
My training, expertise and research interests range from human integrative physiology and genetics to animal exercise models to cell culture models of skeletal muscle adaptation to mechanical stretch. I am trained clinically as an internist and preventive cardiologist, with particular expertise in preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation. My research training spans molecular biology and cell culture, molecular genetics, and integrative human exercise physiology and metabolism. I practice as a preventive cardiologist with a focus on cardiometabolic risk and exercise physiology for older athletes. My research space has both a basic wet laboratory component and a human integrative physiology one.
One focus of our work is an integrative physiologic examination of exercise effects in human subjects in clinical studies of exercise training in normal individuals, in individuals at risk of disease (such as pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome; STRRIDE), and in individuals with disease (such as coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure and cancer).
A second focus of my research group is exploration of genetic determinates of disease risk in human subjects. We conduct studies of early onset cardiovascular disease (GENECARD; CATHGEN), congestive heart failure (HF-ACTION), peripheral arterial disease (AMNESTI), and metabolic syndrome. We are exploring analytic models of predicting disease risk using established and innovative statistical methodology.
A third focus of my group’s work is to understand the cellular signaling mechanisms underlying the normal adaptive responses of skeletal muscle to physiologic stimuli, such as occur in exercise conditioning, and to understand the abnormal maladaptive responses that occur in response to pathophysiologic stimuli, such as occur in congestive heart failure, aging and prolonged exposure to microgravity.
Recently we have begun to investigate interactions of genes and lifestyle interventions on cardiometabolic outcomes. We have experience with clinical lifestyle intervention studies, particularly the contributions of genetic variants to interventions responses. We call this Lifestyle Medicopharmacogenetics.
KEY WORDS:
exercise, skeletal muscle, energy metabolism, cell signaling, gene expression, cell stretch, heart failure, aging, spaceflight, human genetics, early onset cardiovascular disease, lifestyle medicine
Education and Training
- Fellow in Cardiology, Medicine, Duke University, 1986 - 1988
- Medical Resident, Medicine, Duke University, 1983 - 1986
- M.D., Duke University, 1982
Grants
- Extracellular Vesicle Analyses to Develop Aging and Resilience Biomarkers
- Congestion Phenotypes and Splanchnic Nerve Modulation in Chronic Heart Failure
- Parks & Pediatrics Fit Together: Translating knowledge into action for child obesity treatment in partnership with Parks and Recreation
- Endocrinology and Metabolism Training Program
- Duke KURe Program
- Epigenetic Mechanisms Promoting Longevity
- Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity and Health: NC Consortium Clinical Site
- Exercise training to promote improved immune resilience in adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia - a randomized control trial
- Systemic Inflammation in Microphysiological Models of Muscle and Vascular Disease
- University Training Program in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering
- Accelerated Metabolic Aging in Rheumatoid Arthritis Immune cells and Skeletal Muscle: A Pilot Study
- Weight loss and exercise to improve rheumatoid arthritis cardiovascular risk
- The AMPK/ULK1/p27Kip1 axis regulates autophagy and cell survival in aged satellite cells
- Analysis of NMR lipoprotein and metabolite data of plasma obtained from CATHGEN and STRRIDE study participants
- Physical Resiliencies: Indicators and Mechanisms in the Elderly Collaborative (PRIME Collaborative)
- Exercise and Pharmacotherapy for Anxiety in Cardiac Patients
- The Effect of Exercise Type, Dose, and Intensity on Plasma Amyloid Beta and Tau in Healthy Adults
- Investigating the effects of aerobic and resistance training in vivo on skeletal muscle metabolism in vitro in primary human muscle cells (MoTrMyo)
- Postdoctoral Training in Genomic Medicine Research
- Biomarkers of Caloric Restriction in Humans: the CALERIE Biorepository
- Molecular Basis of Exercise-induced Changes in HDL Function
- Multidisciplinary Heart and Vascular Diseases
- Effects of Blueberry Extract on Physical Activity, Vascular Function and Cognition in Sedentary Older Adults