and nephrology, Dr. Tom Wooldridge has been a witness to many significant advancements in the study and treatment of chronic kidney disease, end stage renal disease and other renal disorders.
Respected by his colleagues for both clinical research and clinical care, Dr. Woolridge is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology. He practices in Tupelo, Miss., and is affiliated with several hospitals in the area, including the North Mississippi Medical Center and North Mississippi State Hospital, in addition to his association with Nephrology and Hypertension Associates.
A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dr. Wooldridge completed his internship and residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.
As founder and principal investigator of Genesis Clinical Research and medical director for Fresenius, Dr. Jesus Navarro oversees all aspects of kidney research, including mentoring new investigators and pursuing relationships with physicians interested in becoming investigators or sponsors.
Board certified in both internal medicine and nephrology, Dr. Navarro is also the medical director and founder of Renal Care of Tampa Bay, and is the medical director for several local dialysis units. Additionally, he is the medical director of St. Joseph’s Hospital Acute Dialysis Center.
Dr. Navarro earned his degree in medicine from Universidad CETEC in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and he completed a nephrology fellowship at the University of Miami. He has conducted research for over 20 years, functioning as principal investigator in well over 100 clinical studies.
As a principal investigator, Dr. Manuel Montero leads research teams in clinical trials studying the effects of medications and treatments on patients with a variety of kidney disorders. A veteran nephrologist with nearly 30 years in the field, he is a clinical physician in New Bern, N.C. Board certified in both internal medicine and nephrology, Dr. Montero specializes in disorders of the kidney, including chronic kidney disease and end stage renal failure, as well as in many other diseases associated with kidney failure.
A 1988 graduate of Universidad Central del Este Facultad de Medicina in the Dominican Republic, Dr. Montero did his residency at Episcopal Hospital in Philadelphia and completed a fellowship at Drexel University, Hahnemann University Hospital, in Philadelphia. He earned Meaningful Use Stage: 1 certification in 2011.
Dr. Montero has co-authored multiple study reports published in the JAMA Network, the American Heart Association and in dermatology and infectious disease journals, and has also contributed his insight to Frenova’s Investigator Site of the Future article.
Nelson Kopyt, D.O., is research director at Northeast Clinical Research Center and focuses on research related to kidney disease, hypertension and care of dialysis patients. He is also medical director of the South Bethlehem dialysis unit in Pennsylvania and a certified principal investigator with more than 30 years’ experience.
Named one of the nation’s top doctors by U.S. News and World Reports in 2012, Dr. Kopyt is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in nephrology and internal medicine, and in clinical hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension.
Dr. Kopyt graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency and two-year fellowship in nephrology at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia.
As a Principal Investigator for Southwest Houston Research, Ltd., Dr. Marializa V. Bernardo directs and participates in numerous kidney-related clinical trials. She is also a practicing partner of a nephrology practice, medical director of dialysis units and a vascular access center.
Dr. Bernardo earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. She completed her internal medicine residency at University of South Carolina School of Medicine as well as fellowship in Nephrology at Baylor College of Medicine. She is board certified in Nephrology as a subspecialty and interventional nephrology. She is a member of several nephrology professional organizations.
Dr. Christopher Keller is the managing partner and director of clinical operations for Boise Kidney & Hypertension Institute and the medical director of the Liberty Dialysis facilities in Nampa and Caldwell, Idaho. A strong believer in staying abreast of the latest advances and keeping the patient in mind, Dr. Keller joined the nephrologists at Boise Kidney because of his passion for patient-oriented medicine. He has given multiple educational lectures about common concerns facing primary care providers and operating at the convergence of clinical renal research and care.
Dr. Keller received a chemistry degree from Duke University and completed medical training at the University of California, San Francisco, where he received his M.D. with honors and completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in nephrology. He is board certified in both nephrology and internal medicine.
Dr. Keller is currently the chair for the National Joint Venture Physician Council for Fresenius Medical Care. He also chairs the Medical Clinical Committee for West Valley Medical Center and is a member of St. Luke’s Health System’s West Region board of directors.
A practicing nephrologist for more than 40 years, Dr. Diogo Belo is an experienced researcher with a diverse patient population in and around San Diego. His command of English, Spanish and Portuguese helps facilitate communications with patients involved in research studies.
Board certified in both internal medicine and nephrology, Dr. Belo is the Principal Investigator for the California Institute of Renal Research, with seven locations servicing the greater San Diego area. He is also affiliated with Paradise Valley Hospital, Scripps Mercy Hospital, Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado Hospital & Healthcare Center and Sharp Memorial Hospital.
