Structure of the BENFRA Center
The BENFRA Center performs two research projects (Projects 1 and 2), supported by a Botanical Research Core and an Administrative Core.
![The Administrative Core works with the NIH and EAC. Based at Oregon State University, the Research Core includes members from OHSU, Oregon’s Wild Harvest and U Miss. It is responsible for Projects 1 and 2, with OSU being involved with Project 2.](/sites/default/files/2020-06/benfra-structure-about.jpg)
The Center has close ties to the NIH Layton Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Center and The Oregon Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Neurological Disorders (ORCCAMIND) at OHSU.
Project and core leads
![Headshot of Amala Soumyanath](/sites/default/files/2020-06/benfra-headshot-stack_0020_soumyanath.jpg.jpg)
Amala Soumyanath, B.Pharm., Ph.D.
Program Director/Principal Investigator
Administrative Core Lead
Project 2 Co-Lead
Botanical Core Co-Investigator
![Headshot of Claudia Maier](/sites/default/files/2020-06/benfra-headshot-stack_0012_maier.jpg.jpg)
Claudia Maier, Ph.D.
Botanical Research Core Lead
![Headshot of Nora Gray](/sites/default/files/2020-06/benfra-headshot-stack_0006_gray-nora.jpg.jpg)
Nora Gray, Ph.D.
Project 1 Lead
Project 2 Co-Investigator
![Headshot of Miranda Lim](/sites/default/files/2020-06/benfra-headshot-stack_0011_lim.jpg.jpg)
Miranda Lim, M.D., Ph.D.
Project 1 Co-Lead
![Headshot of Doris Kretzschmar](/sites/default/files/2020-06/benfra-headshot-stack_0010_kretzschmar.jpg.jpg)
Doris Kretzschmar, Ph.D.
Project 2 Lead