Physician & Investigator Network

Aimee Gonzalez, MD is a board-certified Family Medicine physician, physician executive, and experienced Principal Investigator and Clinical Research Leader with more than 25 years of clinical, academic, operational, and healthcare leadership experience. She has served as Principal Investigator across 21 Phase I–IV clinical research studies, leading multidisciplinary research teams and overseeing study feasibility, protocol implementation, participant safety, regulatory compliance, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes.

Dr. Gonzalez’s research portfolio spans multiple therapeutic areas, including multi-cancer early detection, COPD, cardiovascular disease, COVID-19 and acute respiratory distress syndrome, chronic urticaria, sickle cell disease, opioid use disorder, wound care, and dermatologic diagnostics. Her recent leadership includes the LIGHTHOUSE multi-cancer screening study with Roche/Genentech and the TRITON Phase III COPD trial, reflecting her experience in complex, multicenter clinical research.

In addition to her research leadership, Dr. Gonzalez has held senior executive roles including Chief Medical Officer, Chief Hospitalist, Designated Institutional Official, and Family Medicine Program Director. She established and led the hospital’s Institutional Review Board and has integrated clinical operations, physician leadership, graduate medical education, quality, regulatory oversight, and research into a comprehensive healthcare leadership career.

Her combination of Principal Investigator experience, clinical expertise, research governance, and executive leadership positions her to lead high-quality clinical research programs while advancing patient safety, scientific integrity, and operational excellence.

Dr. Ubaldo A. Miranda, MD, PhD, is an experienced Principal Investigator, Medical Director, and biomedical researcher with a strong background in clinical medicine, laboratory leadership, and clinical research. He holds an MD and PhD in Biomedical Science, with specialized research experience in Biophotonics and Molecular Cell Therapy.

Dr. Miranda currently serves as a Principal Investigator at South FL Clinical Research LLC and has held multiple PI and Sub-Investigator positions. His clinical research experience includes approximately 38 studies documented in his CV across Phases I–IV, encompassing a broad range of therapeutic areas including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, hypertension, heart failure, NASH, liver cirrhosis, pulmonary fibrosis, COPD, COVID-19, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, atopic dermatitis, migraine, and PTSD.

In addition to his research leadership, Dr. Miranda has extensive medical and clinical leadership experience, serving as Medical Director for multiple medical centers and laboratories, including Gamma Laboratory, Trust Care Medical Center, We Do Medical Center, and Clinical Bio Solutions Laboratory. His leadership experience encompasses clinical operations, laboratory oversight, physician management, patient care, and research-site operations.

With experience overseeing Phase I–IV clinical trials, combined with his MD/PhD scientific background and multiple medical-director roles, Dr. Miranda brings a multidisciplinary perspective to clinical trial execution, investigator oversight, patient safety, protocol compliance, and high-quality clinical research.

Dr. Miranda’s combination of MD and PhD-level biomedical expertise, extensive medical and laboratory leadership, Principal Investigator experience across approximately 38 Phase I–IV clinical studies, and broad multidisciplinary research expertise positions him to provide strong medical and scientific oversight and contribute meaningfully to the successful execution of high-quality clinical trials. His experience across diverse therapeutic areas, together with his leadership of clinical and laboratory operations, supports effective investigator oversight, patient safety, protocol compliance, clinical research quality, and reliable study execution.

Zaid Rana, DO, MPH is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician, fellowship-trained Gastroenterologist, Principal Investigator, and clinical research leader with extensive experience in clinical medicine, gastroenterology, hospital-based care, and Phase I–IV clinical research. He currently practices as a Gastroenterologist at Keralty Hospital and serves in clinical research leadership roles with South FL Research Clinic and Care Research.

Dr. Rana has an extensive clinical research background, with 45 clinical research studies documented in his research portfolio, including Phase I, II, III, and IV studies. His research experience spans a broad range of therapeutic areas, including gastroenterology and liver disease, respiratory disease, infectious diseases, psychiatry, neurology, Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, diabetes, cardiovascular risk, pain, obesity, pulmonary disease, and vaccines. He has served as Principal Investigator on multiple studies and has experience with randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, open-label, dose-ranging, safety, efficacy, and long-term extension studies.

His medical and clinical leadership experience includes serving as Principal Investigator, Gastroenterologist, Bariatric Gastroenterologist, Infectious Disease Hospitalist, and Chief Resident of Internal Medicine. As Chief Resident at Larkin Community Hospital, he provided clinical and educational leadership while supporting resident development and hospital-based patient care. His combined experience in direct patient care, clinical leadership, research oversight, and multidisciplinary collaboration provides a strong foundation for the conduct of high-quality clinical trials.

