ABRC Commission Members

           Nine Commissioners guide the work of the Arizona Biomedical Research Commission. They are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Commission is divided into three communities: General Public, Medical, and Scientific Research. Each community is represented by three Commissioners appointed for three- year terms. Generally, the terms of the three members expire each year; Commissioners may be reappointed.

T. Lon Owen, Ph.D. Professor of Medical Anatomy and Physiology, Northern Arizona University Commissioner Owen received his B.A. in Zoology from the University of California, a Master's Degree in Biology from California State University at Sacramento, and his Ph.D. in Physiology from U.C. Davis in 1972. He was an NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at Michigan State University, and Visiting Associate Professor in the Pharmacology Department of the University Of Arizona College Of Medicine. He is a member of the American Physiological Society, and has chaired the Research Committees of the American Heart Association at both the Arizona Affiliate and Southwestern Regional levels. His publications are in the areas of cardiovascular, aging, and environmental physiology. He has taught physiology and pathology at Northern Arizona University since 1974. Commissioner Owen was appointed to the Commission by Governor Hull in 1998 and 2001. His term expired in 2004, and he was reappointed by Governor Brewer for a term set to expire in 2012.

Joan Shapiro, Ph.D. Human Geneticist & Neurooncologist, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Commissioner Joan Rankin Shapiro is a human geneticist, and received her M.D., Ph.D. from Cornell University Medical College in 1979. Her initial research was in human birth defects at Rockefeller University. She began her cancer career at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. In September,1989, she relocated to the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI) of St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona, where she became the Director of Neuro-Oncology Research. Her research involved the characterization of genetic abnormalities associated with central nervous system malignancies. Since 1979 her grant awards have totaled more than fourteen million dollars. In November 2007 she received a Life Time Achievement Award from the Society of Neuro-Oncology for her contribution to the field. She served thirteen years as an NIH Reviewer on Pathology A and on Experimental Therapeutics study sections. In 2001 Dr. Shapiro retired from the laboratory and has assumed the role as V.P., Research and Development at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center. She is the Past-President of the national organization Women in Cancer Research. Dr. Shapiro has also retained a strong commitment to community education. She has developed and continues to teach numerous school enrichment programs. In conjunction with the American Academy of Neurology, she conducted K-12th grade neuroscience enrichment workshops for physicians and scientists. She is the past Chairman of the National Neuroscience Prize for high school students. She is the St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center Vice President for Clinical and Translational Research. One Vacancy

David Landrith, M.P.A. Vice President for Policy and Political Affairs, Arizona Medical Association Commissioner Landrith received his undergraduate degree in philosophy and history from Arizona State University. He received a Masters of Public Administration from Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government. He was a Dougherty Foundation Fellow. Commissioner Landrith is o-chairman of the ASU Dean's Advisory Council, a member of the Arizona Town Hall Board of Directors, member of the ST. Vincent De Paul Free Medical and Dental Clinic Endowment Committee, Director of the Arizona Bioethics Network, and past chairman and executive secretary of the Arizona Council of Governments Directors' Association. He has received the Partnership Award from the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Presidential Award for the Arizona State Association of Physician's Assistants. Commissioner Landrith was appointed by Governor Napolitano in 2004. His term expires in 2010.

Gregorio Garcia, Esq. Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. Commissioner Garcia received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Arizona State University. He holds a Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration. He is currently pursuing a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Biotechnology and Genomics. Commissioner Garcia is an attorney and practices with the firm of Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. He sits on the board of directors for Arizona’s largest legal aid law firm, Community Legal Services and has held other leadership positions within the State Bar of Arizona and other legal organizations. Commissioner Garcia was appointed by Governor Napolitano in 2006 and reappointed by Governor Brewer. His term expires in May 2012. One Vacancy

• Dawn C. Schroeder, D.D.S., MA Executive Director
• James Matthews, M.P.A., HR-CP Deputy Director
• Damika D. Brock, Executive Staff Assistant
• Daniel Powell, Program Specialist II
• Ismene Quintanilla, Fiscal Service Specialist I