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Faculty & Staff Profiles

Program Director for the Clinical Research Methods and Epidemiology, and Professor, Public Health Sciences

Contact

    • Lara Dugas, PhD, MPH, FTOS is the AXA Research Chair in Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, hosted at the University of Cape Town (2021-2026), and an Associate Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health, Loyola University Chicago. In 2007 she joined Loyola University Chicago, utilizing her training in the measurement of human metabolism, including whole body energy expenditure, diet and physical activity monitoring. From 2008-2013 she was the project coordinator on a large international study investigating the effects of diet and physical activity in 5 populations African-origin titled: Modeling the Epidemiologic Transition Study (METS). Research participants live in Ghana, South Africa, Jamaica, Seychelles and the US. In 2014 she expanded this research to focus on the role of intermediary metabolites, including metabolite profiles and short chain fatty acids derived from the gut microbiota, and chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes. In 2017, she was awarded funding to explore the role of the gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids and obesity in the same 5 international populations through METS-Microbiome and in 2019 expanded this work to include the role of the sleep metabolism, circadian rhythm and cardiometabolic risk in populations of African-origin.

    Education
    • Bachelor's degree, University of Cape Town
    • Master's degree, Loyola University Chicago
    • PhD, University of Cape Town

    What prompted you to pursue your field?

    Initially, I was taught that differences in the prevalence of obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes between black and white populations were as a result of physiological and genetic differences. However, after meeting Dr. Richard Cooper, and Dr. Amy Luke, and they incredibly insightful work exploring ecological differences between populations of African-origin, and the social determinants of health, I knew I had to change the way I thought about obesity and its co-morbidities.

    What's it like to teach at Parkinson?

    Teaching in Parkinson provides a very holistic and grounded experience. Parkinson prides itself on its multi-disciplinary and diverse teaching faculty, all of whom I have found to be highly collaborative and excited to share pedagogy across disciplines, and move away from a previous silo approach.

