Amanpreet K. Cheema

• Founding Associate Editor, SciBase Epidemiology and Public Health2023
• Reviewer, PLOS ONE, Yale Journal of Biology and medicine2022-Present
• Reviewer Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice2019-Present
• SOCRA2019-2024
• Member American Society for Nutrition (ASN)2011-Present
• Deputy Editor Cureus Journal2019-2022
• Florida Association of Nutrition and Dietetics2018
• National Council of University Research Administrators (NCURA)2017-2018
• Regulatory Affairs Professional Society2015-2016
• Omics International2015
• Graduate senator (GPSC and SGA, FIU)2014-2015
• American Chemical Society2009-2012

• Present PresentpresentPresent 202320222022PresentPresent
• Director, Division of Clinical Research, INIM, Dr
• Kiran Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Chair, Institutional Review Board; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL Co-Chair, NIM doctoral Program, Dr
• Kiran Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Faculty Peer Review Committee for Promotion and Continuing Contracts Committee, Nova Southeastern University
• Chair, Research Subcommittee, KPCOM Strategic Planning Committee, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Vice Chair, Institutional Review Board; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Program Director, INIM, Dr
• Kiran Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• NSU Research Advisory Committee, NSU KPCOM Nutrition Curriculum Committee, NSU Faculty Committee; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Program Manager, INIM, Dr
• Kiran Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Other Positions and Employment, 2014
• Presidential Award for Faculty Research Development Grant, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Presidential Award for Faculty Research Development Grant, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Delta Epsilon Iota, Academic Honor Society
• Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society, Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA)
• Educational and Academic Service
• Student Mentoring and Advising (2019-2023)
• Major Professor, doctoral candidate for NIM PhD program
• Dissertation Co-Chair, DNP - Starting Conversation about nutrition with patients suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Faculty Mentor, Master’s in Nutrition - Misreporting of dietary intake in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients and its association with Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Faculty Mentor, Master’s in nutrition - Dietary practices and impact of a nutrition education program on Nursing home residents
• Faculty Mentor, Master’s in Nutrition - Dietary habits and nutrition knowledge in adolescent collegiate gymnasts
• Research Mentor, Master’s in Nutrition - Calculating healthy eating index (HEI) for ME/CFS patients as compared to Healthy adults
• Teaching Activities
• Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2018-present), 20192020a
• W81XWH2010543 Laila Abdullah (PI)
• A Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Nicotinamide Riboside for Restoring Mitochondrial Bioenergetics in Gulf War Illness
• Objectives: Test whether NR treatment can restore NAD+ levels to normal, restore altered lipid levels associated with abnormal mitochondria function in GWI, and reduce inflammation
• In addition, investigate whether expected outcomes correspond with reducing the fatigue, pain, and memory problems experienced by Veterans with GWI
• Role: Site Principal Investigator, Co-Ib
• GW170044 Nancy Klimas (PI)
• The Gulf War Illness Clinical Trials and Interventions Consortium (GWICTIC)
• The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of a novel low-risk therapeutic agent, Bacopa monnieri, for cognitive function in Veterans with GWI and to evaluate the utility of a remote patient-centric study design developed to promote recruitment and minimize participant burden
• Role: Research Operations Director, Co-I
• Study Title: A randomized phase II remote study to assess Bacopa for Gulf War Illness associated cognitive dysfunction
• The goal of this study is to assess the efficacy of a novel low-risk therapeutic agent, Bacopa monnieri, for cognitive function in Veterans with GWI and to evaluate the utility of a remote patient-centric study design developed to promote recruitment and minimize participant burden
• Role: Study Principal Investigator
• Study Title: Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress during Antioxidant Treatment in Gulf War Illness: N-Acetyl Cysteine
• This mechanistic study will test if NAC affects chronic oxidative stress and depletion of antioxidants in GWI participants
• Blood specimen collection and neuroimaging will be used to determine whether NAC affects serum glutathione (GSH) concentration and oxidative stress in the CNS when compared to placebo

NSU 2024 Provost’s Research and Scholarship Award, STEM for Early Career

NSU 2024 External Funding Recognition

NSU 2023 External Funding Recognition

NSU 2022 External Funding Recognition

NSU 2021 External Funding Recognition

2021 Presidential Award for Faculty Research Development Grant, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 

2018 Presidential Award for Faculty Research Development Grant, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Peer-Reviewed Publications

1. Duraisamy Kempuraj, Kirk D Dourvetakis, Jessica Cohen, Daniel Seth Valladares, Rhitik Samir Joshi, Sai Puneeth Kothuru, Tristin Anderson, Baskaran Chinnappan, Aman Cheema, Nancy Klimas and Theoharis C Theoharides. Neurovascular unit, neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration markers in brain disorders. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience submitted.

