Dr. Sophia Bryan
About me
As a Lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Dr. Sophia Bryan has undertaken research involving nitric oxide compounds and antioxidants to better understand the pathophysiology of diabetes. Research findings from Dr. Bryan's work have shown great potential, which received recognition in 2023 from the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Jamaica and was featured in a 2024 magazine publication by the UWI’s Office of Graduate Studies and Research. Her work includes 8 peer-reviewed publications with over 200 citations, h-index of 5 and numerous presentations at local and international conferences, including the International Diabetes Federation and the American Diabetes Association. Among her other achievements, Dr. Bryan was nominated by the Scientific Research Council of Jamaica as a young scientist of the year in 2018. Dr. Bryan has an interest in finding new therapeutic strategies to treat diabetes and its associated complications, which include the exploration of regenerative medicine with stem cells and drug-delivery tools using nanoparticles.
Dr. Sophia Bryan is a Lecturer and Researcher in the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS), Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Biochemistry at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Her research seeks to address the metabolic issues underlying non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus which is on the rise globally and within the Caribbean. The outcome of her research is to develop potential treatment options for the management of diabetes with an effort to reduce the substantial burden that diabetes causes on human health, healthcare systems and economies worldwide.
Her work was recognized through one of her postgraduate students at the 14th Annual National Health Research Conference in 2023 held by the Ministry of Health and Wellness in Jamaica, which received the Best Student Oral Presentation. Dr. Bryan’s research was featured in the government of Jamaica Information Service - Think Tank Session (2024) and was also highlighted in a magazine by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research, UWI. Further, her research was presented under the category of clinical therapeutics - other therapeutic agents in 2025 at the American Diabetes Association (ADA) conference, 85th scientific session where the published abstract is in the ADA's diabetes journal, Diabetes 2025;74 (Supplement_1):858-P. Dr. Bryan’s other achievements include being selected in 2018 as a young scientist of the year nominee by the Scientist Research Council of Jamaica.
Dr. Bryan currently serves as the Stage 1 Coordinator for the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) undergraduate programme at the FMS. She was invited by the UWI's Biochemistry Society as a guest speaker in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science in 2022 and 2023. She also served as a Chair for the Biochemistry Section within her department, in which she facilitated the engagement of students with accomplished Jamaican Women in STEM Professionals as part of the UWI - International Day for Women and Girls in Science Public Forum, hosted by the Faculty of Science & Technology in 2022. In helping to shape the future, through mentorship and guidance Dr. Bryan continues to play a transformative role in the lives of young women who aspire to become scientists, medical doctors and healthcare professionals.
Degrees:
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
1. Wright A, McGrowder D, Bryan S. Nitric oxide in the treatment of COVID-19: nasal sprays, inhalants and nanoparticles. Biochemistry Research International, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1155/bri/8846903
2. Peddie D, *Bryan SJ,* Francis S, Alexander-Lindo, RL. Hypolgycaemic activity of Smilax canellifolia Mill. rhizomes: a bioassay-guided isolation and identification of synergistic compounds. Clinical Phytoscience, 2021, 7:89 (IF: 2.4, Citations: 2)
3. McGrowder DA, Miller F, Vaz K, Anderson-Cross M, Anderson-Jackson L, *Bryan S,* Latore L, Thompson R, Lowe D, McFarlene S, Dilworth L. The Utilization and Benefits of Telehealth services by health care professionals managing breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare, 2021, 9(10):1401. (IF: 3.16, Citations: 66)
4. McGrowder DA, Miller F, Anderson-Cross M, Anderson-Jackson L, *Bryan S,* Dilworth L. Abnormal Liver Biochemistry Tests and Acute Liver Injury in COVID-19 Patients: Current Evidence and Potential Pathogenesis. Diseases, 2021, 9(3):50. (IF: 2.3, Citations: 48)
5. Badal S, William A, Morrison B, Valentine H, *Bryan S,* Gachii A, Ragan C. Disparities in prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates: Solvable or not? The Prostate, 2019, 80(1):3-16. (IF: 4.012 and Citations: 74)
6. *Bryan S,* Alexander-Lindo R, Dasgupta T, McGrowder D. The Effect of nitric oxide inhibitors and S-nitrosothiols on hemodynamic parameters in an animal model. Animal Physiology, 2011, 3:1-8. (IF: 1.57, Citations: 2)
7. **Bryan S, Alexander-Lindo R, Dasgupta T, McGrowder D. The effect of nitric oxide inhibitors and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine on glucose concentration in an animal model. Journal of Natural Science Biology and Medicine, 2011, 2(1): 80-86. (IF: 0.187, Citations: 5)
BOOK CHAPTERS
1. McGrowder D, Anderson-Jackson L, Dilworth L, Mohansingh S, Anderson Cross M, Bryan S, Miller F, Wilson-Clarke C, Nwokocha C, Alexander-Lindo R, McFarlene S. The Clinical Usefulness of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers: Current and Future Directions. Cancer Bioinformatics. IntechOpen, Part of the Book Series: Biomedical Engineering, 2022.
MANUSCRIPTS SUBMITTED/ IN REVIEW
1. Phytosterols and fatty acids synergism: an in vivo assessment of the anti-hyperglycaemic combination identified from Smilax canellifolia Mill (chainy root) in type 2 diabetic sprague-dawley rats. Advances in Traditional Medicine. (IF: 1.9)
2. Phytosterols-fatty acids combination from Smilax canellifolia improves hepatic carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant defense in type 2 diabetic rats. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. (IF:3.8)