    Publications

    • Childhood Daily Energy Expenditure Does Not Decrease with Market Integration and Is Not Related to Adiposity in Amazonia. Urlacher, SS; Snodgrass, JJ; Dugas, LR; Madimenos, FC; Sugiyama, LS; Liebert, MA; Joyce, CJ; Terán, E; Pontzer, H The Journal of nutrition 2021
    • Evolution of water conservation in humans. Pontzer, H; Brown, MH; Wood, BM; Raichlen, DA; Mabulla, AZP; Harris, JA; Dunsworth, H; Hare, B; Walker, K; Luke, A; Dugas, LR; Schoeller, D; Plange-Rhule, J; Bovet, P; Forrester, TE; Thompson, ME; Shumaker, RW; Rothman, JM; Vogel, E; Sulistyo, F; Alavi, S; Prasetyo, D; Urlacher, SS; Ross, SR Current biology : CB 2021
    • A standard calculation methodology for human doubly labeled water studies.Speakman, JR; Yamada, Y; Sagayama, H; Berman, ESF; Ainslie, PN; Andersen, LF; Anderson, LJ; Arab, L; Baddou, I; Bedu-Addo, K; Blaak, EE; Blanc, S; Bonomi, AG; Bouten, CVC; Bovet, P; Buchowski, MS; Butte, NF; Camps, SGJA; Close, GL; Cooper, JA; Creasy, SA; Das, SK; Cooper, R; Dugas, LR; Ebbeling, CB; Ekelund, U; Entringer, S; Forrester, T; Fudge, BW; Goris, AH; Gurven, M; Hambly, C; El Hamdouchi, A; Hoos, MB; Hu, S; Joonas, N; Joosen, AM; Katzmarzyk, P; Kempen, KP; Kimura, M; Kraus, WE; Kushner, RF; Lambert, EV; Leonard, WR; Lessan, N; Ludwig, DS; Martin, CK; Medin, AC; Meijer, EP; Morehen, JC; Morton, JP; Neuhouser, ML; Nicklas, TA; Ojiambo, RM; Pietiläinen, KH; Pitsiladis, YP; Plange-Rhule, J; Plasqui, G; Prentice, RL; Rabinovich, RA; Racette, SB; Raichlen, DA; Ravussin, E; Reynolds, RM; Roberts, SB; Schuit, AJ; Sjödin, AM; Stice, E; Urlacher, SS; Valenti, G; Van Etten, LM; Van Mil, EA; Wells, JCK; Wilson, G; Wood, BM; Yanovski, J; Yoshida, T; Zhang, X; Murphy-Alford, AJ; Loechl, CU; Melanson, EL; Luke, AH; Pontzer, H; Rood, J; Schoeller, DA; Westerterp, KR; Wong, WW Cell reports. Medicine 2021 ;2(2)
    • Daily energy expenditure through the human life course. Pontzer, H; Yamada, Y; Sagayama, H; Ainslie, PN; Andersen, LF; Anderson, LJ; Arab, L; Baddou, I; Bedu-Addo, K; Blaak, EE; Blanc, S; Bonomi, AG; Bouten, CVC; Bovet, P; Buchowski, MS; Butte, NF; Camps, SG; Close, GL; Cooper, JA; Cooper, R; Das, SK; Dugas, LR; Ekelund, U; Entringer, S; Forrester, T; Fudge, BW; Goris, AH; Gurven, M; Hambly, C; El Hamdouchi, A; Hoos, MB; Hu, S; Joonas, N; Joosen, AM; Katzmarzyk, P; Kempen, KP; Kimura, M; Kraus, WE; Kushner, RF; Lambert, EV; Leonard, WR; Lessan, N; Martin, C; Medin, AC; Meijer, EP; Morehen, JC; Morton, JP; Neuhouser, ML; Nicklas, TA; Ojiambo, RM; Pietiläinen, KH; Pitsiladis, YP; Plange-Rhule, J; Plasqui, G; Prentice, RL; Rabinovich, RA; Racette, SB; Raichlen, DA; Ravussin, E; Reynolds, RM; Roberts, SB; Schuit, AJ; Sjödin, AM; Stice, E; Urlacher, SS; Valenti, G; Van Etten, LM; Van Mil, EA; Wells, JCK; Wilson, G; Wood, BM; Yanovski, J; Yoshida, T; Zhang, X; Murphy-Alford, AJ; Loechl, C; Luke, AH; Rood, J; Schoeller, DA; Westerterp, KR; Wong, WW; Speakman, JR Science (New York, N.Y.) 2021 ;373(6556)
    • Transcriptome prediction performance across machine learning models and diverse ancestries. Okoro, PC; Schubert, R; Guo, X; Johnson, WC; Rotter, JI; Hoeschele, I; Liu, Y; Im, HK; Luke, A; Dugas, LR; Wheeler, HE HGG advances 2021 ;2(2)
    • Family-based lifestyle interventions: What makes them successful? A systematic literature review. Arnason, A; Langarica, N; Dugas, LR; Mora, N; Luke, A; Markossian, T Preventive medicine reports 2020 ;21
    • Predictors of HbA1c among Adipocytokine Biomarkers in African-American Men with Varied Glucose Tolerance. Barengolts, E; Akbar, A; Layden, BT; Eisenberg, Y; Priyadarshini, M; Borgia, JA; Fhied, CL; Salim, M; Dugas, LR Biomedicines 2020 ;8(11)
    • Fecal transplantation and butyrate improve neuropathic pain, modify immune cell profile, and gene expression in the PNS of obese mice. Bonomo, RR; Cook, TM; Gavini, CK; White, CR; Jones, JR; Bovo, E; Zima, AV; Brown, IA; Dugas, LR; Zakharian, E; Aubert, G; Alonzo, F; Calcutt, NA; Mansuy-Aubert, V Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2020
