Advances in Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences

-

Dr. Stylianides joined Juniata College in 2023, as the Director of the newly developed Exercise Science and Kinesiology program. He earned his PhD at the University of Toledo, his MS at Illinois State University, and BS at the University of Tennessee, and specializes in Biomechanics and Anatomy. He has held positions at academic, research, medical, and government institutions throughout the United States and the world. He has been an Executive Board member for the 3D Analysis of Human Movement, a technical group of the International Society of Biomechanics.

Nikolina Kastratović is a pharmacist and interdisciplinary researcher currently serving as a Teaching Assistant at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Serbia. She holds three master’s degrees: a Master of Pharmacy and a Master of Regenerative Medicine from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, and a Master of Biomedical Engineering from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kragujevac.

Her research is focused on harm reduction, toxicology, public health, and clinical and translational research, with particular interest in the effects of tobacco and nicotine products on inflammation, immune responses, tissue regeneration, and disease progression. Her broader research interests include immunology and inflammation, regenerative medicine, and biomedical engineering, reflecting her interdisciplinary academic background.

Her scientific work encompasses both experimental and clinical research, including studies of combustible cigarettes, electronic nicotine delivery systems, and heated tobacco products in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases, respiratory disease, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and regenerative processes. She has also contributed to research involving mesenchymal stem cells, cancer biology, toxicological evaluation of novel products, and the integration of biological and computational approaches in biomedical research.

Nikolina Kastratović has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications in international scientific journals, including Toxicological Sciences, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Histology and Histopathology, Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology, BMC Cancer, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Toxicology Letters, and Pharmaceutics. Her recent research has also extended into clinical genetics and neurodevelopmental disorders, further broadening the scope of her interdisciplinary scientific work.

In recognition of her scientific achievements, she received the Best Scientific Paper Award in Basic Science in 2023 and the Young Researcher Award in 2024 from the Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac. In 2023, she was also a recipient of the Young Talents Award presented by COEHAR – Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, Catania, Italy.

She is a member of the Salus Alliance and is actively involved in scientific research spanning toxicology, harm reduction, immunology, regenerative medicine, and translational biomedical sciences.

Dr. Victor Romano is a distinguished academic and practitioner specializing in kinesiology, exercise science, and sport performance. Dr. Romano serves as an Associate Professor for the PhD in Health Sciences program and Concentration Track Director for Human and Sport Performance. In this role, he mentors doctoral candidates and spearheads cutting-edge research in areas such as human performance optimization, injury prevention, and exercise science. With over 20 years of experience in academic instruction, research, and applied practice, Dr. Romano is a recognized expert in human and sport performance.  

Dr. Romano holds a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) in Kinesiology from Drexel University, a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Physical Education from Gardner-Webb University, and a Master of Science (MS) in Exercise Science and Health Promotion from Pennsylvania Western University. He also holds an array of professional certifications, including Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) from the National Strength and Conditioning Association and Certified Exercise Physiologist (EP) from the American College of Sports Medicine, as well as certifications in corrective exercise, Kinesio taping, fitness nutrition, and sport performance analysis.  

Beyond academia, Dr. Romano has an impressive background in applied sports performance, working with professional and Olympic athletes across disciplines such as football, basketball, track and field, and swimming. His expertise as a sport performance analyst, strength and conditioning coach, and medical team member for national track and field events highlights his commitment to elevating athlete performance at all levels. He also works with the Catawba College Athletic Department as a Sport Performance Analyst. In this role, he works with the Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams, collecting, coordinating, analyzing, and interpreting data related to athlete development. He uses this information to establish benchmarks that enable monitoring and reporting of student-athlete efforts to enhance physical preparation, injury prevention, and recovery programs.