Research Team

Lab Members

Bahjat N. Aladili M.D., MPH, Internal Medicine Resident

Bahjat N. Aladili MD, MPH completed his Bachelors degree in Biology at Loyola University Chicago and then went on to complete his Master’s degree in Public Health (MPH) at Benedictine University. In 2016, he graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine with his Medical Doctorate (MD).

BJ is currently an Internal Medicine (IM) resident at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. He also serves as the Chair of the Internal Medicine Residency Steering Committee, which promotes and advocates for the interests of IM residents throughout their training.

He is pursuing a career in cardiology and is particularly interested in cardiac critical care, biochemical markers of myocardial infarction, and predictive models of cardiovascular events. His work in the lab is focused on studying in-vivo platelet activity during acute myocardial infarction.
In his spare time, BJ enjoys gardening, grilling, and playing soccer. He hopes to learn sign language in the near future and add it to the five languages he already speaks!

Alok R. Amraotkar, M.D., MPH, Postdoctoral Associate

Alok R. Amraotkar, M.D., MPH, is an alumnus of the Tver State Medical University of the Russian Federation where he graduated with an MD in 2008. He received his MPH from Western Kentucky University in 2011 and later joined the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Louisville in 2013.

Alok's work focuses on delineation of the impact of various clinical factors (mean platelet volume, Ticagrelor medication, coronary angiographic characteristics, etc.) on platelet activation and the consequent development of acute coronary thrombosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction. Alok is also heavily involved in patient enrollment and database management.

In addition to serving as a scientific reviewer for peer-reviewed journals, Alok also serves on the American Heart Association ATVB Diversity Subcommittee.

Alok's career interests include Internal Medicine residency training, with continued efforts in bench-side to bedside translational research.

Ugochukwu S. Owolabi, M.D., MPH Student

Ugochukwu S. Owolabi, M.D., joined the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2017. He is a 2006 graduate of University of Ilorin, College of Health Sciences, Ilorin, Nigeria.

His work focuses on sustainable environment and cardiovascular health, cardiovascular risk modeling, statistical study design: retrospective/prospective, statistical Analysis and Modeling: parametric and nonparametric statistical methods, longitudinal study design, predictive modeling, survival analysis, geospatial modeling, person-time data.

Narayana Sarma V. Singam, M.D., Cardiology Fellow

Narayana Sarma V. Singam, M.D., is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati. His bachelor's degree was in biomedical engineering with a focus in medical device design and biomechanics.

He is also a graduate of Cincinnati Medicine and joined as a cardiology fellow at the University of Louisville in 2017.

He is interested in research involving cardiovascular critical care and imaging.

Ayesha Singh, BA, Student Research Assistant/M.D. Candidate

Ayesha Singh, BA, began as a high school student volunteer in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in 2012. After spending her summers devoted to understanding the many facets of investigative clinical research, she decided to enroll in the University of Louisville's Guaranteed Entrance into Medical School Program and sustain her commitment to the goals of the lab.

Beginning her pre-med undergraduate career studying biology, Spanish, and psychology in 2014 allowed her responsibilities in the lab to expand. Between case report forms, patient enrollment/intake, lab processing, and flow cytometry, Ayesha mastered the various research techniques employed throughout the lab.

As her knowledge and experience evolved, she began her own experiment within the lab to evaluate the stability of fixed platelet monocyte aggregates.

Her time with the lab is a reflection of the student-friendly environment, our teaching capacities, and the use of hands-on experiences/exposure in order to cultivate an interest in clinical research among rising physicians and scientists.

She begins medical school at the University of Louisville in July 2018, and her dedication and contributions to the lab will persist as well.

Allison E. Smith, BS, Program Coordinator

Allison E. Smith, BS, joined the University of Louisville School of Medicine in 2012. She is an alumna of Grove City College in Grove City, Pennsylvania, where she received a BS in Molecular Biology.

Her background is in biomedical research; she worked in basic research for 12 years before joining the DeFilippis Laboratory in 2016 as their Program Coordinator.

Sharon D. Vincent, MSN, RN, Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator

Sharon D. Vincent, MSN, RN, was hired by the Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Louisville in 2016, and joined the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in 2018. She received a BSN from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2012, and a Masters in Nursing Education from Indiana Wesleyan University in 2016.

She has been a nurse since 1994 and has over 20 years of clinical experience in areas of critical care, med-surg, acute rehab, long-term care, and management of an acute rehab floor.

As a research coordinator, Sharon coordinates with PIs and hospital/study staff to help ensure research is conducted according to the study protocol (including human subject protection), and arranges study procedures.

Past Team Members and Trainees