2. Tehrani, L., Patel, S., Duraiswamy, K, Rozenfeld, R, Renesca, V., Cheema, A.K. MOTS-C: A Potential New Therapy for Myalgic Encephalitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. In preparation for submission

3. Brito, E., Patel, R., Tariq, M., Bautista, G., Cheema, A.K. A systematic review of dietary supplement based registered clinical trials for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome. Submitted to Cureus.

4. Bested, A.C., Rana, A.M., Hardigan, P., Niyirora, J., Cheema, A.K., Antony, G., Defina, P.A., Machado, C. A Case Series of 39 United States Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Clinical and Translational Neuroscience. 6(3):21. (2022) https://doi.org/10.3390/ctn6030021

5. Cheema A.K., Wiener L. E., McNeil, R. B., Abreu, M., Craddock, T., Fletcher, M.A., Helmer D.A., Ashford W., Sullivan K., & Klimas, N. Randomized phase II remote study to assess Bacopa for Gulf War Illness associated cognitive dysfunction: Design and methods of a national study. Life Sciences, 119819. (2021)

6.  Cheema, A.K., McNeil, R.B., Craddock, T., Broderick, G., Abreu, M.M., Aenlle, K., Helmer, D., Ashford, W., Sullivan, K., Bested, A., Cohen, D.E., Shungu, D. Chandler, H., Fletcher, M.A., Krengel, M., & Klimas, N. Gulf War Illness Clinical Trials and Interventions Consortium (GWICTIC): A collaborative research infrastructure for intervention and implementation. Life Sciences, 278, 119636. (2021)

7.  Cheema, A.K., Sarria, L., Bekheit, M., Collado, F., Almenar‐Pérez, E., Martín‐Martínez, E., Alegre, J., Castro-Marrero, J., Fletcher, M.A., Klimas, N., Oltra, E., & Nathanson, L. Unravelling myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS): Gender‐specific changes in the microRNA expression profiling in ME/CFS. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 24(10), 5865-5877. (2020)

8.  Cheema, A.K., Li, T., Liuzzi, J. P., Zarini, G.G., Dorak, M.T., & Huffman, F.G. Genetic associations of ppargc1a with type 2 diabetes: differences among populations with African origins. Journal of Diabetes Research, Article ID: 921274, 10 pages. (2015) http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/921274.

9.  Cheema, A.K., Li, T., Liuzzi, J.P., Zarini, G.G., & Huffman, F.G. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (ppargc1a) polymorphism linked with microalbuminuria in hypertensive Haitian Americans with type 2 diabetes. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 5(2):295-303. (2015)

10.Cheema, A.K., Zarini, G. G., Exebio, J., Ajabshir, S., Shaban, L., Antwi, J., Vaccaro, J.A., & Huffman, F.G. Ethnic Differences in Insulin resistance, adiponectin levels and abdominal obesity: Haitian Americans and African Americans with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus. British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, 4(26):4455-4469. (2014)

10. Zarini, G.G., Vaccaro, J.A., Canossa Terris, M.A., Exebio, J.C., Tokayer, L., Antwi, J., Ajabshir, S., Cheema, A., & Huffman, F.G. Lifestyle behaviors and self-rated health: the living for health program. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, Article ID 315042, 9 pages. (2014) http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/315042

11. Moon, J. H., Mendez, E., Kim, Y., & Cheema, A.K. Conjugated polymer nanoparticles for small interfering RNA delivery. Chemical Communications, 47:29, 8370-8372. (2011)

Books & Chapters

1. Brito, E., Jaramillo, C., Kurian, S., Krishnakumar, P., & Cheema, A. K. Urinary Excretion of Major Minerals: Potential Indicators of Health. In Nutritional Deficiency & Impact on Health. Open Access eBooks. (2022) http://openaccessebooks.com/nutritional-deficiency.html

2. Cheema, A. K (2024) Bacopa Monnieri Extract. Wallace, T. Professional Guide to Dietary Supplements. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Cleveland, Ohio. (2024).

ISBN0880912049, 9780880912044

Published Abstracts and Presentations

Cheema, AK., Jaramilo, C., Kurian, S., Dietary protein intake differences in Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome subjects and healthy controls.

Krishnakumar, P., Jaramilo, C., Kurian, S., Levy, W., Milman, C., Mikati, N., Huffman, F., Abreu, M., & Cheema, A.K. Intracellular Nutritional Biomarker Differences in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Subjects and Healthy Controls. Current Developments in Nutrition, 6(1):745. (2022)

Bui K., Calbo A., Sarria L., Bekheit M., Kansotia K., Kapil A., Collado F., Fletcher M.A., Klimas N.K., Cheema A., & Nathanson L. Differential expression of miRNAs in Myalgic Encepahlomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. STEM Symposium. 4/2020

Thomas A., Manroy M., Sarria L., Bekheit M., Kansotia K., Kapil A., Collado F., Fletcher M.A., Klimas N.K., Cheema A., & Nathanson L. Effect of fasting on differential expression of miRNA expression in patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. STEM Symposium. 04/2020

Patel J., Joseph A., Sarria L., Bekheit M., Kansotia K., Kapil A., Collado F., Fletcher M.A., Klimas N.K., Cheema A., & Nathanson L. Gender differences in miRNA expression of patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Stem Symposium. 04/2020

Nathanson L., Van Booven D., Cheema A., Sarria L., Beljanski V., Fletcher M.A., & Klimas N.G. Transcriptional changes in circulating immune cells of patients with Gulf War Illness. American Society of Human Genetics. 10/2019

Cheema A., Sarria L., Nathanson L., Collado F., Fletcher M.A., & Klimas N.G. Nutritional genomics in metabolic diseases. 84th Annual Symposium: Florida Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Marco Island, FL.

