Joyonna Gamble-George is an American neuroscientist, innovator, and entrepreneur known for her research with the
endocannabinoid system in stress-induced maladaptations of the brain.[1] She is an
Adjunct Professor at
St. Petersburg College, Florida.
Education
Gamble-George graduated from
Eleanor Roosevelt High School of Greenbelt,
Maryland with merit from the school's science and technology program.[1] Following graduation, Gamble-George attended
Xavier University of Louisiana and joined the
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.[1] She graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Biology/Pre-Medicine and was the only student in her class to graduate with an Honors in Mathematics.[1] She then received a Master of Health Administration from the
University of South Florida College of Public Health.[1][2] Gamble-George continued her education at
Vanderbilt University where she earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Neuroscience.[3][4] She completed her postdoctoral training at the
University of Florida, where she researched communication in the human brain and animal models of HIV-1 infection.[2]
Gamble-George's first pre-
baccalaureate research experience involved investigating the bonding structure between
molybdenum in oxidation state six and amino acid type
ligands in an effort to understand how molybdenum's involvement in the development of
gout could prevent the disease from spreading.[7] As an undergraduate, she conducted research focused on
palmetto and
licorice root as a possible treatment for
prostate cancer.[7]
At Bay Pines Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Gamble-George investigated how
Raf inhibitors could possibly assist neurological disorders, such as
Alzheimer's disease, and as anti-neurodegenerative agents.[7][8] Thereafter, she became involved in drug addiction research at
Meharry Medical College and published research on the effects of
methamphetamine on the brain.[1][7][9]
Along with her research, Gamble-George worked as a healthcare administrator and health system specialist where she evaluated daily functions of Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System.[1] During this time, she performed strategic planning and implementation to improve customer service, Veterans benefits, and patient hospital admission through a program sponsored by the
American Hospital Association.[1]
She also co-founded SciX and now serves as a national team member for the company.[16][17] SciX is a biotech development company aiming to create wearable devices that can predict heart related problems using artificial intelligence.[15]
Gamble-George grew up in rural
Alabama on her grandparents' farm, located in an area where access to primary care was often challenging. She has stated that she believes these issues motivated her to pursue a career in healthcare.[1]
Awards and honors
Gamble-George has won awards and honors including the following:
2014 –
ICRS Monique and George Braude Student Travel Award[19]