Robert L. Jacobs, MD entered the United States Air Force after graduation from high school. He was trained by the Air Force in Primary and Advanced Russian Studies at Syracuse University and in Cryptoanalytical Studies at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. He served within the Air Force Intelligence Service, a branch of NSA, during the height of the "Cold War", monitoring the Russian ICBM missile ranges and space program. He was in the European theatre during the Cuban Missile Crisis and erection of the Berlin Wall. He left the military to attend the Medical College of Alabama, graduating in 1968. He served a rotating internship at Malcomb Grow USAF Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in allergy/immunology at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
He was assigned a staff positon in the Allergy/Immunology Department and moved up to become the Chairman and Training Program Director, Consultant to the Surgeon General in Internal Medicine and Allergy/Immunology, and Special Assistant to the Surgeon General concerning facilities and staffing associated with allergy services worldwide. During his tenure as Chairman and Director of the Training Program, he designed the physical plant within Wilford Hall Medical Center currently housing the Allergy/Immunology Department with the foresight to predict the growth of Immunology within the field and to be prepared with adequate training slots and facilities for the staff to be able to maintain an excellence that the Allergy/Immunology Department continues to achieve. During this period, Dr. Jacobs and staff designed and wrote the guidelines of the modern training programs for Allergy/Immunology which remains the criteria that training programs must meet. Clinical Research, however, became the driving passion for Dr. Jacobs as the field of Allergy/Immunology became scientifically-based. Clinical studies on chronic nasal disease, drug interactions, adverse responses to immunizations, and insect sting reactions were carried out during the tenure at Wilford Hall Medical Center.
For most of his professional life, Dr. Jacobs has been involved with a group of diseases that are the most frustrating within the field of pulmonary medicine, the idiopathic interstitial lung diseases. By investigating the environments of these patients, Dr. Jacobs has shown that most of these difficult problems are caused by exposure to organic dusts within closed spaces, usually the home. This publication has been selected by the pulmonary journal, Chest, as the second most important work on interstitial lung disease in the recent past. Dr. Jacobs has several publications concerning these problems. He has been honored with a lifetime achievement award for his work with patients with these disorders by the San Antonio Business Journal in collaboration with University Health System, University of the Incarnate Word, and others.
Dr. Jacobs is the managing partner of a busy clinical practice of allergy and asthma management with thousands of patients. He, along with his wife and children, established Biogenics Research Institute for the study of allergic, immunologic, and chronic respiratory tract diseases. This institute is considered one of the top 4 research sites for clinical drug trials in respiratory tract diseases in the United States.
Dr. Jacobs continues to work very hard to maintain an excellence in the field of allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology in the clinical and research settings. He expects similar efforts from those around him.
Daniel A. Ramirez, MD
Principal Investigator
Daniel A. Ramirez, M.D. started his scientific career as an Electrical Engineer in 1998. He worked for the U.S. Navy as a computer and underwater range engineer at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico. He then graduated with honors from the University of Puerto Rico school of Medicine in 1973 and trained in internal medicine at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, California. He did an allergy / immunology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where he did research on anaphylaxis and reactions to hymenoptera (stings of bees, yellow jackets and hornets.)
He was assigned as Chief of Allergy-Immunology at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) in 1979. While at BAMC, he became interested in mountain cedar allergy, since it affects many in South Texas, even people without any other allergy.
Dr. Ramirez is a partner in a large, busy allergy/immunology practice in San Antonio and has been involved in many clinical research projects in allergy, asthma, other respiratory and skin diseases. They have offices in the Medical Center and in Lincoln Heights in San Antonio.
Dr. Ramirez's interests out of medicine include computer programming, woodworking, digital photography and music. He is a very proud "Aggie Dad" of two Texas A&M graduates. His oldest son will start allergy / immunology training in 2008 with plans of joining his "Aggie Dad" in 2010. His daughter is a law student at Texas Tech in Lubbock.