Nathanson L, Oltra E., Alegre J., Castro-Marrero J., Cheema A., Sarria L., Collado F., Fletcher M.A., & Klimas N.G. Sex-specific differences in miRNA expression in ME/CFS. 14th Invest in ME Research: International ME Conference.

Xu L., Cheema A., Zarini G.G., Li T., & Huffman F.G. Interaction between the ratio of polyunsaturated fat and saturated fat intake and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator 1-α (PPARGC1A) rs4235308 polymorphism in relation to the risk of type 2 diabetes in Cuban American population. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 31(31:644.16).

Exebio, J.E., Zarini, G.G., Vaccaro, J.A., Ajabshir, S., Cheema, A.K., Antwi, J., &  Huffman, F.G. Association between serum vitamin D and insulin resistance in African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 28(1030.3).

Antwi, J., Cheema, A.K., Ajabshir, S., Exebio, J.E., Zarini, G.G., Vaccaro, J.A., &  Huffman, F.G. Relationship of triglyceride levels with A1C and adiponectin in Haitian Americans with type 2 diabetes. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 28(1029.4).

Zarini G.G., Vaccaro J., Ajabshir S., Antwi J., Cheema A., & Huffman F.G. Abnormal pulse pressure and microalbuminuria in Haitian Americans with type 2 diabetes. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 28(1029.6).

Vivas A., Exebio J., Zarini G., Ajabshir S., Antwi J., Cheema A., Vaccaro J., & Huffman F.G. The relationship between self-rated health and dietary choices of African Americans. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 28(806.6).

Cheema, A.K., Zarini, G.G., Vaccaro, J.A., Shaban, L., Dorak, M.T., & Huffman, F.G. Prevalence of Gly482Ser polymorphism of PPARGC1A in Cuban Americans. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 27(1212.1).

Cheema, A.K., Zarini, G.G., Exebio, J.C., Ajabshir, S., & Huffman, F.G. Association between depression and smoking in African Americans with type 2 diabetes. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 26(1057.10).

• Ajabshir, S., Vaccaro, J.A., Zarini, G.G., Cheema, A.K., & Huffman, F.G. Dietary folate and vitamin B6 intake insufficiencies among Cubans, Haitians and African-Americans with type 2 diabetes. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology Journal, 26(1018.5).

Student Mentoring and Advising (2019-2023)

Major Professor, doctoral candidate for NIM PhD program

Dissertation Co-Chair, DNP - Starting Conversation about nutrition with patients suffering from Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Faculty Mentor, Master’s in Nutrition - Misreporting of dietary intake in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) patients and its association with Body Mass Index (BMI).

Faculty Mentor, Master’s in nutrition - Dietary practices and impact of a nutrition education program on Nursing home residents.

Faculty Mentor, Master’s in Nutrition - Dietary habits and nutrition knowledge in adolescent collegiate gymnasts.

Research Mentor, Master’s in Nutrition - Calculating healthy eating index (HEI) for ME/CFS patients as compared to Healthy adults

Teaching Activities

Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2018-present)

NUT 5200 - Nutritional Biochemistry

BSHN 4400 - Directed study.

BIOL 4990 - Independent Study in Biology

NUT 5005 - Fundamentals of Nutrition

NUT 6800 - Special Projects-Mentored student research

NUT 5320 - Functional Nutrition and Herbal Therapy Principles 3: In the Nervous, Cardiovascular, and Musculoskeletal Systems for Special Populations

Broward College, Davie, FL (2015-2018)

CHM 1032L - Chemistry for Health Sciences Lab

CHM 1032 - Chemistry for Health Sciences

HLP 1081 - Total Wellness

Miami Regional University, Miami Springs, FL (2015-2016)

SCI 2010 - Fundamentals of Nutrition

BCH 3025 - Fundamentals of Biochemistry

BCH 3025L - Fundamentals of Biochemistry Lab

Florida International University, Miami, FL (2009-2015)

HUN 2000L - Foundations of Nutrition Science Lab

CHM1032L - Chemistry and Society Lab

CHM1046L - General Chemistry II Lab

CHM 4304L - Biological Chemistry I Lab

CHM 1045L - General Chemistry I Lab