    • Outcomes of physical therapy in patients with temporomandibular disorder: a retrospective review. Fisch, G; Finke, A; Ragonese, J; Dugas, L; Wrzosek, M The British journal of oral & maxillofacial surgery 2020
    • Socioeconomic Status and Determinants of Pediatric Antibiotic Use. McGurn, A; Watchmaker, B; Adam, K; Ni, J; Babinski, P; Friedman, H; Boyd, B; Dugas, LR; Markossian, T Clinical pediatrics 2020
    • Risk of Injuries Associated With Sport Specialization and Intense Training Patterns in Young Athletes: A Longitudinal Clinical Case-Control Study. Jayanthi, N; Kleithermes, S; Dugas, L; Pasulka, J; Iqbal, S; LaBella, C Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine 2020 ;8(6)
    • Associations between self-reported sleep duration and cardiometabolic risk factors in young African-origin adults from the five-country modeling the epidemiologic transition study (METS). Rae, DE; Dugas, LR; Roden, LC; Lambert, EV; Bovet, P; Plange-Rhule, J; Forrester, T; Riesen, W; Korte, W; Crowley, SJ; Reutrakul, S; Luke, A Sleep health 2020
    • Newborn feeding recommendations and practices increase the risk of development of overweight and obesity. Watchmaker, B; Boyd, B; Dugas, LR BMC Pediatrics 2020 ;20(1)
    • Constraint and trade-offs regulate energy expenditure during childhood. Urlacher, SS; Snodgrass, JJ; Dugas, LR; Sugiyama, LS; Liebert, MA; Joyce, CJ; Pontzer, H Science advances 2019 ;5(12)
    • Predictors of Obesity among Gut Microbiota Biomarkers in African American Men with and without Diabetes. Barengolts, E; Green, SJ; Chlipala, GE; Layden, BT; Eisenberg, Y; Priyadarshini, M; Dugas, LR Microorganisms 2019 ;7(9)
    • Early antibiotic exposure and development of asthma and allergic rhinitis in childhood. Ni, J; Friedman, H; Boyd, BC; McGurn, A; Babinski, P; Markossian, T; Dugas, LR BMC Pediatrics 2019 ;19(1)
    • Extreme events reveal an alimentary limit on sustained maximal human energy expenditure. Thurber, C; Dugas, LR; Ocobock, C; Carlson, B; Speakman, JR; Pontzer, H Science advances 2019 ;5(6)
    • Sustained high levels of physical activity lead to improved performance among "Race Across the USA" athletes. Ocobock, C; Overbeck, A; Carlson, C; Royer, C; Mervenne, A; Thurber, C; Dugas, LR; Carlson, B; Pontzer, H American journal of physical anthropology 2019 ;168(4)
    • The human microbiota is associated with cardiometabolic risk across the epidemiologic transition. Fei, N; Bernabé, BP; Lie, L; Baghdan, D; Bedu-Addo, K; Plange-Rhule, J; Forrester, TE; Lambert, EV; Bovet, P; Gottel, N; Riesen, W; Korte, W; Luke, A; Kliethermes, SA; Layden, BT; Gilbert, JA; Dugas, LR PLoS ONE 2019 ;14(7)
    • Oxytocin alterations and neurocognitive domains in patients with hypopituitarism.Eisenberg, Y; Murad, S; Casagrande, A; McArthur, M; Dugas, LR; Barengolts, E; Layden, BT Pituitary 2019 ;22(2)
    • The Heat Is On: A Mixed-Method Examination of Eating Behavior and Executive Functions Among Low Income Minority Girls During Summertime. Egbert, Amy Heard; Bohnert, Amy M.; Bates, Carolyn R.; Loren, Dorothy M.; Creber, Chloe; Rosania, Kimberly A.; Ward, Amanda K.; Dugas, Lara R.; Silton, Rebecca L. Journal of Early Adolescence 2019 ;39(5)
    • Independent association of resting energy expenditure with blood pressure: confirmation in populations of the African diaspora. Creber, Chloe; Cooper, Richard S.; Plange-Rhule, Jacob; Bovet, Pascal; Lambert, Estelle V.; Forrester, Terrence E.; Schoeller, Dale; Riesen, Walter; Korte, Wolfgang; Cao, Guichan; Luke, Amy; Dugas, Lara R. BMC cardiovascular disorders 2018 ;18(5)
    • Gut microbial features can predict host phenotype response to protein deficiency.Navarro, G; Sharma, A; Dugas, LR; Forrester, T; Gilbert, JA; Layden, BT Physiological reports 2018 ;6(23)
    • Decreased microbial co-occurrence network stability and SCFA receptor level correlates with obesity in African-origin women. Dugas, LR; Bernabé, BP; Priyadarshini, M; Fei, N; Park, SJ; Brown, L; Plange-Rhule, J; Nelson, D; Toh, EC; Gao, X; Dong, Q; Sun, J; Kliethermes, S; Gottel, N; Luke, A; Gilbert, JA; Layden, BT Scientific reports 2018 ;8(1)