Theodore M. Freeman, MD
Sub-investigator
Theodore M. Freeman, MD attended and graduated from Duke University with a BS in chemistry on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. He then attended the University of South Florida College of Medicine on an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship and received his MD in 1980. He did a civilian internship at Jacksonville University Hospital in Florida, then completed an internal medicine residency at Keesler AFB hospital in Mississippi. He next served as an Internist at Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX. He then trained in allergy and immunology at Wilford Hall Med Center in San Antonio, and then went to Boston, MA to do a fellowship in clinical laboratory immunology at Massachusettes General Hospital. He is triple boarded in internal medicine, allergy-immunology and clincial laboratory immunology. He returned to San Antonio to Wilford Hall Med Center as a staff allergist-immunologist. He became the Program Director for Allergy-Immunology Fellowship and Chairman of the Allergy-Immunology Department in 1989. He retired as Chairman of the AI Department and from the Air Force as a colonel in 2001. He continued to be the Program Director for the Allergy-Immunology Fellowship until 2004. He joined Drs Jacobs and Ramirez in private practice in 2001.
Dr Freeman has volunteered and been recognized for his contributions by a variety of organizations. He has served on the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases Council (part of the NIH) and on the Residency Review Committee for Allergy - Immunology (part of the American Council for Graduate Medical Education). He has served on the Board of Govenors for the Texas Allergy Asthma and Immunology Society and has been President of both the Society of Air Force Physicians and the Association of Military Allergists. He recently received the Laureate Award from the American College of Physicians for his contributions. He has chaired the San Antonio branch of the American Lung Association and currently chairs the medical advisory board for NEISD.
His research interests encompass anaphylaxis, insect hypersensitivity and immunologic abnormalities. He has published 3 book chapters and 28 articles in the medical literature including a recent article in perhaps the premier medical journal the New England Journal of Medicine on insect hypersensitivity.
Lisa Whelchel, FNP-C
Sub-investigator
Lisa joined the Biogenics team in September 2008. She also practices at Jacobs, Ramirez, & Freeman Allergy and Immunology, where she assists in providing care to a large number of allergy patients.
Lisa’s nursing career has spanned various aspects of healthcare and teaching facilities to include both the private sector and military community.She served in the USN and USAF nurse corp (active duty and reserve) multi-service units, intensive care units, as well as ambulatory care.
She began her education and undergraduate course of study at San AntonioCommunity College and then went on to the UTHSCSA where she earned her BSN in 1986.In 1998, she was awarded a MA in Health Services Management from WebsterUniversity and in May 2008, Lisa then obtained her MSN degree with a FNP specialty from TAMUCC.
Frank O. Jacobs, BS, MT, CCRC
Support Staff
Frank serves as the Clinical Research Manager and senior Study Coordinator for Biogenics Research Institute. He and Dr. Jacobs originally founded the company in 1993. Prior to that time, Frank had been involved in other human research activities. After graduating from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Frank worked in aerospace physiology research at Brooks Air Force Base, conducting military-contracted studies involving decompression sickness, G-tolerance, thermal stress, and wound healing in Air Force pilot candidates. In 1988, Frank moved to Houston to work as a research contractor for NASA at Johnson Space Center. His position as a Flight Experiment Scientist allowed him to develop and implement research protocols for Shuttle-based Spacelab missions as well as provide training and collect data on Shuttle astronauts during spaceflight.
Frank returned to San Antonio in late 1992 to work with his father and sister in establishing Biogenics. He received and has maintained his certification as a clinical research coordinator since 1997. Frank and his wife Laura, a cardiologist who has also worked as a sub-investigator for Biogenics, have been married since 1990 and have two boys.
