Faculty & Staff
LEADERSHIP
Pradeep G. Bhide, Ph.D., is the Director of the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), and the Jim and Betty Ann Rodgers Eminent Scholar Chair of Developmental Neuroscience at FSU. Bhide’s research spans developmental neurobiology, neurodevelopmental disorders, prenatal nicotine and other drug exposures, focusing primarily on the genetic and cellular mechanisms shaping brain development. Bhide previously served on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA where he conducted research on neurodevelopmental disorders. Bhide provides strategic, scientific, and administrative leadership for the IPRD, guiding its vision, growth, and national impact.
Full Bhide Profile
David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D., FACMG, is the Senior Associate Director for Precision Medicine with the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD). An internationally recognized expert in human genetics, he is board certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics in Clinical Cytogenetics with a primary research focus on the genetic causes of pediatric neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder. He previously led one of the largest biobanks and clinical genomics programs in the world, the MyCode Community Health Initiative at Geisinger Health in Pennsylvania. He moved to FSU in early 2025 to build a clinical genomics program in North Florida and to Chair the Steering Committee for Sunshine Genetics, a state-funded pediatric genetics consortium developing and launching a genomic newborn screening pilot program for 100,000 Florida newborns over the next five years.
Cynthia Vied, Ph.D., serves as Associate Director for Genomics at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) and the Scientific Director of the IPRD CLIA-certified Diagnostic Laboratory. She provides operational and strategic leadership of the whole genome sequencing workflows, regulatory compliance, quality systems, and data analysis pipelines. With a Ph.D. in Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and post-doctoral training at Columbia University, New York, NY, she brings extensive experience in multi-omics technologies and translational genomics. Since joining FSU, she has been central to building the institution’s genomics infrastructure and plays a key role in advancing rare-disease diagnostics and research through innovative sequencing, bioinformatics, and laboratory leadership.
Full Vied Profile
Michelle Arbeitman, Ph.D., serves as Associate Director for Research & Training Programs at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she leads development of the institute’s educational, mentorship, and translational research-training platforms. A Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Arbeitman investigates the genetic basis of reproductive and social behaviors in model organisms and applies these foundational insights to pediatric rare-disease contexts. She leads the IPRD’s Rare Disease Research Grant Awards Program, overseeing the institute’s investment in innovative basic, translational, and clinical research. Her responsibilities include developing the Master’s Program in Genetic Counseling, fostering cross-disciplinary experiential opportunities, and strengthening research-translation pipelines that bridge foundational science with clinical impact.
Full Arbeitman Profile
Antonia A. Nemec, Ph.D., serves as Associate Director for Research Operations at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD). In this leadership role she oversees and coordinates the institute’s expanding research portfolio aligning its activities with institutional strategy and operational excellence. Nemec earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Toxicology from the University of Pittsburgh, PA and completed post-doctoral training at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Since joining FSU in 2015 as an assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, she has distinguished herself as an educator, researcher and mentor, earning multiple honors including the Outstanding Junior Faculty Educator Award and the Mentor of the Year Award from the Florida Undergraduate Research Association. With a strong background in proteasome biogenesis, DNA repair and molecular toxicology, Nemec brings scientific rigor, operational leadership, and student-training excellence to her role, helping to build IPRD as a leading center in pediatric rare-disease research.
Full Nemec Profile
Nora Pepper-Horton, M.D., serves as the Medical Director of the Precision Pediatrics Clinic at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD). In this role, Pepper-Horton oversees clinical operations, integrates genomic-medicine insights into pediatric care, and leads multidisciplinary efforts to diagnose, manage, and treat children with rare and undiagnosed conditions. An alumnus of the FSU College of Medicine (Class of 2010) and a practicing pediatric hospitalist with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, she brings both frontline clinical experience and an academic perspective to drive precision health strategies for the IPRD mission.
