Cheryl Rock
Leader, Nutrition Shared Resource
Email:clrock@ucsd.edu

Dr. Rock received her doctoral training in nutritional sciences at UCLA and is a recognized expert in nutrition, diet and cancer. Her goals are to contribute to the understanding and application of nutrition in disease prevention, particularly in the area of cancer and cardiovascular disease.  Active as a nutritional scientist for over two decades, Dr. Rock joined the UCSD faculty in 1996 and leads the Nutrition Shared Resource in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control of the UCSD Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dennis Heath, M.S., CSci, FIBMS
Director, Nutrition Biochemistry Laboratory
Email: dheath@ucsd.edu

Mr. Heath holds a master of science degree in biomedical sciences.  He has considerable experience in HPLC and quantitative biochemical analysis, having been involved in UCSD Department of Medicine and Cancer Center research projects for over 10 years.  Mr. Heath has conducted HPLC analysis of carotenoids and other micronutrients for a number of nutrition research studies, and is currently responsible for vitamin and lipid QA activities at specified intervals throughout the year. 

Mila Pruit
Staff Research Associate, Nutrition Biochemistry Laboratory

Ms. Pruitt completed basic medical training and is a foreign medical graduate, although her subsequent training in phlebotomy, blood processing, biological sample management, and laboratory analytical skills are the basis for her work in the Nutrition Biochemistry Laboratory.  She has worked as a research associate for numerous community-based UCSD research and clinical projects and her basic medical training plus expert technical skills make her an outstanding research team member in nutrition studies. She has been at UCSD, working in the nutrition research group, since 1997.

Dr. Pakiz received her doctoral degree at Harvard University and has subsequently acquired substantial experience in organizing and directing large community-based multiethnic research units in several areas of public health and disease prevention.  She has been at UCSD since 1996 and has played a key role in coordination and monitoring data collection and management and supervising community-based efforts for a number of studies.  Currently, Dr. Pakiz serves as the project director for the nutrition subprogram in the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control at  UCSD.