Nicole J. Skelton, BA, BSN, CCRC
Support Staff
Nicole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in 1992 majoring in Speech Communications. She has been involved as a clinical research coordinator for the past 12 years starting as an assistant working at Biogenics, participating in the very first study with Biogenics in 1993. She came on board full-time as a research coordinator in 1995. After two years as a full-time coordinator, Nicole attended nursing school to have more of a medical-oriented background. She graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center. Nicole became certified as a clinical research coordinator in 1998. She has used her marketing skills to promote our research facility broadening the base of companies that rely upon Biogenics to deliver study results at the highest level.
Nicole and her husband Andy have been married since 2003 and have a great time with their son and two dogs.
Hope C. Soliz, CRC
Support Staff
Hope Soliz came to work for Biogenics Research Institute in 1999 after serving 12 years as an active duty Air Force medic. During her first 8 years of active duty she worked in an acute care clinic, an oncology unit and trauma/surgery unit. She was also deployed overseas for 2 months in support of Operation Desert Storm. In July 1996, Hope went to specialty training for Allergy/Immunology at Walter Reid Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. After completing her training, she was the non-commissioned officer in charge of 2 Allergy/Immunizations Clinics--1 year at Wilford Hall Medical Center and 3 years at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Hope decided to leave active duty and transfer her service time to the Air Force Reserves at the 433rd Airlift Wing. She worked in the 433rd Aerospace Medicine Clinic as the NCOIC of the Immunization Clinic for 6 years providing immunizations for over 3,200 reservists. After only a year with Biogenics, Hope was called back to active duty to support her Immunization Clinic at her reserve unit. She remained on military orders until 2004, supporting 2 medical humanitarian missions to Belize and Hondoras. She was also the only immunization technician activated to provide immunizations for over 1,500 reservists deployed from the 433rd Airlift Wing in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afganistan and Iraq). Hope is very happy to have rejoined the Biogenics Team and continues her military commitment one weekend a month with her new unit at 10th Air Force in Fort Worth. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband of 18 years and walking/playing with her 2 dogs.
Cynthia Rather, CRC
Support Staff
Who do you know who can say and spell ‘Immunobionomics’ without blinking an eye? Not only can Cindy Rather, our clinical research coordinator, do this because she brings to Biogenics sixteen years experience in Laboratory Management at Immunobionomics but she also brings her extensive knowledge of laboratory medicine in the fields of Allergy and immunology.<br><br>
Cindy started working with Dr. Jacobs in 1991 as a sales representative for his new clinical allergy and immunology reference laboratory – Immunobionomics. Under Cindy’s guidance and management, Immunobionomics became a regionally and later, nationally recognized specialty reference laboratory while maintaining the values of quality laboratory testing, excellent customer service and College of American Pathologists standards that made Immunobionomics the special laboratory it was. In addition to being Laboratory Manager, Cindy was responsible for marketing and sales, Information Technology and industry and federal accreditation of the facility.<br><br>
Prior to managing Immunobionomics, Cindy’s education in Radio, TV/Film led her to work at KENS TV as a weekend intern reporter for about a year. After deciding that broadcasting was not where her heart lie, she returned to the field of medicine and has remained there ever since.<br><br>
Cindy and her husband Dan, and ‘child’ - Chocolate Lab Remo enjoy living in a historic home in Comfort that they have restored.
Brandi L. Black, NRCMA
Support Staff
Brandi graduated from Medical Assistant school in 1998. She worked for a family physician and was trained by a highly skilled RN who taught her the fine art of precision phelbotomy. Brandi joined our company in September 2000 and performs most of the technical aspects of the research protocols including phlebotomy, ECGs, skin testing, handling and shipping of specimens.
She has been a Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant since 2002. She has maintained certifications and training for all of our clinical research trials including IATA Certification for Transportation of Dangerous Goods.
Brandi is a mother of 2 wonderful children with whom she spends most of her free time.
Ronald G. Waller, MA
Support Staff
Ron Waller joins Biogenics Research Institute with four years of previous expierence in research. Prior to his experience in research, Ron spent over ten years working as a medical assistant in internal medicine with a number of internists in the San Antonio area. Ron has also done extensive work for the District Attorney's Office in the field of DNA testing for child support and on-site drug testing for the Department of Transportation. In his spare time, Ron enjoys family,cooking and dancing. Ron has been happily married to his high school sweetheart Claudette for twenty-two years and has a daughter and a son. Ron recently became a grandfather and adores playing with his new grandson.
