SHEPHERD RESEARCH LAB - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Professor / Researcher and Interim Deputy Director / Chief Scientific Officer at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
- Researcher / Professor at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center
Dr. Shepherd is a Researcher/Professor at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center, a Fulbright Scholar, a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) and a former President of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. He received his PhD in Engineering Physics from the University of Virginia and then completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biophysics at Princeton University. He then joined the Radiology Department of the University of California San Francisco and led his own research group for 19 years studying a wide variety of biomarkers for breast cancer, obesity and osteoporosis from medical imaging using advanced machine learning techniques. He also directs the UH Artificial Intelligence Precision Health Institute and the Hawaii Pacific Islands Mammography Registry. He has been continuously funded from the NIH since 2005, led 5 R01-funded studies, published over 300 peer-review publications that have been referenced over 20,000 times, and lastly is an avid surfer and island ridge hiker!
Dr. Shepherd is a Professor/Researcher and Interim Deputy Director/Chief Scientific Officer at the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center. Most of his academic research involves developing novel biomarkers for a variety of imaging modalities including dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) scan for bone density and body composition, mammography for breast density and tissue textural measures as risk factors for breast cancer, and 3-D optical whole body scanning for quantifying body shape as a risk factor for metabolic diseases. For the graduate students on our team, he works as an advisor to provide everyone with resources and professional connects to ensure that they meet their career goals.
If you are interested in collaborating with SRL, we recommend you spend some time perusing Dr. Shepherd's research interests and read a couple of his recent publications.
I am a graduate student pursuing my Ph.D. in Nutrition at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Currently, I am working on evaluating the effectiveness of the iBreastExam as an early detection tool for breast cancer. Previously, I worked on research that tested the effectiveness of a nutritional SMS-based intervention for pregnant women in Hawaii's WIC (Women, Infant & Children) program. In my free time, I enjoy practicing taekwondo and taiko drumming.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Manager
I am a certified senior CRC Manager at the University of Hawaii Cancer Center (UHCC), an ARMRIT (American Registry of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists) licensee and certified by ISCD (International society for Clinical Densitometry) in the field of Bone Densitometry. I have more than 6 years of imaging background, as well as a decade of experience in the field of research and obstetrics/gynecology. My collaboration with Dr. Shepherd started at UCSF (in 2013) and continued during the relocation of the lab to the UHCC since February of last year. I have served as a project leader for several large projects and studies including NHANES (CDC project), QIA/3CB and Shape Up! NIH R01 Studies. My role is to oversee all aspects of the group's different projects and serve as an essential member with my expertise in imaging and research.
I am fascinated by biomedical and diagnostic imaging systems and exceedingly interested in bone and breast research studies. I also love traveling and certainly enjoy finding good places to eat and discover great books to read"
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Coordinator
I am a coordinator for the Shape Up! Studies. I have a background in biochemistry and medical health sciences. I like to travel and be outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Study Coordinator
- Lab Research DXA Technologist / Clinical Study Coordinator