Research Team

Nita Hoxha, is a research professional with a multidisciplinary background spanning global clinical study operations, translational science in oncology, neuroscience and nephrology. She currently serves as a Clinical Research Specialist at UH Connor Whole Health, where she supports integrative health research initiatives.

Previously, she served as a Site Activation Lead at ICON Plc, collaborating with global teams to develop study start‑up strategies and execute clinical trials across vaccines, rare inflammatory diseases, pediatric and adult oncology and endocrinology. She supported more than 200 site activations worldwide and led regulatory and contract teams across the U.S., Canada, LATAM and Europe. Her leadership accelerated activation timelines, strengthened compliance with ICH‑GCP and sponsor SOPs, and enhanced communication between sponsors, clinical sites and cross‑functional partners.

Before ICON, she held roles as a Clinical Research Coordinator, coordinating studies and patients recruitment and adherence for investigator‑initiated and industry‑sponsored trials at the Cleveland Clinic. In addition, as a Program Manager at the Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic she oversaw Translational Hematology and Oncology Research Core providing laboratory services for more than 150 oncology trials (Phase I–IV). In this role she designed the workflows and led the implementation of the CORES billing system for clinical research Laboratory Core Services, enabling accurate tracking of sample volumes and improving financial and operational transparency across IIT and sponsored trials.

Her scientific foundation began in Neuroscience while studying Neuroscience and Biology at Baldwin Wallace University. After few years, she served as a Laboratory Director in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Baldwin Wallace University where she designed experimental protocols for behavioral and neurobiological studies, taught advanced laboratory techniques, overseen 20 students in the lab and managed regulatory submissions, and developed structured systems for high‑quality data collection.

Earlier in her career, she conducted translational research at UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s  / Case Western Reserve University as well as at MetroHealth, studying antihypertensive therapies and molecular pathways in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD).

Across all roles, she has demonstrated commitment to scientific rigor, operational excellence and patient‑centered research. Her current interest in lifestyle medicine and whole‑health approaches continues to shape her perspective on research design, patient outcomes and the future of integrative care.

Nita has published in various national and international journals and presented work at regional, national and international conferences.

Nita enjoys yoga, Latin dancing and running.

Education and Credentials

• Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Biology at Baldwin Wallace University, Berea OH
• Master of Healthcare in Business Administration Baldwin Wallace University, Berea OH

Lucas Jones, PhD, has 10 years of undergraduate and graduate research experience in the field of molecular microbiology, where he applied a variety of molecular, microbiology and genetics-based techniques. His undergraduate research focused on microbial ecology, mainly source tracking of microbial contaminants in regional waterways.

As a graduate student, Dr. Jones authored 21 papers. His graduate research dealt with more clinical elements, including studying direct SARS-CoV-2 isolates taken from patients in the Northeast Ohio VA medical system.

In addition to the clinical and translational elements of his PhD work, Dr. Jones has 6 years of experience in epidemiology and molecular epidemiology, which afforded him the opportunity to learn bioinformatics and the analysis of large data sets.