He has done his Postdoctoral Fellow, 2000-2004, Cardiology, Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Ph.D., 2000, University of Maryland, College Park, M.S., 1993, University of Maryland, College Park, B.S., 1990, University of Maryland, College Park.

For the past several years, my lab has focused on examining the combined effects of exercise training and nutritional factors on chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients receiving maintenance dialysis. The major research project in our laboratory is a “lifestyle intervention” in hemodialysis patients. This study is focused on improving the health and quality of life of hemodialysis patients by focusing on three major areas: 1) Improving nutritional knowledge and behaviors, 2) Increasing exercise and physical function, and 3) Developing strategies to improve the dialysis process as well as patient compliance. Other current research is looking at additional interventions related to nutrition, cardiovascular disease, pain, and fatigue. We have recently implemented the use of sodium magnetic resonance imaging in two studies to investigate the impact of diet and exercise on tissue sodium storage and regulation. Recent studies are revealing that sodium is stored non-osmotically in the skin and muscle, which is regulated by immune cells in these tissues and may play a role in autoimmune disease and cardiovascular disease.Our largest study to date was an NIDDK-funded RCCT examining the efficacy of intradialytic protein supplementation and exercise training (cycling) on cardiovascular disease risk and physical function (R01DK084016; clinicaltrials.gov #NCT01234441). Most of our previous interventions have focused on the intradialytic period, as past research indicates that the hemodialysis procedure is associated with acute episodes of inflammation and oxidative stress that contribute to cardiovascular complications, muscle wasting, and other co-morbidities.These projects each support the overall research goal in my lab of examining the efficacy of novel approaches for improving the health and quality of life of patients with kidney failure.