A 1975 graduate of Universidad Federal De Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Dr. Belo completed his internship and residency at Griffin Hospital in Derby, Conn., and a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, John Dempsey Hospital.
A graduate of the Yale University of Medicine, Dr. Edouard Martin specializes in internal medicine and nephrology. He is affiliated with both South Florida Nephrology Associates and the South Florida Research Institute as well as hospitals, including Northwest Medical Center, Plantation General Hospital and University Hospital and Medical Center. In addition to English, Dr. Martin’s practice communicates fluently with patients in Spanish and French.
In practice for more than 34 years, Dr. Martin and his team have completed numerous clinical studies related to kidney disease and associated disorders. He was also co-author of a study report in the American Journal of Nephrology.
Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Martin completed his residency at the New York University School of Medicine and was awarded a Fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
A graduate of the Weill Cornell Medical College at Cornell University, Dr. Donovan Polack has had a career in internal medicine and nephrology research and in the treatment of kidney disease and related conditions.
Practicing in the St. Louis region, Dr. Polack is affiliated with Alton Memorial Hospital, Christian Hospital, Missouri Baptist Medical Center and De Paul Hospital among other institutions. In addition, Dr. Polack’s primary practice recently joined with Fresenius Kidney Care to form St. Louis Kidney Care.
Dr. Polack completed his residency in internal medicine at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta and a fellowship at Wilford Hall Medical Center, a U.S. Air Force medical treatment facility located on the grounds of San Antonio’s Lackland Air Force Base. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and nephrology.
As the senior manager of research site operations, Joanne Stevens is responsible for oversight of all research studies being conducted with Frenova, a clinical drug and device research partner dedicated to kidney disease and its comorbid conditions.
Stevens plays a crucial role for F1RST Up®, impacting multiple areas of the program by facilitating site research, keeping budgets on track and providing valuable organization throughout the complete process.
Stevens is experienced in the conduct of clinical trials and skilled in areas including electronic data capture, interaction with institutional review boards, metadata and vital signs. An experienced research veteran, Stevens was certified as a clinical research coordinator four years before assuming her current position in 2016. She is a graduate of Carrington College in Boise, Idaho.
As an inventor, educator and scholar, Dr. Ramin Berenji is constantly looking to advance medical technologies while keeping his patients in mind. With an education at the world’s top medical institutions and more than 29 years of experience, Dr. Berenji is highly regarded for his expertise in nephrology and clinical research. He is affiliated with El Centro Regional Medical Center and Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District in California.
Dr. Berenji earned his M.D. from the University of Hamburg School of Medicine in Hamburg, Germany, and completed his internship and residency at Good Samaritan Hospital, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He also completed a nephrology fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
Dr. Berenji is a fellow of both the American College of Physicians and the American Society of Nephrologists and has been recognized by both organizations for his continued professional development, scholarly activities and institutional and community-based teaching. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and just renewed his board certification in nephrology. In 2017, Dr. Berenji filed a patent on an intravenous sensing system, demonstrating his dedication to advancing medical capabilities and improving processes within the field.
Bilingual in English and Spanish, Dr. Manllo-Karim serves the Nephrology needs of a diverse population in the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. In practice for more than 25 years, he specializes in kidney diseases.
A graduate of Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey School of Medicine in Monterrey, México, Dr. Manllo-Karim enrolled in graduate education and obtained his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from the University of Kansas in Kansas City. Dr. Manllo-Karim completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and his Nephrology fellowship at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He is certified in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is affiliated with Doctors Hospital at Renaissance, Rio Grande Regional Hospital, McAllen Medical Center as well as all area hospitals.
A constant scholar with a passion for teaching, Dr. Manllo-Karim has co-authored numerous renal-related articles, has pioneered research on the pathophysiology of renal cystic disease, and has taught as faculty at multiple universities. He also implemented telemedicine into his practice’s clinical research program, improving access for patient participation and simplifying study documentation.
A native of South Africa, Dr. Mark Boiskin brings an international perspective to his work in nephrology and kidney research. His ability to speak Afrikaans as well as English offers an additional dynamic to the F1RST Up® team. Furthermore, his dedication to advancing renal research aids his practice as well as F1RST Up with well-prepared source documentation, secure record retention and successful enrollment.
Dr. Boiskin graduated from the University of Stellenbosch Medical School in Cape Town, South Africa, and then completed an internship at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Province, South Africa, before accepting a two-year general practice position at Moose Jaw Clinic in Saskatchewan, Canada. Dr. Boiskin completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Alberta, Canada, as well as a nephrology fellowship at the University of California in San Diego.
