Research

Dr. Stewart will be reviewing applications for a new student for Fall 2024.

The mission of my Cardiometabolic Behavioral Medicine (CBM) Lab is to identify novel risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and to develop, evaluate, and disseminate new approaches for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes, and obesity. Our epidemiologic and mechanistic research seeks to identify psychosocial risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases and their underlying biological and behavioral mechanisms. Our intervention research seeks to translate epidemiologic and mechanistic discoveries into new primary prevention programs targeting psychosocial risk factors and their underlying mechanisms.

Please see the CBM Lab website for information regarding lab values, members, ongoing studies, grants/publications, and prospective students.

Research topics examined in the CBM Lab include:

• Biological Factors: systemic inflammation, autonomic function, cardiovascular psychophysiology, endothelial dysfunction, subclinical cardiovascular disease, prediabetes/insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, HIV, COVID-19, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
• Psychological & Behavioral Factors: depression (disorder subtypes and symptom clusters), insomnia, anxiety, hostility/anger, eating/dietary factors, medical adherence
• Social Factors: health disparities, stressful life events
• Intervention Approaches: integrated/collaborative care, eHealth/telehealth, CBT, antidepressant medications

Due to the transdisciplinary and applied nature of my research, my students and I often collaborate with other health researchers (see Professional Affiliations) and clinicians (see Clinical Partners), including physicians, biologists, sociologists, epidemiologists, and biostatisticians on the IUPUI campus and at other institutions.

Finally, I have a strong track record of mentoring PhD students and setting them on a trajectory to becoming independent scientists. Thus far, I have graduated 8 PhD students – 4 are research-active professors, 1 is research postdoctoral fellow, and 3 are in clinical positions (see Alumni). I also have 5 active PhD students, all of whom are in good standing (see PhD Students). My PhD students are often the first author on publications in high-impact journals from the CBM Lab.

Graduate Students

• Christopher Crawford
• Timothy Lipuma
• Matthew Schuiling
• Aubrey Shell
• Michelle Williams

Education

• 1998 B.S., Psychology, University of Illinois
• 2000 M.S., Clinical Psychology, Ohio University
• 2003 Clinical Psychology Internship, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
• 2003 Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Ohio University
• 2006 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Cardiovascular Behavioral Medicine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Publications & Professional Activity

Please see cbmlab.org/grants-publications.

Affiliations

Please see cbmlab.org/about-the-lab.