    • Benefits and challenges of serial sports training risk assessment and counselling in kids: the T.R.A.C.K. randomised intervention study. Kliethermes, SA; Dugas, LR; LaBella, CR; Alawad, N; Pasulka, J; Jayanthi, N British journal of sports medicine 2018 ;53(4)
    • More evening preference is positively associated with systemic inflammation in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes patients. Nimitphong, H; Mahattanapreut, A; Chailurkit, LO; Saetung, S; Siwasaranond, N; Sumritsopak, R; Anothaisintawee, T; Thakkinstian, A; Dugas, LR; Layden, BT; Reutrakul, S Scientific reports 2018 ;8(1)
    • Sugar-sweetened beverage intake and relative weight gain among South African adults living in resource-poor communities: longitudinal data from the STOP-SA study. Okop, KJ; Lambert, EV; Alaba, O; Levitt, NS; Luke, A; Dugas, L; Rvh, D; Kroff, J; Micklesfield, LK; Kolbe-Alexander, TL; Warren, S; Dugmore, H; Bobrow, K; Odunitan-Wayas, FA; Puoane, T International journal of obesity (2005) 2018
    • Independent association of resting energy expenditure with blood pressure: confirmation in populations of the African diaspora Creber,C.; Cooper,R. S.; Plange-Rhule,J.; Bovet,P.; Lambert,E. V.; Forrester,T. E.; Schoeller,D.; Riesen,W.; Korte,W.; Cao,G.; Luke,A.; Dugas,L. R. BMC cardiovascular disorders 2018 ;18(1):4-017-0737-5
    • Oxytocin is lower in African American men with diabetes and associates with psycho-social and metabolic health factors Eisenberg,Y.; Dugas,L. R.; Akbar,A.; Reddivari,B.; Layden,B. T.; Barengolts,E. PLoS ONE 2018 ;13(1):e0190301
    • Gut microbiota varies by opioid use, circulating leptin and oxytocin in African American men with diabetes and high burden of chronic disease Barengolts,E.; Green,S. J.; Eisenberg,Y.; Akbar,A.; Reddivari,B.; Layden,B. T.; Dugas,L.; Chlipala,G. PLoS ONE 2018 ;13(3):e0194171
    • The Association of Dietary Fiber Intake with Cardiometabolic Risk in Four Countries across the Epidemiologic Transition. Lie, L; Brown, L; Forrester, TE; Plange-Rhule, J; Bovet, P; Lambert, EV; Layden, BT; Luke, A; Dugas, LR Nutrients 2018 ;10(5)
    • Determining the Accuracy and Reliability of Indirect Calorimeters Utilizing the Methanol Combustion Technique. Kaviani, S; Schoeller, DA; Ravussin, E; Melanson, EL; Henes, ST; Dugas, LR; Dechert, RE; Mitri, G; Schoffelen, PFM; Gubbels, P; Tornberg, A; Garland, S; Akkermans, M; Cooper, JA Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 2018 ;33(2)
    • Gut microbiota, short chain fatty acids, and obesity across the epidemiologic transition: the METS-Microbiome study protocol. Dugas, LR; Lie, L; Plange-Rhule, J; Bedu-Addo, K; Bovet, P; Lambert, EV; Forrester, TE; Luke, A; Gilbert, JA; Layden, BT BMC Public Health 2018 ;18(1)
    • Improving Urban Minority Girls' Health Via Community Summer Programming.Bohnert, AM; Bates, CR; Heard, AM; Burdette, KA; Ward, AK; Silton, RL; Dugas, LR Journal of racial and ethnic health disparities 2017 ;4(6)
    • Specialization patterns across various youth sports and relationship to injury risk.Pasulka, J; Jayanthi, N; McCann, A; Dugas, LR; LaBella, C The Physician and sportsmedicine 2017 ;45(3)
    • 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and blood pressure: a plateau effect in adults with African ancestry living at different latitudes Chiang,D.; Kramer,H.; Luke,A.; Cooper,R.; Aloia,J.; Bovet,P.; Plange-Rhule,J.; Forrester,T.; Lambert,V.; Camacho,P.; Dugas,L.; Durazo-Arvizu,R. Journal of hypertension 2017 ;35(5):968-974
    • Physical activity and central adiposity in a cohort of African-American adultsMcGrath,S.; Brazel,D.; Dugas,L.; Cao,G.; Durazo-Arvizu,R.; Luke,A. BMC obesity 2017 ;4:34-017-0170-4. eCollection 2017
    • Cardiovascular risk status of Afro-origin populations across the spectrum of economic development: findings from the Modeling the Epidemiologic Transition Study Dugas,L. R.; Forrester,T. E.; Plange-Rhule,J.; Bovet,P.; Lambert,E. V.; Durazo-Arvizu,R. A.; Cao,G.; Cooper,R. S.; Khatib,R.; Tonino,L.; Riesen,W.; Korte,W.; Kliethermes,S.; Luke,A. BMC Public Health 2017 ;17(1):438-017-4318-4
