Dr. Usamah Kayyali
Senior Science Advisor
U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
Dr. Usamah Kayyali is a Senior Science Advisor at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. In this role he leads efforts to modernize the overall research programs considering ever-changing scientific landscape and requirements as well as funding opportunities and constraints. He recently led the establishment of a Data and Decision Sciences Program to enhance USAREIM capabilities in statistical analysis, data science and artificial intelligence and machine learning. Prior to this role he served as the acting chief of the Biophysics and Biomedical Modeling Division, a team of researchers that focused on translating physiological studies into predictive models and algorithms that can be developed decision aids, software applications, and other technologies that are incorporated into wearables and physiological status monitors.
Dr. Kayyali received his bachelor's degree from the American University of Beirut and master and Ph.D. degrees in Toxicology from the University of Michigan. He then did his post-doctoral training in the Neurobiology Department at Harvard Medical School, after which he served as Instructor in Neurobiology where he carried out research on neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease. He then joined the faculty at Tufts Medical Center where he carried out research in lung cell biology and disease. As associate professor of medicine, he directed independently funded research programs, focusing on vascular biology and mechanisms of acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis. Next, Dr. Kayyali served as Science Officer and Program Manager at the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs where he oversaw execution of research funding programs in various biomedical R&D areas including Injury and Lung Disease, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Orthotics and Prosthetics Outcomes Research, and Chronic Pain Management Research.
Dr. Kayyali's extensive experience in biomedical research includes receiving several grants from the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. He is a board-certified toxicologist who managed transitioning of a drug candidate developed by his laboratory to pre-investigational new drug through a startup launched while at Tufts that focused on treatment of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Dr. Kayyali has also served as scientific review officer, reviewer and evaluator of several research programs for the NIH, DoD, VA and other organizations.