DR. DERRICK SAULS

A Researcher, Professor, Consultant, Mentor, and Farmer.

For twenty years of research studies at Duke University, he worked with several Biomedical start-up companies (Sphinx Pharmaceuticals, Trimeris, and Apex Biosciences). His investigations have led to the development of a method for the prevention/treatment of HIV, ultimately obtaining a patent (N0. 6,787,527). 

While obtaining his Ph. D. from North Carolina State University in the area of Nutrition (2003), he developed an interest in studying Diabetes.  He collaborated with his Mentor (Dr. Leon C Boyd) and generated several publications. However, his research entails investigating the effect of homocysteine on fibrin clot formation and lysis. 

Over several years (1998 – 2011), his lab received $1.6 million in grant monies to study the effects of homocysteine. Dr. Sauls has orally presented his experimental findings at conferences (ATVB, ISTH, Fibrinogen, and ASH) and published in Thrombosis Research, Journal Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Biochemistry, Nutrition, and Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry).  

Recently, he has been involved in Health Initiatives that involve prevention and eradicating health disparities and health inequities. When reviewing the disparities, he has focused on food insecurity and the effects of COVID on Black, Brown, Indigenous, and other people of Color (BIOPIC). His efforts have led to Agritherapy, basically, the process of farming as a means for therapeutic meditation and deterring food insecurity.  

His efforts in agriculture evolved around growing muscadine grapes and blueberry bushes. He has established two grape vineyards at Saint Augustine’s University. 

Recently, he has been involved at the Raleigh Milbank Apartment Complex building an educational agricultural garden that involves training youth in community gardening. Thus far, he has traveled consulting with several farmers and groups about the benefits of health in farming and putting your hands in the dirt. The area of composting and generation of organic fertilizers has been a focus of his to not only generate a green footprint but reduce waste in landfills. Dr. Sauls mantra has and will always be, “the body is a chemical reaction”, this is basically what you put in should benefit your body’s reactions. The serene thoughts of waking up and enjoying life’s daily environmental surprises leads to an appreciation for the efforts of  interaction in the organic process of life.