Research

We are using digital health monitoring tools and network modeling to understand the determinants of cardiometabolic disease.

Many of our research projects also involve multi-omic datasets in large cohort studies, including the Framingham Heart Study (a multi-generational family study, which has been continuously collecting data from 1948-today). The unique data resources we are using will help us to uncover the biological mechanisms linking lifestyle behaviors with cardiometabolic disease.

Digital health tools currently in use:

• Continuous glucose monitoring (Dexcom and Abbott Libre products)
• Physical activity monitoring (accelerometers including Fitbit, Apple Watch, Actical, smartphone apps)
• Digital diet assessment (ASA24, Keenoa smartphone app, RedCap digital FFQ)

Multi-omic data sources we use:

• Genetic and Epigenetic data
• Metabolomics and Proteomics
• Gut Microbiome

Examples of our current projects in the Framingham Heart Study:

• Diabetes transmission across social networks and through families
• Gut microbial traits associated with prediabetes and diabetes
• Associations of diet composition and quality with continuous glucose monitor-derived measures of glycemic variability
• Plant-based diets, gut microbiome, and metabolomic determinants of cardiometabolic disease
• Meal and sleep timing relate to continuous glucose monitor-derived glycemic traits