This research investigates how communication between the heart and brain influences cognition and mental health. By studying heart rate variability, vagus nerve activity, and neural oscillations, it reveals a direct effect of heart rhythms on brain function, offering new insights into schizophrenia, mental illness, and body-based therapeutic interventions.

This research investigates the genetic mechanisms underlying polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition affecting one in ten women and the leading cause of female infertility. By studying thousands of genetic variants across multiple cell types, the project aims to identify the biological causes of PCOS and develop targeted treatments.

This research develops a noninvasive method for continuously measuring blood pressure using arterial resonance. Inspired by the physics of vibrating guitar strings, the device gently stimulates arteries and measures their resonance frequencies with ultrasound. The resulting continuous blood pressure waveforms could improve diagnosis of cardiovascular disease without invasive catheterization procedures.

This research investigates oleosomes, natural oil-protecting structures found in plants, as a way to preserve healthy lipids against oxidation. Using walnuts as a model system, the study showed that intact oleosomes dramatically extend lipid stability and shelf life, potentially enabling healthier, more sustainable food products rich in beneficial fats.

Aneurysms cause hundreds of thousands of deaths each year, yet most never rupture. This research applies vascular mechanics, medical imaging, and multiscale simulations to model how arteries grow and weaken over time. By predicting which aneurysms will burst, it aims to guide safer, patient-specific treatment decisions and prevent fatal outcomes.

This research shows that artificial light at night disrupts normal cardiovascular rhythms by altering sleep and feeding patterns. In mice, light exposure flattened heart rate and blood pressure cycles, increasing risk. Restricting food intake to active hours restored healthy rhythms, suggesting timing of eating can protect cardiovascular health.

This research investigates brain circuits that regulate sodium appetite and salt preference. By manipulating sodium-sensitive neurons and immune signaling pathways in mice, the study demonstrates how sodium craving can be altered without changing food composition, opening new possibilities for treating excessive sodium consumption and sodium-related cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.

This study tested whether aerobic exercise can protect vascular function during prolonged sitting. Eleven participants completed exercise and non-exercise conditions. Sitting alone reduced blood vessel function, but exercising beforehand prevented this decline for up to three hours. The findings suggest a brief workout may counteract the cardiovascular risks of extended sitting.