Dr. Rana completed fellowship training in Gastroenterology at Larkin Community Hospital and is board-certified in Internal Medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has also received recognition for outstanding research and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, scientific presentations, and research activities in gastroenterology, hepatology, psychiatry, neurology, and other areas of clinical medicine.

With his combination of board-certified physician expertise, gastroenterology specialization, clinical leadership, Principal Investigator experience, and extensive Phase I–IV research background, Dr. Rana brings broad clinical and scientific expertise to the development and execution of clinical research studies.

George Yatzkan, MD, FCCP is a board-certified Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine physician, Principal Investigator, medical director, and academic physician leader with more than two decades of specialized experience in pulmonary medicine, critical care, intensive care unit management, hospital-based medicine, and clinical research.

Dr. Yatzkan currently serves as a Principal Investigator at South FL Clinical Research LLC, where he participates in the conduct and oversight of Phase I–III clinical research studies. His documented research portfolio includes 4 clinical trials, encompassing investigational therapies in chronic spontaneous urticaria and sickle cell disease. His research experience includes dose-escalation, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic, safety and tolerability, efficacy, randomized, placebo-controlled, and long-term extension studies.

His extensive medical and clinical leadership experience includes serving as Intensive Care Medical Director at Kendall Regional Hospital, ICU Medical Director at Larkin Hospital, and Pulmonary Fellowship Director at Larkin Hospital. He has also served as teaching faculty in pulmonary and critical care medicine, contributing to physician education, fellowship training, clinical supervision, and the development of future specialists. His longstanding clinical practice encompasses pulmonary consultations, critical care, intensive care, and hospital-based patient management.

Dr. Yatzkan completed advanced fellowship training in Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine at Jackson Memorial Hospital and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, board-certified in Critical Care Medicine, and board-certified in Pulmonary Medicine, with pulmonary recertification in 2016. He is also a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians (FCCP).

With his combination of board-certified pulmonary and critical care expertise, extensive ICU leadership, fellowship program leadership, academic teaching, and Principal Investigator experience, Dr. Yatzkan brings substantial clinical and specialty expertise to the conduct of high-quality clinical research and the evaluation of investigational therapies.

Jose Alfredo Alvarez, M.D. is a board-certified psychiatrist, Principal Investigator, physician leader, and clinical researcher with extensive experience spanning clinical medicine, psychiatric care, medical education, residency leadership, and clinical research. He currently serves as a Principal Investigator at South FL Clinical Research LLC, where he leads the conduct and oversight of clinical research studies, including participant evaluation, protocol implementation, safety monitoring, regulatory compliance, and coordination of research activities.

Dr. Alvarez has served as Principal Investigator for 6 clinical research studies across Phase I–III development programs, with research experience encompassing psychiatric disorders, schizophrenia, chronic spontaneous urticaria, and sickle cell disease. His portfolio includes randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-escalation, and long-term extension studies, demonstrating experience in the conduct of complex clinical trials and patient-centered research.

In addition to his research leadership, Dr. Alvarez has held significant medical and clinical leadership roles, including Psychiatrist and Owner of Global Psychiatric Solutions and President of Integrated Healthcare Services. His clinical practice has included child, adolescent, adult, and geriatric psychiatry, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, telepsychiatry, and treatment of complex psychiatric conditions. He has also served as a Core Faculty Psychiatrist and Interim Associate Program Director, providing leadership in graduate medical education, resident supervision, curriculum development, trainee evaluation, and clinical education.

Dr. Alvarez is board-certified in Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and additionally certified in Adolescent and Young Adult Psychiatry. He has contributed to peer-reviewed research and professional presentations in psychiatry and neuroscience and has extensive experience educating physicians, residents, medical students, and other healthcare professionals. His combined expertise in Principal Investigator leadership, clinical research, psychiatry, medical education, and physician leadership positions him to support high-quality, scientifically rigorous, and patient-focused clinical research.

Javier Reyna, M.D. is a board-certified Cardiologist, Principal Investigator, physician leader, and clinical researcher with extensive experience in cardiovascular medicine, clinical practice, academic medicine, and investigator-led clinical research. He currently serves as a Cardiology Principal Investigator at South FL Clinical Research LLC, where he leads clinical research activities while maintaining an active cardiology practice and providing cardiovascular consultations and longitudinal patient care.

Dr. Reyna has an extensive clinical research background, with 14 clinical research studies documented in his portfolio, including Phase II, III, IIIb, and IV studies. His research has focused extensively on cardiovascular disease, heart failure, hypertension, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes, obesity, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, and cardiovascular outcomes. His experience includes randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, dose-ranging, safety, efficacy, and cardiovascular-outcomes studies, including research involving novel therapies and long-term cardiovascular risk assessment.

