Grants

Adiposity and Time Restricted Feeding in ADPKD (2020)

Inspiratory Muscle Strength Training for Treating Elevated Systolic Blood Pressure in Patients with Moderate to Severe CKD (2021)

Daily Caloric Restriction in Overweight and Obese Adults with ADPKD (2021)

Research Interests for Patients

I am trained as a physiologist with an interest in lifestyle interventions to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and kidney disease progression in patients with kidney diseases, including autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). I conduct research on the mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in kidney diseases, as well as on novel therapeutics to alleviate such dysfunction. I have unique expertise in identifying integrative physiological mechanisms mediating vascular dysfunction, as well as in epidemiology (Master of Public Health). I direct the clinical vascular physiology laboratory for the Division of Renal Diseases and Hypertension. I also became recently interested in the role of diet and metabolic dysfunction in ADPKD progression. I have a recently completed NIH R03 grant evaluating the feasibility of two weight loss interventions, daily caloric restriction and intermittent fasting, and also have an active PKD Foundation Research grant evaluating the feasibility of time restricted feeding, both in a population of adults with overweight/obesity and ADPKD. I have a recently awarded R01 for a clinical trial evaluating weight loss via daily caloric restriction to slow cyst growth in ADPKD. Additionally, I have a multi-PI R01 assessing the efficacy of inspiratory muscle strength training to lower blood pressure and improve vascular function in CKD.