DR.  RICARDO
KOMOTAR
MD, FAANS, FACS

Edward Miguel is Distinguished Professor of Economics, the Oxfam Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics, & Faculty co-Director of the Center for Effective Global Action at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 2000. He earned S.B. degrees in both Economics and Mathematics from MIT, received a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University, where he was a National Science Foundation Fellow, and has been a visiting professor at Princeton University and Stanford University. Ted’s main research focus is African economic development, including work on the economic causes and consequences of violence; the impact of ethnic divisions on local collective action; interactions between health, education, environment, and productivity for the poor; and methods for transparency in social science research. He has conducted field work in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and India. He has published over 130 articles and chapters in leading academic journals and collected volumes, and his work has been cited over 50,000 times according to Google Scholar.

The “Whole Eye Transplant Moon Shot” refers to the ambitious research initiative at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute to transplant a whole eye, including the optic nerve, with the goal of restoring vision in blind patients. This project is considered a “moonshot” due to the immense scientific and technical challenges involved in successfully transplanting and reconnecting all the intricate components of the eye, particularly the optic nerve. The goal is to achieve whole eye transplantation, including the optic nerve, to restore vision in individuals with blindness. The project involves a team of experts in various fields, including ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and immunology. The primary challenge is regenerating and reconnecting the optic nerve, which is part of the central nervous system and does not readily regenerate in adults. The research is expected to lead to significant advancements in transplantation techniques, nerve regeneration, and potential cures for other diseases.

EJ Manuel, a former first-round NFL Draft pick, joined ACC Network in 2019 and is a studio analyst on The Huddle, ACCN’s signature football show that airs Saturday mornings throughout the fall. He also co-hosts ACCN’s In Play with Kelsey Riggs and is a regular each week on ESPN’s College Football Live. Along with is his ESPN duties, Manuel co-hosts College Sports Today on SiriusXM with Brock Huard. One of the most productive quarterbacks in Florida State history, Manuel led the Seminoles to a 25-6 record as a starter during the 2009-12 seasons, and the fourth-most wins in program history. The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native also helped Florida State to notable victories including the 2013 Discover Orange Bowl, 2012 Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game and 2009 Gator Bowl – the final game of legendary coach Bobby Bowden’s career. He is the second quarterback in FBS history to win four straight bowl games, and also went 15-3 in his career against ACC opponents. Manuel is FSU’s all-time leader in completion percentage (66.9), which is tied for third in ACC history, and ranks among the top five Seminole quarterbacks all-time for passing yards (7,736, 4th), total offense (8,563, 3rd), completions (600, 3rd) and attempts (897, 5th), despite only two seasons as the full-time starter. He earned second team All-ACC honors for the 2012 season and was named the 2013 Senior Bowl MVP. Following his career at FSU, Manuel was a first-round draft pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2013.

Kevin J. Tracey is president and CEO and the Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research; professor of Molecular Medicine and Neurosurgery at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell; and Executive Vice President, Research, at Northwell Health. A leader in the scientific fields of inflammation and bioelectronic medicine, his contributions include discovery and molecular mapping of neural circuits controlling immunity. Dr. Tracey received his BS in chemistry, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Boston College in 1979, and his MD from Boston University in 1983. He trained in neurosurgery from 1983 to 1992 at the New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center and was a guest investigator at the Rockefeller University before moving in 1992 to the Feinstein Institutes. There he directs the Laboratory of Biomedical Science and was appointed president and CEO in 2005. An inventor of more than 120 United States patents and author of more than 400 scientific publications, he cofounded the Global Sepsis Alliance, a non-profit organization supporting the efforts of more than 1 million sepsis caregivers in over 70 countries. Dr. Tracey is the author of Fatal Sequence (Dana Press) and delivers lectures nationally and internationally on inflammation, sepsis, the neuroscience of immunity, and bioelectronic medicine.

Bryan became nationally known as the man who “talked South Florida through” Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which lead to his work on NBC, as the CBS News Hurricane Analyst, and as Senior Hurricane Specialist at The Weather Channel. He is currently the Hurricane Analyst at Fox Weather.

Manuel Kadre is a businessperson who has been at the helm of 5 different companies. He is Chairman of Republic Services, Inc., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of MBB Auto, LLC, President at CC1 Caribbean Importers LLC, Director & Partner at Gold Coast Restaurants, Inc. and Vice President & General Counsel at de la Cruz Cos. He is also Member of New York State Bar Association, Member of The Florida Bar and Senior Member at Orange Bowl Committee and on the board of 10 other companies. Manuel Kadre previously held the position of Chief Executive Officer for Gold Coast Caribbean Importers, LLC, Member of Murai Wald Biondo Moreno & Brochin PA, President, Secretary, Director & Vice President at CC1 Cos., Inc. and Chief Executive Officer at ClearPath Immigration LLC. Mr. Kadre received a graduate degree from Fordham University and an undergraduate degree from Iona College.