Nutritional Sciences

As an epidemiologist, Dr. Gao is interested in nutritional epidemiology, sleep disorders, neurological diseases, aging,  stress, and global health.

Micronutrients and pregnancy; placenta; adverse pregnancy outcomes; plasma volume; public health issues in low- and middle-income countries.

Eating behaviors in children; neural mechanisms of taste preference and eating behaviors in children; food marketing and childhood obesity; genetic and neural influences in taste in children.

As a social and behavioral scientist, Stephen Kodish is interested in the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions aimed to improve the health and nutrition of vulnerable populations globally.

Effects of diet on established and emerging risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Micronutrient deficiencies (primarily iron); mother-child interactions; child development; cognition and affect; biofortification

Dr. Muzi Na’s research program explores food insecurity, nutrition, sleep and mental health connections that weave together multiple psychosocial and behavioral factors.

Role of changes in energy balance and related nutritional factors on inflammation; immune regulation and cancer risk using both animal models and human subjects.

Satiety and obesity; Influence of food characteristics such as variety, energy density, and portion size on energy intake across the lifespan.

Vitamin A/retinoid metabolism; hepatic retinoid function and gene expression; Vitamin A in infection and immunity; Vitamin A and lung development in neonatal period.

The consequences of over-nutrition and the stress of "western diets" related to lipid mediators and a global shift of dietary fatty acids; identifying markers of disease and better ways to prevent or manage disease.

Central nervous system governs feeding behaviour and importantly, vice versa, the food consumed and the resulting neural and hormonal gut signals affect a broad network of neural circuits and behaviours.

Behavioral (feeding practices, sleep) and individual factors that impact food intake; Responsive parenting; Clinical and community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions