Faculty Directory

Research

My research focuses on the role of nutrition and body composition on metabolism in chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic kidney disease. My research integrates state-of-the-art metabolomics with many aspects of nutrition research including rigorous clinical trials, body composition analysis, biomarker assessment, analysis of dietary intake and physical activity. Specific research foci include: 1) use of plasma high-resolution metabolomics, redox, and bioenergetic and body composition assessment to identify targets for nutritional intervention to optimize health in adults with cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis-related diabetes, 2) role of vitamin D in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox, insulin sensitivity, vascular function, and clinical outcomes in the general population and various clinical diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis and chronic kidney disease, 3) role of diet, body composition, and energy metabolism in ethnic health disparities of chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, and 4) role of diet in sulfur/disulfide thiol redox-mediated pathophysiology.

Research Center(s)

• Center for Cystic Fibrosis and Airways Disease Research (CF-AIR) →
• Center for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, & Nutrition Innovation (GENI) →