Scientific Advisory Board

Helen Turner, Ph.D

Since July 2007, Dr Turner has been Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at the Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Previously, a biomedical scientist who specializes in the study of the immune system.
She was an Associate Director of Research at The Queen’s Center for Biomedical Research in Honolulu. She holds academic affiliations with the John A. Burns School of Medicine and Department of Microbiology at the University of Hawaii.

Dr Turner trained at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund Laboratories, and received her Ph.D. from the University of London in 1998. Following a post-doctoral period at the Beth Israel Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, she assumed her position at Queens in 2000. Dr Turner was head of a team of 10 scientists, whose efforts centered around the biology of mast cells.

These immunocytes are central to inflammatory responses and are key players in pathologies such as asthma, eczema and multiple sclerosis. Current projects in the Turner laboratory focus on mast cell ion channels as novel targets for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory pathologies, and on the molecular mechanisms by which cannabinoid compounds act as modulators of the immune system.

Dr Turner’s relatively young laboratory has been strikingly successful at winning grants from private foundations (The Leahi Fund for Pulmonary Research, The Victoria and Bradley Geist Foundation, The Culpeper Biomedical Pilot Initiative, and the Queen Emma Research Foundation), and from Federal sources (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institute of Allergic and Inflammatory Disease, and the Idea Network for Biomedical Research Excellence). In addition to her efforts in seeking funding for her own program, Dr Turner acts as an invited grant reviewer for the NIH, the British Welcome Trust, and several other funding bodies.

Harvey A. Tilker, Ph.D.

Harvey A. Tilker, Ph.D. received his Doctorate in Psychology, with a specialty in Clinical Psychology, from Michigan State University in 1967, has held teaching positions at major universities in New York and California, and has published extensively. In addition to the private clinical practice of psychology, he served for many years as Chief of Psychology at a community hospital in San Diego, CA.

Dr. Tilker became involved with clinical trials research in 1984, and directed two major private research organizations. He and his wife Jean moved to Kentucky in 1994, where they started Four Rivers Clinical Research, Western Kentucky's only full-time clinical trials research facility. Four Rivers Clinical Research was recognized throughout the industry as a premier clinical trials research facility, and in 2001 was runner-up for Kentucky's "Small Business of the Year". In 2002, Four Rivers Clinical Research was sold to Lourdes Hospital, a member of the Mercy Health System and Catholic Health Partners. Dr. Tilker remained as a consultant through 2004.

During his tenure at Four Rivers Clinical Research, Dr. Tilker served as Principal or Sub-investigator on over 75 clinical studies. He has overseen clinical trials for the development of a number of compounds which have become commercially available throughout the world (e.g., Prozac and Zoloft for the treatment of depression; Cognex, Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Namenda for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease; Trovan, an antibiotic used for many infectious conditions; and, Imitrex, Frovatriptan and Relpax, for the treatment of migraine headaches).

Although retired, Dr. Tilker remains active professionally and within the community. He continues to accept consulting, training, and speaking engagements, and maintains memberships in the American Psychological Association, Kentucky Psychological Association and the Society of Clinical Researchers in Pharmacology. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Mc Cracken County Public Library and the Paducah Film Society.

Jean D. Tilker

Jean D. Tilker, R.N, B.S.N. With more than twenty years of experience as a registered nurse, ten years of experience as a co-owner, operator and clinical director of a successful independent clinical research organization, and five years experience as an independent research consultant monitoring pharmaceutical research studies, Jean Tilker has established credentials in medical scientific research.

Mrs. Tilker has directed and coordinated various medical research studies in psychiatry, neurology, cardiology, diabetes and pulmonary functions. In addition to patient interaction, Mrs. Tilker organized and managed the study initiation, documentation, protocol training, and regulatory reconciliation for each study. A skilled communicator with extensive experience in training, as well as promoting illness awareness, Mrs. Tilker has given numerous presentations to pharmaceutical companies, research organizations, community and civic organizations and national disease organizations.

A member of the Association of Clinical Research Professionals, the Drug Information Association (former), the Kentucky Nurses Association, and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, Mrs. Tilker lives in Paducah, Kentucky and continues to consult with pharmaceutical companies and scientific medical research organizations.

Gerald S. Clay

Gerald S. (Jerry) Clay, has done ground-breaking work in Hawaii in legal dispute prevention and non-litigious conflict resolution. A Founding Partner in the law firm of Clay Chapman Iwamura & Pulice, his professional focus is on the continuing needs of developers, design professionals, contractors, engineers, material suppliers and sureties.

He is a past National Director of the American Arbitration Association. Co-author of the popular Before you Sue introduction to mediation, Mr. Clay has also published articles and books on construction law and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Clay is on the graduate school faculty of Hawaii Pacific University and has been a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association since 1974.

A graduate of the University Of Michigan School Of Law, he received his BBA from the University of Pittsburgh.