Current Studies

A little heart bowl holds produce and sits on produce with a stethoscope.

The Castro Lab is currently conducting the following studies in the area of vascular health.

A pregnant mom sits on a bed holding a glass of water and supplements.

Investigating the Broad Impacts of Vitamin B12 Deficiency During Early Development

In this study, our laboratory explores how insufficient vitamin B12—often seen in unsupplemented vegan diets—affects both maternal and offspring cardiometabolic health to uncover the critical roles of B12 in early developmental stages and its long-term health implications.

A man lays on an examination table while a doctor moves his leg.

Use of bioglass in vascular healing

This study investigates the vascular healing properties of a newly developed bioglass material. This novel material employs photochemical tissue bonding, triggering immediate covalent bonding of structural vascular proteins, thus promoting vascular healing.

A plate of low carb food sits on a table.

Effects of diet composition on vascular health

In this study, the lab investigates how the nutrient signatures of different diets (low-carb, ketogenic, high-fat, and low in several B vitamins) impact metabolic and vascular health.

An MRI machine with a patient going into machine and a doctor using the machine's controls.

Developing contrast agents for atherosclerosis

This study contributes to developing a non-toxic MRI contrast agent for the early detection of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of vascular disease. The proposed contrast agent is based on ultra-small iron oxide nanoparticles (USIONP) developed in the Adair Lab at Penn State.

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Ready to get involved in cutting-edge research on vascular health and disease? Join our lab to gain hands-on experience and build the skills and research mindset that prepare you for advanced study and careers in nutritional sciences.

Learn more about this research opportunity