Full Horton-Pepper Profile
Boris Kantor, M.Sc., Ph.D., is Director of the Viral Vector & Genome Editing Core Facility at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) at Florida State University College of Medicine, where he leads the design, development, production, and deployment of advanced AAV, lentiviral and CRISPR-based gene-editing tools in support of both basic and translational rare-disease research. Kantor brings decades of experience in viral-vector engineering and gene-therapy technology, enabling the Core to offer state-of-the-art services—from custom plasmid cloning to full-scale vector production and novel gene-editing platforms—across university, clinical and industry partnerships. His leadership fortifies IPRD’s capacity to accelerate next-generation gene- and cell-therapies for pediatric rare disorders and supports its mission to bridge discovery and intervention for children with genetic conditions.
Ashley Cannon, PhD, MS, CGC, is the Program Director for the Master’s Program
in Genetic Counseling at IPRD and an Associate Professor in the Department of
Clinical Sciences at the FSU College of Medicine. An accomplished
clinician-scientist, Cannon brings extensive industry and clinical trial experience
to her work in advancing precision medicine. Her multifaceted approach
integrates educational leadership, clinical research, and stakeholder
engagement to drive innovation in genomic healthcare.
Deirdre Mc Carthy serves as the Assistant Director of the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she supports research operations and helps advance the Institute’s mission to improve outcomes for children with rare diseases. Ms. Mc Carthy is trained as a neuroscientist with more than twenty years of experience in neuroscience research. Her work spans therapeutic target discovery, molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental conditions including ADHD and autism, and the influence of environmental factors on the developing brain.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from University College Cork, Ireland. At Florida State University, she serves as Research Faculty in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, where she has led preclinical research programs, mentored trainees, and authored more than 40 scientific publications. She has also been recognized with the Outstanding Junior Faculty Investigator Award. Ms. Mc Carthy brings scientific rigor, program leadership, and a strong commitment to trainee development to her role at IPRD.
FACULTY
Lauren N. Irwin Harper, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor and clinical neuropsychologist at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD). She is a licensed psychologist with specialized training in pediatric neuropsychology, completing her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, after earning her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at FSU. Harper has extensive experience evaluating children with neurodevelopmental disorders, ADHD, concussion and traumatic brain injury, and complex medical conditions affecting cognition and behavior. Her research focuses on executive functioning and cognitive interventions for ADHD, and she has contributed to multiple NIH-funded clinical trials and published widely in child neuropsychology. In addition to her clinical and research roles, Harper provides supervision and training for psychology trainees and holds advanced certifications in ADOS-2, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and structured diagnostic assessment.
Beth Jiorle, MS, CGC, is an Assistant Professor and Genetic Counselor at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she applies her extensive expertise in clinical genetics and medical affairs to her academic role. A board certified genetic counselor, Ms. Jiorle’s professional work encompasses prenatal and rare disease genetics as well as transplant medicine, nephrology, and pulmonology. Her industry experience includes high-impact roles supporting advancements in diagnostic technologies and early phase gene therapy initiatives.
Saanchi Shah, Ph.D., M.S., MPH, is an Assistant Professor and Licensed Genetic Counselor with the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD). As Project Lead for Sunshine Genetics, Florida's genomic newborn screening pilot program led by Chair David Ledbetter, Ph.D., FACMG, she manages day-to-day operations across the multi-institutional consortium's working groups, steering and executive committees. Shah leads brand development and communications, contributes to IRB protocols, facilitates and contributes to gene list development, patient education materials, and fosters laboratory and industry partnerships. She also provides expert genetic counseling services at the Precision Pediatrics Clinic. Shah received her training at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Janelle Stanton, Ph.D., is Research Faculty I at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she brings nearly a decade of experience in translational neuroscience, molecular biology, and neurogenetics to advance rare disease research and precision medicine initiatives. Trained as a biochemist and neuroscientist, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Limerick, Ireland and holds prior postdoctoral appointments at the University of Florida and Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida where her work has focused on implementation science, genotype–phenotype correlations, and the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders. Stanton is proficient in advanced methodologies including omics data integration, iPSC culture and organoid development, functional genomics, and molecular assays, with a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and interdisciplinary collaboration. She also contributes nationally as a scientific advisor to multiple rare disease foundations, supporting research strategy, community engagement, and advocacy aimed at improving outcomes for children with rare genetic conditions.
STAFF
Alexandra S. Alsina, B.S., is a Research Assistant at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she supports research projects including bioinformatics analyses that advance genomic and translational studies in pediatric rare diseases. Ms. Alsina holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with magna cum laude honors from Florida International University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Bioinformatics at Nova Southeastern University. Prior to joining IPRD, Ms. Alsina worked as a laboratory technician and trainer at Animal Genetics Inc., Tallahassee, FL, where she gained extensive experience in PCR, electrophoresis, sample processing, laboratory workflow optimization, and employee training. She brings valuable experience in data interpretation, computational tools, and customer communication, along with proficiency in English, Spanish, and Italian. At IPRD, Ms. Alsina contributes to core experimental workflows and bioinformatics analyses that support the institute’s mission in precision medicine and rare disease discovery.
Theresa Bostock, M.S., MLS (ASCP) SBB, is the Technical Supervisor of the IPRD CLIA–certified Whole Genome Sequencing Laboratory, where she oversees day-to-day laboratory operations, quality management systems, and regulatory compliance to ensure the highest standards of clinical genomic testing. She brings more than three decades of experience directing complex clinical and pathology laboratories, with extensive expertise in CLIA, CAP, AABB, FDA, Joint Commission, and state regulatory frameworks. Prior to joining IPRD, Ms. Bostock served as Administrative Laboratory Director at HCA Florida Capital Hospital and Garnet Health, where she led large multidisciplinary teams, managed operational and capital budgets, and implemented major process-improvement and accreditation initiatives across multiple hospital laboratories. She is licensed as a Florida Clinical Laboratory Supervisor and holds American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) certification as a Medical Laboratory Scientist with Specialist in Blood Banking (SBB) credentials. Ms. Bostock earned her Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Management with a minor in Immunohematology from Rush University, Chicago, IL. At IPRD, she applies her extensive leadership, regulatory, and technical experience to build and maintain a high-performing genomics laboratory that supports the institute’s precision medicine mission.
Leanne Duke, Ph.D., is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she works with Boris Kantor in the Viral Vector and Genome Editing Core. She brings eight years of research experience in virology, molecular and cellular biology, and gene delivery technologies, with specialized expertise in viral vector design, AAV and lentiviral production, and advanced molecular cloning. Duke earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from FSU, where her research focused on extracellular vesicle biogenesis and therapeutic applications, contributing to ten peer-reviewed publications and numerous national and international presentations. Her work has spanned Alzheimer’s disease models, viral pathogenesis, stem-cell–derived therapeutics, and scalable bioprocess development for translational applications. In the IPRD Core, Duke supports vector engineering, genome editing workflows, and preclinical technology development, ensuring high-quality reagents and methodologies for IPRD’s research and therapeutic innovation programs. She is also an experienced mentor and scientific communicator, with a strong commitment to collaborative, high-standards laboratory research that advances precision medicine for pediatric rare diseases.
Peter Hayek, M.S., MLS (ASCP) is a Medical Laboratory Technologist in the IPRD’s CLIA-certified Whole Genome Sequencing Laboratory, where he supports clinical genomics operations through high-quality sample processing, molecular testing, and laboratory workflow management. Mr. Hayek brings twenty years of experience across clinical, hospital, research, and military laboratory settings, including service as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in the U.S. Army and positions in microbiology, chemistry, hematology, and molecular diagnostics. His prior work includes contributions to COVID-19 RT-PCR testing at the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital–FSU Rapid Response Laboratory; microbiology and molecular diagnostics at UF Health Shands Hospital; and broad MLS generalist responsibilities in emergency, hospital, and standalone clinical laboratories. Mr. Hayek holds an M.S. in Physiology from New York Medical College, an M.S. in Biology with specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology from the Lebanese American University, Lebanon, and Florida licensure as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. His skills span PCR, plasmid construction, microbial identification, immunofluorescence imaging, and clinical chemistry and hematology platforms. At IPRD, he plays a key role in ensuring accurate, reliable genomic data generation to support the institute’s mission in precision medicine for pediatric rare diseases.
Ha Ho, B.S., is the Finance and Human Resources Liaison for the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she supports the institute’s financial workflows, personnel processes, and day-to-day administrative operations. She brings strong experience in human resources management, payroll coordination, appointment processing, and regulatory compliance through her prior role as an HR Representative in the FSU Department of Physics. In that position, Ms. Ho managed faculty, staff, postdoctoral, and graduate appointments; oversaw biweekly payroll certification; coordinated visa and work-authorization documentation for international employees; and ensured departmental adherence to university hiring and compliance policies. Ms. Ho holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Florida International University, with honors, and is proficient with OMNI HR systems, RAMP screening, BI reporting, and a wide range of software platforms. At IPRD, she contributes to the smooth functioning of institute operations by supporting finance, HR, hiring, onboarding, workflow coordination, and cross-unit communication essential to IPRD’s rapidly expanding clinical, research, and educational programs.
Sharon Liebrich, MSN, RN, CCRC is the Program Director for Clinical Research at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she assists with clinical and research initiatives including for the Florida Sunshine Genetics Pilot Program. She brings more than fifteen years of experience in clinical research, nursing, and academic medical program administration, including her role providing strategic leadership to the FSU Office for Clinical Research Advancement. Ms. Liebrich has directed and facilitated regulatory compliance, investigator support, clinical trial implementation, and access to research infrastructure for more than 150 investigator-led studies. Her background spans emergency and surgical nursing, internal medicine operations, and extensive coordination of industry-supported clinical trials, with deep expertise in participant recruitment, regulatory oversight, human subjects protection, and standard operating procedure development. A Certified Clinical Research Coordinator, she holds a Master of Science in Nursing from Loyola University and maintains advanced clinical and research certifications including ACLS, BLS, and comprehensive CITI training.
Courtney Maxwell, M.S., is the Program Manager for the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she oversees all aspects of institute administration including operations, events, communication workflows, stakeholder coordination, and strategic program support. She brings extensive experience in university administration, event management, and organizational operations through multiple roles at FSU. Ms. Maxwell served as Special Events Coordinator in the FSU Division of University Advancement, managing a portfolio of more than 100 annual events and leading initiatives in donor engagement, strategic communications, vendor coordination, and data-driven evaluation. In the FSU College of Medicine’s Office of Public Affairs, Communications & Alumni Affairs, she coordinated alumni relations programming, major college events, and communications outreach, while also maintaining the medical alumni database and supporting board governance activities. Ms. Maxwell’s earlier roles in administration within the College of Medicine provided a strong foundation in workflow coordination, purchasing, travel management, and administrative support across complex academic units. Ms. Maxwell holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with magna cum laude honors from Florida State University and is currently completing her Master of Science in Organizational Management and Communication. At IPRD, she plays a central role in ensuring efficient institute operations, supporting the growth of clinical, research, and educational programs, and strengthening engagement with partners, donors, and the broader FSU community.
John McCann holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Cyber Criminology. He designs and manages the website and social media platforms for the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD) and the FSU Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, supporting digital communications, outreach, and engagement efforts. Prior to this role, McCann worked in data entry for the FSU Registrar, where he contributed to the accurate management of student records and administrative data.
Elizabeth Wasson, B.A. is an Administrative Assistant at the Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases (IPRD), where she supports day-to-day operations and helps ensure the smooth functioning of the institute’s clinical, research, and educational programs. A graduate of FSU with a BA in General Music and a minor in Chemistry, Ms. Wasson brings a strong academic record and experience in both administrative coordination and biomedical research. At the FSU College of Medicine, she has contributed to studies of gene therapy platforms for pediatric rare diseases and the effects of prenatal e-cigarette exposure on the brain and behavior. At the IPRD, Ms. Wasson applies her organizational skills, research background, and commitment to service to support institute operations and advance IPRD’s mission of improving care and discovery for children with rare diseases.