About the Founders

The seal for the Medical Research Institute for Advanced Study shows two prominent figures in Greek mythology, Asclepius and Hygieia. Asclepius was the Greek god of medicine, and Hygieia was his daughter, the goddess of health.

In the tradition of the father-daughter team of Asclepius and Hygieia working together to find medical and health benefits for society, the father-daughter team of David E. Vozzola, PhD, and Amanda Vozzola, MD, founded the MRIAS. Their goal is to fund medical and health research that encompasses traditional medical research studying prevention, cure, and disease along with the investigation of the physical and mental well-being of the individual.

Dr. Amanda Vozzola is a third-year OBGYN medical resident at Baylor, Scott, and White in Temple, Texas. Dr. Vozzola was the valedictorian at Coral Springs Charter School, graduating with a BS, summa cum laude in neurobiological science at the University of Florida, and graduating with an MD, with research honors at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

As an undergraduate at UF, Dr. Vozzola was a research assistant for Dr. Brent Reynolds, a world-renowned neuroscientist at the McKnight Brain Institute and co-discoverer of the adult neural stem cell. Dr. Vozzola's senior thesis focused on the effects of a drug developed by Dr. Reynolds to help cancer patients dealing with chemotherapy brain fog (chemo brain). As a medical student at UF, Dr. Vozzola's research advisor was Dr. Roussos-Ross.

Under her guidance, Dr. Vozzzola produced her research honors paper focused on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on postpartum depression (PPD). In 2022, the International Breastfeeding Conference invited her to present her findings. Dr. Vozzola also presented her findings at the 2022 ACOG Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting.

Dr. David E. Vozzola is an entrepreneur who has created and built successful for-profit and non-profit organizations. Since founding his first company at 18, he expanded his entrepreneurial vision to transform lives inside and outside the business world. As co-founder and COO, Vozzcom has become a national leader in broadband fulfillment services in the telecommunications industry. Inspired by his wife Doreen's experience as a foster child, he launched Vozzcom Cares, a non-profit organization, to help young people pursue academic, athletic, and other enrichment activities through our scholarship programs.

Dr. Vozzola also founded an institute dedicated to information technology research. Dr. Vozzola serves as a board member for multiple for-profit and non-profit organizations. Dr. Vozzola received a BS in computer engineering with distinction and an MS in computer science from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Vozzola received his PhD in information technology (IT), where his dissertation focused on IT and business alignment factors in the federal government. Dr. Vozzola is a life-long learner, mentor, and supporter of transforming visions into reality.

Drs. Amanda and David Vozzola have worked on several medical and health research projects together. Dr. Amanda Vozzola focuses on conducting and investigating medical and health research studies. Dr. David E. Vozzola focuses on building the statistical models that help explain the data. At the MRIAS, they work to identify student researchers and provide scholarship programs, including stipends for research fellowships, housing assistance for visiting scholars, travel assistance for conference presentations, equipment for research projects, and advanced learning opportunities to develop and enhance research skills.