Researching for a cure
Tyler Research Institute is composed of a team of health care providers that have been working together for over 20 years. The team is composed of Aaron DuVall, MD, Machelle McDowell, FNP, Samantha Denton, PA, Kinsey Henry, FNP, Rachel Hannah, RN, Alisha McQueen, LVN, April Mahana, LVN, and Samantha DuVall RN.
Our team’s goal is to collectively work toward a cure for inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis. The people we work with in East Texas suffer every day from intestinal inflammation, abdominal pain, bleeding, and more. Our research focuses on understanding what causes and perpetuates these symptoms and on finding therapies to block or reverse them.
Through our active clinical trials, the Tyler Research Institute team seeks to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of treatments in patients in East Texas who suffer from these diseases.
Our hope is to improve the ability to predict the risk of disease, increase the efficacy of treatment, and stop Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis in their tracks.
For more information on Tyler Research Institute, our team, our clinical trials, and more, contact us today.
Aaron DuVall, M.D.
Attended medical school at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston in 1990. He then completed his residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Following his residency he completed his GI fellowship at UTMB and then subspecialized in Advanced Therapeutic Endoscopy and Endoscopic Oncology at the University of Toronto in 1997.
William Denton
Will Graduated from Baylor as a Journalism Major with a Business Concentration in 2018. He has been with Tyler Research Institute since 2021. Will serves as site manager and regulatory.
Rachel Hannah, RN
Obtained her RN from Tyler Junior College in 2015. In addition to working in the GI setting, Rachel has previous professional experiences in medical surgery trauma. Rachel has now been working in the GI setting since 2016.
MaCHELLE MCDOWELL, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Obtained her Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner from Texas Tech at the University of Tyler collaborative program in 2003. Prior to completing the Nurse Practitioner program, Machelle received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baylor in Dallas in 1984. In addition to working in the GI setting, Machelle has previous professional care experience in pediatrics. Machelle has been involved in IBD research for the past 12 years.
SAMANTHA Denton, PA
Obtained her BS from Baylor University in 2018. Samantha attended Hardin-Simmons Physician Assistant program and graduated in 2021. Samantha currently serves as a PA with urology and works part-time at Tyler Research Institute.
EsmEralda Macias
Obtained her BS from The University of Texas at Tyler in 2021. Esmeralda also attended a clinical Research Fastrack program and has been with Tyler Research since 2022.
APRIL MAhana, LVN
Graduated from Tyler Junior College with her LVN in 2009. April has been working at Tyler Research Institute as Study Research Coordinatior since 2022.
Alisha McQueen, LVN
Obtained her LVN at Tyler Junior College in 2013. Alisha has been working at Tyler Research Institute as Study Research Coordinatior since 2020.
Samantha Duvall, rn
Obtained her BSN, RN from Baylor Louise Herrington School of Nursing in 2011. Samantha has previous professional experience in Oncology and Labor and delivery. Samantha started with Tyler Research Institue in 2022 and serves as the unblinded pharmacist and assists with regulatory.
KINSEY HENRY, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Kinsey attended the University of Texas at Tyler for both her graduate and undergraduate degrees. She obtained her Masters of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner in 2021 and her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2009. Her nursing career includes experience in gastroenterology, preoperative anesthesia, and critical care. Kinsey joined TRI in 2023.
Aubrey briscoe
Graduated from Sam Houston State University with a BS in biology. Aubrey runs our lab and has been with TRI since 2022.
