FAMU Faculty Selected for Stanford Medicine–HBCU Research Program
Jillian Pope, Ph.D.’s, selection advances university research priorities and national academic partnerships
Florida A&M University (FAMU) faculty member Jillian Pope, Ph.D., assistant professor for the Department of Biological Sciences, has been selected to participate in the second cohort of the Stanford Medicine–HBCU Faculty Fellows Research Program, a competitive initiative designed to strengthen research collaboration between Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and leading scholarship institutions.
The 10-month program, developed through the Stanford Medicine HBCU Collective, focuses on expanding research engagement, scholarly productivity, and cross-institutional partnerships. The hybrid experience includes structured professional development, collaborative discovery opportunities, and national networking, culminating in a symposium showcasing joint faculty research.
Pope’s selection represents a strategic advancement of FAMU’s innovation enterprise, aligning directly with the Division of Academic Affairs’ priorities to increase externally engaged scholarship, expand faculty capacity, and elevate the University’s national research profile. This fellowship offers scholars from multiple institutions to contribute to evidence-based work to address critical issues in health care and expanded access.
“As a FAMU alumna, Dr. Pope represents the excellence, resilience and innovation that define our institution. From the moment we recruited her to join our faculty, we saw tremendous promise in her future as both a researcher and scholar,” said Provost Allyson Watson, Ph.D. “Her experience at the University of Florida and her work at FAMU made her an ideal fit for this distinguished Stanford Medicine partnership.”
The program is part of a broader national effort to strengthen research pathways for HBCU faculty by creating sustained partnerships with scholastic inquiry intensive institutions. For FAMU, participation reinforces its long-term commitment to build and foster a more robust and visible research ecosystem that further supports faculty innovation and student success.
The fellowship will culminate in the Stanford Medicine–HBCU Faculty Fellows Research Program May Research Symposium, scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14. The virtual event will highlight collaborative research efforts and provide a platform for knowledge exchange among HBCU scholars and institutional partners.
As part of the program, Pope is collaborating with Stanford Medicine researcher KC Huang, Ph.D., professor of bioengineering, microbiology and immunology, on a joint project examining cellular and microbiome-mediated responses to traditional Chinese medicines. Their work explores how natural herbs, long used to treat a range of ailments, influence microbial growth and behavior, as well as their potential to regulate digestive cell function.
The collaborative research focuses on how these interactions may contribute to colon cancer prevention, strengthen intestinal cell health, and enhance the body’s ability to resist disease and infection. This partnership includes shared lab engagement and a fully integrated research approach, with both scholars contributing to and testing each other’s findings. Pope and Huang will present their findings during next week’s symposium.
“This fellowship has created a powerful space for collaboration and innovation among HBCU faculty,” Pope said. “It allows us to expand the reach of our discovery efforts while contributing to solutions that have tangible impact in the communities we serve.”
Provost Watson also emphasized the broader significance of the appointment for FAMU’s academic trajectory.
“Dr. Pope’s selection is a reflection of the strength of FAMU’s faculty and the intentional investments we are making in research and innovation. Her academic preparation, postdoctoral fellowship at Vanderbilt University, and growing body of work at FAMU align seamlessly with the collaborative mission of Stanford Medicine,” she said. “We are deeply appreciative of Dr. Judith Ned and the Stanford Medicine team for recognizing the value of HBCU research partnerships. Together, we are expanding opportunities for discovery that will have lasting impact on health care and medical science.”
As FAMU continues to invest in research growth and national engagement, programs such as the Stanford Medicine–HBCU Faculty Fellows Research Program serve as critical platforms for advancing faculty leadership and reinforcing the University’s role in shaping the future of scholarship.
Those who are interested in attending the virtual sessions may use this link to register.
Media Contact
Rachel James-Terry
Senior Director of Communications
rachel.jamesterry@famu.edu