    • Accelerometer-measured physical activity is not associated with two-year weight change in African-origin adults from five diverse populations Dugas,L. R.; Kliethermes,S.; Plange-Rhule,J.; Tong,L.; Bovet,P.; Forrester,T. E.; Lambert,E. V.; Schoeller,D. A.; Durazo-Arvizu,R. A.; Shoham,D. A.; Cao,G.; Brage,S.; Ekelund,U.; Cooper,R. S.; Luke,A. PeerJ 2017 ;5:e2902
    • Cardiovascular risk status of Afro-origin populations across the spectrum of economic development: findings from the Modeling the Epidemiologic Transition Study. Dugas, Lara R.; Forrester, Terrence E.; Plange-Rhule, Jacob; Bovet, Pascal; Lambert, Estelle V.; Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon A.; Guichan Cao; Cooper, Richard S.; Khatib, Rasha; Tonino, Laura; Riesen, Walter; Korte, Wolfgang; Kliethermes, Stephanie; Luke, Amy; Cao, Guichan BMC Public Health 2017 ;17(1)
    • 25-Hydroxyvitamin D and blood pressure: a plateau effect in adults with African ancestry living at different latitudes. Daniel Chiang; Kramer, Holly; Luke, Amy; Cooper, Richard; Aloia, John; Bovet, Pascal; Plange-Rhule, Jacob; Forrester, Terrence; Lambert, Vickie; Camacho, Pauline; Dugas, Lara; Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon; Chiang, Daniel Journal of hypertension 2017 ;35(6)
    • The Risks of Sports Specialization in the Adolescent Female Athlete. Jayanthi, Neeru A.; Dugas, Lara R. Strength & Conditioning Journal (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins) 2017 ;39(2)
    • Dietary factors and fibroblast growth factor-23 levels in young adults with African ancestry. Kosk, Dominique; Kramer, Holly; Luke, Amy; Camacho, Pauline; Bovet, Pascal; Rhule, Jacob; Forrester, Terrence; Wolf, Myles; Sempos, Chris; Melamed, Michal; Dugas, Lara; Cooper, Richard; Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon; Rhule, Jacob Plange; Melamed, Michal L; Dugas, Lara R Journal of Bone & Mineral Metabolism 2017 ;35(6)
    • The social patterning of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in five countries: evidence from the modeling the epidemiologic transition study (METS).Stringhini, Silvia; Forrester, Terrence E.; Plange-Rhule, Jacob; Lambert, Estelle V.; Viswanathan, Bharathi; Riesen, Walter; Korte, Wolfgang; Levitt, Naomi; Tong, Liping; Dugas, Lara R.; Shoham, David; Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon A.; Luke, Amy; Bovet, Pascal BMC Public Health 2016 ;16(5)
    • A Synthesis of Hepatitis C prevalence estimates in Sub-Saharan Africa: 2000-2013.Mora, Nallely; Adams, William H.; Kliethermes, Stephanie; Dugas, Lara; Balasubramanian, Neelam; Sandhu, Jasmin; Nde, Helen; Small, Christina; Jose, Joanne; Scaglione, Steven; Layden, Jennifer E. BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 ;16(4)
    • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF-23) Levels Differ Across Populations by Degree of Industrialization. Yuen, Shennin N; Kramer, Holly; Luke, Amy; Bovet, Pascal; Plange-Rhule, Jacob; Forrester, Terrence; Lambert, Vicki; Wolf, Myles; Camacho, Pauline; Harders, Regina; Dugas, Lara; Cooper, Richard; Durazo-Arvizu, Ramon Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 2016 ;101(3)
    • Dietary factors and fibroblast growth factor-23 levels in young adults with African ancestry Kosk,D.; Kramer,H.; Luke,A.; Camacho,P.; Bovet,P.; Rhule,J. P.; Forrester,T.; Wolf,M.; Sempos,C.; Melamed,M. L.; Dugas,L. R.; Cooper,R.; Durazo-Arvizu,R. Journal of bone and mineral metabolism 2016
    • Health and Fitness Status of Parent-Child Dyads: Tennis-Only Athletes Versus Multisport Athletes in the Competitive Adolescent Population. Schneider, Andrew; Jayanthi, Neeru; Luke, Amy; Bohnert, Amy; Dugas, Lara Medicine & Science in Tennis 2016 ;21(3)
    • The obese gut microbiome across the epidemiologic transition. Dugas, Lara R.; Fuller, Miles; Gilbert, Jack; Layden, Brian T. Emerging themes in epidemiology 2016 ;13
    • A Synthesis of Hepatitis C prevalence estimates in Sub-Saharan Africa: 2000-2013Mora,N.; Adams,W. H.; Kliethermes,S.; Dugas,L.; Balasubramanian,N.; Sandhu,J.; Nde,H.; Small,C.; Jose,J.; Scaglione,S.; Layden,J. E. BMC Infectious Diseases 2016 ;16(1):283-016-1584-1
    • Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 (FGF-23) Levels Differ Across Populations by Degree