Cara Dobbertin, BS
Support Staff
Cara joined the Biogenics Research team as a clinical research coordinator in September 2007, after two years with Immunobionomics Laboratory. In 2005, Cara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Texas in Austin. Following graduation, she was given the wonderful opportunity to work with Cynthia Rather and Dr. Jacobs as a laboratory assistant with Immunobionomics. The clinical laboratory setting provided Cara with valuable experience in the healthcare field and she looks forward to the knowledge she will obtain as part of a research team. Cara plans to pursue a career in the healthcare field and is excited to have the opportunity to work alongside a team with a vast array of clinical research experience.
Robert L. Jacobs, MD entered the United States Air Force after graduation from high school. He was trained by the Air Force in Primary and Advanced Russian Studies at Syracuse University and in Cryptoanalytical Studies at Goodfellow AFB, Texas. He served within the Air Force Intelligence Service, a branch of NSA, during the height of the "Cold War", monitoring the Russian ICBM missile ranges and space program. He was in the European theatre during the Cuban Missile Crisis and erection of the Berlin Wall. He left the military to attend the Medical College of Alabama, graduating in 1968. He served a rotating internship at Malcomb Grow USAF Medical Center in Washington, D.C., and a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in allergy/immunology at Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
Daniel A. Ramirez, M.D. started his scientific career as an Electrical Engineer in 1998. He worked for the U.S. Navy as a computer and underwater range engineer at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico. He then graduated with honors from the University of Puerto Rico school of Medicine in 1973 and trained in internal medicine at Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco, California. He did an allergy / immunology fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. where he did research on anaphylaxis and reactions to hymenoptera (stings of bees, yellow jackets and hornets.)
Theodore M. Freeman, MD attended and graduated from Duke University with a BS in chemistry on an Air Force ROTC scholarship. He then attended the University of South Florida College of Medicine on an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship and received his MD in 1980. He did a civilian internship at Jacksonville University Hospital in Florida, then completed an internal medicine residency at Keesler AFB hospital in Mississippi. He next served as an Internist at Dyess AFB in Abilene, TX. He then trained in allergy and immunology at Wilford Hall Med Center in San Antonio, and then went to Boston, MA to do a fellowship in clinical laboratory immunology at Massachusettes General Hospital. He is triple boarded in internal medicine, allergy-immunology and clincial laboratory immunology. He returned to San Antonio to Wilford Hall Med Center as a staff allergist-immunologist. He became the Program Director for Allergy-Immunology Fellowship and Chairman of the Allergy-Immunology Department in 1989. He retired as Chairman of the AI Department and from the Air Force as a colonel in 2001. He continued to be the Program Director for the Allergy-Immunology Fellowship until 2004. He joined Drs Jacobs and Ramirez in private practice in 2001.
Frank serves as the Clinical Research Manager and senior Study Coordinator for Biogenics Research Institute. He and Dr. Jacobs originally founded the company in 1993. Prior to that time, Frank had been involved in other human research activities. After graduating from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Frank worked in aerospace physiology research at Brooks Air Force Base, conducting military-contracted studies involving decompression sickness, G-tolerance, thermal stress, and wound healing in Air Force pilot candidates. In 1988, Frank moved to Houston to work as a research contractor for NASA at Johnson Space Center. His position as a Flight Experiment Scientist allowed him to develop and implement research protocols for Shuttle-based Spacelab missions as well as provide training and collect data on Shuttle astronauts during spaceflight.
