Gulfport, Mississippi

Principal Investigator
Paul Matherne, MD earned his undergraduate degree from LSU and his medical degree from LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport, LA. He then completed his residency as a family practice physician in 1981 when he moved to Biloxi, MS. In addition to practicing medicine for over 40 years, Dr. Matherne has worked as a Clinical Professor at the University of Mississippi Medical School since 1984. He has conducted clinical trials as a Principal Investigator since 2016, focusing primarily on vaccine trials, including COVID-19 vaccine trials for children and adults.

Principal Investigator
Noel Duplantier, MD is a board certified OB/GYN with extensive experience in many aspects of obstetrics and gynecological care. As a specialist in women’s health, she prides herself on being able to provide the best possible care to her patients, drawing on her finely tuned medical judgment and surgical skills. Dr. Duplantier also specializes in evaluating and treating hormonal imbalances, including perimenopausal issues, using hormone pellet procedures with outstanding results for her patients. She graduated from LSU School of Medicine and performed her residency at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans. She’s been with Hancock Women’s Center for 22 years. Dr. Duplantier began serving as a Principal Investigator and Sub Investigator in 2020 and continues to strive for advancements in women’s healthcare through clinical trials.

Sub Investigator
Jennifer D. Gates, DNP, FNP-C has spent her career in the state of Mississippi. Jennifer initially received undergraduate nursing degrees from Hinds Community College and Mississippi University for Women. She later attended Alcorn State University where she earned her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner degree, and her Doctoral of Nursing Practice. Before she entered the clinical research, Jennifer worked as a nurse and as a nurse practitioner in primary care and gastroenterology. Jennifer joined Velocity Clinical Research in 2022 as a sub investigator. Research has allowed Jennifer to serve the Gulfport community in a new way as she tries to help bring new medications and treatments to the world.

Site Director
Tasha Parker has held various positions in the medical field along the Gulf Coast beginning in 2010. Before her time in clinical research, Tasha spent several years as a CCMA in a family medicine clinic before transitioning to clinical supervisor with an OBGYN group.In 2021, Tasha transitioned to the clinical research industry when she became a clinical research coordinator for Velocity Clinical Research (formerly MedPharmics). Not long afterward, Tasha became the Site Director, largely due to her leadership skills. Tasha leads the Velocity’s Gulfport location with a calm demeanor and always lends a helping hand. She also supports the investigators of Gulfport with her well-suited critical thinking abilities.