Our Researchers
Danielle Christifano, Ph.D.
Lab Director
Assistant Professor
Department of Dietetics and Nutrition>
An assistant professor in the KU Department of Dietetics and Nutrition, Danielle Christifano, Ph.D., is active in current research projects focused on the impact of nutrition and lifestyle on pregnancy health and outcomes related to development and cognition in babies following birth. She also currently teaches courses in maternal and child nutrition for KU's master's degree program in dietetics and nutrition. [Read faculty bio]
Nicole Mathis, M.S.
nmathis@kumc.edu
913-588-1906
Nicole Mathis, M.S., serves as the lab's study coordinator. During her undergraduate studies, she held an internship at the Hoglund Brain Imaging Center at KU Medical Center, and this is where she first worked with Dr. Christifano. This experience led to an opportunity to contribute as a research assistant on a large pregnancy clinical trial while in graduate school. Following her work in coordinating FDA-regulated clinical trials at the KU's Alzheimer's Disease Center, Mathis reconnected with Dr. Christifano and joined her lab in fall of 2023.
Lara Bennett, M.S., RD, LD
lbennett@kumc.edu
913-945-9149
A research associate for the lab, Lara Bennett, M.S., RD, LD, is a registered dietitian with a background in clinical oncology nutrition. She was also a research associate in KU's population health program, focused on weight loss research in rural communities. As a graduate student, she worked in a KU lab focusing on the role of DHA during pregnancy and early childhood development. Her interest in maternal and childhood health and development led her to join Dr. Christifano's lab team at KU Medical Center.
Uju Onuoha, M.S.
Uju Onuoha, M.S., is pursuing her doctorate in medical nutrition science at KU and is mentored by Dr. Christifano. Her research interest lies in biomarker assessment of nutrient status during pregnancy and nutrient-gene interactions. She has conducted research in infant feeding practices and barriers to health promotion in the Roma population, and worked on projects related to food processing and nutrient content analysis. Onuoha completed her master's degree in human nutrition with a specialization in public health nutrition from the University of Glasgow in 2016.