Nicole earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas A&M University in 1992 majoring in Speech Communications. She has been involved as a clinical research coordinator for the past 12 years starting as an assistant working at Biogenics, participating in the very first study with Biogenics in 1993. She came on board full-time as a research coordinator in 1995. After two years as a full-time coordinator, Nicole attended nursing school to have more of a medical-oriented background. She graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center. Nicole became certified as a clinical research coordinator in 1998. She has used her marketing skills to promote our research facility broadening the base of companies that rely upon Biogenics to deliver study results at the highest level. 
Hope Soliz came to work for Biogenics Research Institute in 1999 after serving 12 years as an active duty Air Force medic. During her first 8 years of active duty she worked in an acute care clinic, an oncology unit and trauma/surgery unit. She was also deployed overseas for 2 months in support of Operation Desert Storm. In July 1996, Hope went to specialty training for Allergy/Immunology at Walter Reid Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. After completing her training, she was the non-commissioned officer in charge of 2 Allergy/Immunizations Clinics--1 year at Wilford Hall Medical Center and 3 years at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. Hope decided to leave active duty and transfer her service time to the Air Force Reserves at the 433rd Airlift Wing. She worked in the 433rd Aerospace Medicine Clinic as the NCOIC of the Immunization Clinic for 6 years providing immunizations for over 3,200 reservists. After only a year with Biogenics, Hope was called back to active duty to support her Immunization Clinic at her reserve unit. She remained on military orders until 2004, supporting 2 medical humanitarian missions to Belize and Hondoras. She was also the only immunization technician activated to provide immunizations for over 1,500 reservists deployed from the 433rd Airlift Wing in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afganistan and Iraq). Hope is very happy to have rejoined the Biogenics Team and continues her military commitment one weekend a month with her new unit at 10th Air Force in Fort Worth. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking and traveling with her husband of 18 years and walking/playing with her 2 dogs. 
Who do you know who can say and spell ‘Immunobionomics’ without blinking an eye? Not only can Cindy Rather, our clinical research coordinator, do this because she brings to Biogenics sixteen years experience in Laboratory Management at Immunobionomics but she also brings her extensive knowledge of laboratory medicine in the fields of Allergy and immunology.<br><br>
Cindy started working with Dr. Jacobs in 1991 as a sales representative for his new clinical allergy and immunology reference laboratory – Immunobionomics. Under Cindy’s guidance and management, Immunobionomics became a regionally and later, nationally recognized specialty reference laboratory while maintaining the values of quality laboratory testing, excellent customer service and College of American Pathologists standards that made Immunobionomics the special laboratory it was. In addition to being Laboratory Manager, Cindy was responsible for marketing and sales, Information Technology and industry and federal accreditation of the facility.<br><br>
Prior to managing Immunobionomics, Cindy’s education in Radio, TV/Film led her to work at KENS TV as a weekend intern reporter for about a year. After deciding that broadcasting was not where her heart lie, she returned to the field of medicine and has remained there ever since.<br><br>
Cindy and her husband Dan, and ‘child’ - Chocolate Lab Remo enjoy living in a historic home in Comfort that they have restored. 
Brandi graduated from Medical Assistant school in 1998. She worked for a family physician and was trained by a highly skilled RN who taught her the fine art of precision phelbotomy. Brandi joined our company in September 2000 and performs most of the technical aspects of the research protocols including phlebotomy, ECGs, skin testing, handling and shipping of specimens.
Ron Waller joins Biogenics Research Institute with four years of previous expierence in research. Prior to his experience in research, Ron spent over ten years working as a medical assistant in internal medicine with a number of internists in the San Antonio area. Ron has also done extensive work for the District Attorney's Office in the field of DNA testing for child support and on-site drug testing for the Department of Transportation. In his spare time, Ron enjoys family,cooking and dancing. Ron has been happily married to his high school sweetheart Claudette for twenty-two years and has a daughter and a son. Ron recently became a grandfather and adores playing with his new grandson. 
Cara joined the Biogenics Research team as a clinical research coordinator in September 2007, after two years with Immunobionomics Laboratory. In 2005, Cara earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the