Certified in both internal medicine and nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Dr. Boiskin has served as Chairman of Pharmacy and Therapeutics and Chairman of Medicine at the Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, and he is currently on the medical staff at the Scripps hospitals in both La Jolla and Encinitas. Dr. Boiskin is also active in educational outreach, having given presentations to patients on the latest treatments in nephrology and co-authoring a study on the nephrotoxicity of ACE-inhibitors.
A F1RST Up® contributor with more than 20 years of experience in studying and caring for patients with kidney disease, Dr. Amarnath Kathresal is a nephrologist affiliated with leading hospitals in the Durham, N.C., area, including Duke Regional Hospital and Granville Health System-Oxford.
Dr. Kathresal earned his medical degree from the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Science in Bangalore before completing an internship at Jersey City Medical Center in New Jersey and a residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. He also completed a fellowship in nephrology at Louisiana State University and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Nephrology.
He received Meaningful Use Stage: 1 certification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
Dr. Kathresal has also dedicated his time to the advancement of science as he co-authored a paper, “A rare case of Candida arthritis in a hemodialysis patient,” published in the American Journal of Medical Science, and has given multiple poster presentations at the American Society of Hypertension Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition.
Dr. Kendra Hendon, a nephrologist in Knoxville, Tenn. with more than 20 years of experience, brings a high level of dedication to F1RST Up®, exemplified by her passion for providing patients with access to clinical research and cutting-edge nephrology opportunities.
Dr. Hendon earned her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis and completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Virginia. She also completed a fellowship in nephrology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. She is certified in nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine and is affiliated with a leading area hospital, the Methodist Medical Center.
A veteran of both kidney care and military service, Dr. David Tietjen has more than 35 years of experience treating and studying kidney disease and its related disorders.
Dr. Tietjen graduated from Duke University and earned his medical degree at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. He finished a fellowship in nephrology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and is board certified in internal medicine and nephrology by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
From their office in Huntsville, Dr. Tietjen and his six nephrologist partners provide care for patients with all types of renal diseases and dialysis needs located across the entirety of northern Alabama and south-central Tennessee. The opportunity to direct his practice’s work in a wide variety of clinical research areas serves as a reminder of how vitally important it is to push for treatment advances in renal medicine.
As one of the principal investigators for the Nephrology Center at Paragon Health, P.C., Dr. Aqeel brings 30 years of clinical experience and nephrology expertise to F1RST Up®. Serving patients throughout Southwest Michigan, Dr. Aqeel is also a clinical specialist in hypertension, treating renal hyperparathyroidism and hypertensive chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Ahmed Aqeel earned his medical degree at Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his residency at the University of North Dakota and a nephrology fellowship at Wayne State University as well as earning a Masters in Public Health from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom.
Previously, Dr. Aqeel served as medical director of Fresenius Medical Care Sturgis (Michigan) and medical director of the FKC Kalamazoo Home Program.
As a principal investigator for the Nephrology Center at Paragon Health, P.C., Dr. Sanjay Dalal serves patients throughout Southwest Michigan and offers three decades of clinical nephrology expertise to F1RST Up®.
Dr. Dalal earned his medical degree from Bombay University, Grant Medical College. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital in Hines, Ill., and a nephrology fellowship at Loyola University in Chicago.
He also serves as a clinical associate professor at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and as a board member of Borgess Health. Dr. Dalal recently became a member of the contracts committee at Ascension Michigan.
A partner at Renal Medicine Associates (RMA) in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Dr. Jayant Kumar has been in practice for more than 25 years. In addition to seeing patients, he contributes to the mission of F1RST Up® through his research on new developments in nephrology.
Dr. Kumar recently co-authored articles in American Journal of Nephrology on a multicenter trial of nalbuphine ER tablets for uremic pruritus and a comparison of the safety and efficacy of an epoetin alfa proposed biosimilar with epoetin alfa in patients with ESRD. He has also published work on kidney disease as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular events.
He earned his medical degree at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. Dr. Kumar completed his residency at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City and a nephrology fellowship at Stanford University. Dr. Kumar was Associate Professor of Medicine and Fellowship Director at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock before joining RMA. He runs the clinical research program at RMA with his manager Hema Shah and a dedicated group of research staff.
In 2007, Dr. Dennis Ross founded the Kansas Nephrology Institute (KNRI), a research center associated with a large nephrology practice that manages patients at multiple dialysis centers and clinics throughout the state of Kansas. While most KNRI research focuses on chronic kidney disease and related disorders, the group wishes to study other disease states, as well as interventions for end stage renal disease.
Dr. Ross is a clinical professor at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and completed residency training at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kan., and a nephrology fellowship at The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis.
In 2018, Dr. Ross received the University of Nebraska Medical Center Distinguished Alumni Award.