His medical and clinical leadership experience includes serving as Cardiology Principal Investigator, Cardiology Chief Fellow, Internal Medicine Instructor and Tutor, and physician in private practice at multiple South Florida hospitals. During his cardiology fellowship, he served as Chief Fellow at Columbia University Division of Cardiology at the Mount Sinai Heart Institute, demonstrating leadership in clinical education, physician training, and cardiovascular care. He also created and instructed an EKG clinic for medical students and interns and has maintained an academic appointment as an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Florida International University School of Medicine.

Dr. Reyna is board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine and holds additional cardiovascular credentials including Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography Board Certification (NBE Level III) and Nuclear Cardiology Board certification. He completed fellowship training in Cardiology at Columbia University Division of Cardiology at the Mount Sinai Heart Institute and residency training in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

A physician with a strong academic and research record, Dr. Reyna has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, scientific abstracts, presentations, and posters addressing minimally invasive cardiac surgery, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, cardiac tumors, pulmonary hypertension, and other complex cardiovascular conditions. His combination of board-certified cardiology expertise, clinical and academic leadership, Principal Investigator experience, and extensive cardiovascular research background provides a strong foundation for the conduct of high-quality, scientifically rigorous clinical trials.

Dr. Leopoldo Cordova is an ABIM Board-Certified physician in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases with extensive clinical, academic, leadership, and research experience. He completed his medical degree at the Central University of Venezuela, Dr. José María Vargas School of Medicine, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine and fellowship training in Infectious Diseases in Venezuela and Spain. He subsequently completed postgraduate Internal Medicine training in the United States at Aventura Hospital.

Dr. Cordova has held significant clinical and medical leadership roles, including Chief Resident during his Internal Medicine residency, Faculty Physician at the Institute of Tropical Medicine at the Central University of Venezuela, Infectious Diseases Physician, Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases Physician, and member of hospital Infection Control Committees. His clinical expertise includes complex infectious diseases, antimicrobial management, infection prevention and control, tropical medicine, and the management of medically complex patients.

Dr. Cordova also has substantial clinical research experience, including participation in infectious disease and vaccine research. He served as a Sub-Investigator in a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine clinical study at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. His research portfolio includes emerging viral infections, Chikungunya, severe influenza, candidemia, HIV-related disease, and other complex infectious conditions. He has authored and co-authored peer-reviewed publications and presented research at national and international scientific meetings. He has also served as an expert consultant to PAHO/WHO in the development of clinical practice guidelines for arboviral diseases in the Americas.

Dr. Cordova’s combination of ABIM Board Certification in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, extensive clinical and medical leadership experience, expertise in infectious disease and infection control, and clinical research experience in vaccine and infectious disease trials positions him to provide strong medical oversight and contribute meaningfully to the successful execution of high-quality infectious disease, vaccine, and other clinical research studies.

Adriana Gonzalez Zipse, M.D. is a board-certified Ophthalmologist, Principal Investigator, and clinical research leader with extensive experience in comprehensive ophthalmic care, advanced surgical treatment, and clinical research. Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, Dr. Gonzalez Zipse specializes in the diagnosis and management of complex ocular conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, pterygium, diabetic retinopathy, and other anterior segment and retinal disorders.

As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Gonzalez Zipse has led multiple Phase II–IV ophthalmology clinical trials, overseeing study conduct, patient recruitment and retention, protocol compliance, participant safety, regulatory requirements, IRB interactions, and high-quality clinical data collection. Her research experience encompasses the evaluation of investigational therapies and interventions for ophthalmic conditions and reflects a strong commitment to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and ICH research standards.

Her clinical expertise includes advanced cataract surgery, pterygium excision with autograft, glaucoma management, diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment, laser procedures, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, and comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation. She combines hands-on clinical expertise with research leadership to support the rigorous evaluation of emerging ophthalmic therapies and technologies.

Dr. Gonzalez Zipse’s combination of board-certified ophthalmology expertise, advanced clinical and surgical skills, Principal Investigator leadership, and clinical research experience positions her to provide strong medical oversight and contribute to the successful execution of high-quality ophthalmology clinical trials.

Aylin Valdes Gonzalez, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, RN, CCRN is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with experience in primary care, critical care, emergency medicine, regenerative medicine, and clinical research.

She currently serves as a Sub-Investigator in Phase 3 clinical research focused on chronic spontaneous urticaria. She is committed to evidence-based, patient-centered care and advancing clinical research.

Glenda Farrada, APRN, MSN, BSN, RN is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over six years of clinical experience in primary care, pulmonology, sleep medicine, infectious disease, and functional medicine.

She specializes in HIV and Hepatitis C management, PrEP, respiratory care, and metabolic health, with experience in clinical research, evidence-based practice, clinical data collection, and outcome monitoring.

Her research interests include infectious disease, metabolic therapeutics, and emerging therapies.