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Cardiovascular, Metabolic & Molecular Physiology

A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member in his lab.

This research area delves into the intricacies of cardiovascular, metabolic, and molecular physiology, exploring how exercise and nutrition impact muscular, cardiovascular, and metabolic function and health at the cellular, tissue and whole-body level. Researchers in this field work with both humans and preclinical models to uncover valuable insights into the mechanisms behind these physiological processes.

Areas of Interest

  • Cellular Signaling
  • Lipid metabolism
  • Metabolism/Energetics
  • Metabolomics
  • Mitochondrial biology
  • Muscle mechanics

Faculty

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    Julia Basso, PhD, CYT , bio

    Assistant Professor: The effects of mind-body-movement practices on brain function and physiology; at the intersection of art and science

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    Siobhan Craige, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Exercise metabolism; redox signaling in health and disease; vascular influence on diet and exercise

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    Kevin P. Davy, PhD , bio

    Professor: Etiology, prevention, and treatment of cardiometabolic dysfunction in aging and obesity

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    Alexandra DiFeliceantonio, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Food choice and food reward; neuroscience and metabolism

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    Joshua C. Drake, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: How molecular mechanisms responsible for monitoring cellular energetics change with age and their relationship to the development of age-related disease

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands outside against a Hokie Stone building for a photo.
    Deborah J. Good, PhD , bio

    Associate Professor: Molecular regulation of body weight, exercise, fertility, and puberty; prader-willi syndrome; phylogenetic analysis; nutraceutical functional foods; Pedagogy research

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands against a HokieStone wall for a headshot.
    Robert W. Grange, MS, PhD , bio

    Professor, Assistant Department Head, and Director of the Virginia Tech Metabolism Core: Role of exercise in the treatment of neuromuscular disease

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    Dongmin Liu, PhD , bio

    Professor: Identification of bioactive compounds for preventing obesity and diabetes and promoting metabolic health; discovery of phytochemicals to delay aging

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    Sumita Mishra, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; Interorgan cross-talk, Cardiometabolic links; focuses on mitochondrial, cGMP-protein kinase G signaling

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    Charles Najt, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Lipid metabolism with a focus on the relationship between lipid metabolism and disease development and how these diseases impact healthspan

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    Eva Schmelz, MS, PhD , bio

    Professor and Principal Scientist of Integrated Life Sciences Building: Ovarian cancer prevention; mitochondrial plasticity of ovarian cancer aggregates during metastasis; obesity and cancer

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    Sora Shin, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: How stressful situations induce maladaptive behaviors and brain circuit dysfunctions

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands outside for a photo.
    Junco Warren, PhD , bio

    Assistant Professor: Energy metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics in the healthy and diseased hearts (i.e., heart failure and Type 2 diabetes); metabolomics-based identification of biomarker for heart failure therapy

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    A Virginia Tech HNFE faculty member stands inside for a photo.
    Zhen Yan, PhD , bio

    Professor: Exploring the role of exercise in preventing cardiovascular, metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer