Biobehavioral and -Omics Research

Nurse consulting with patient.

Biobehavioral research considers both biological and behavioral contributors to health in order to better understand and target the underlying mechanisms of disease and symptom etiology. Similarly, nurses conducting -omic based research, including epigenomic, genomic, microbiomic, and/or metabolomic research, investigate factors at the cellular or metabolic level that predispose one to (genetic, epigenetic, and/or microbiomic) or reflect (metabolomic) good or poor health. Ultimately, nursing scientists conducting biobehavioral and/or -omic-related research seek to apply the knowledge discovered to develop more effective nursing assessment, intervention, and evaluation strategies. Biobehavioral and -omic researchers at Columbia University School of Nursing regularly address important areas of nursing science, including cardiovascular disease, HIV risk and progression, asthma control, maternal-child health, symptom development, and the development of single and multiple chronic conditions. Our work is often conducted under the umbrella of eliminating health disparities and ensuring better health outcomes for all.

Researchers

  • Suzanne B. Bakken, PhD, MS, BSN, FAAN, FACMI, FIAHSI

    • Professor of Biomedical Informatics
    • Alumni Professor of the School of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Informatics, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
    Research Interests: Latino, Symptom Science, Self-Management, Informatics, Information Visualization, Precision Health

  • Ulf G Bronas, PhD, ATC, ATR, FSVM, FAHA

    • Professor of Biobehavioral Science (in Nursing)

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health

    Research Interests: older adults, cognition, peripheral vascular disease, neural network plasticity, older adults, chronic kidney disease, physical activity, exercise, rehabilitation, dietary habits in midlife, stress reactivity, racial/ethnic disparities, age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer's disease

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  • Jean-Marie Bruzzese, PhD

    • Professor of Applied Developmental Psychology (in Nursing)

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Dissemination and Implementation, Interdisciplinary
    Research Interests: Asthma, School-Based, Adolescents, Behavioral Medicine, Intervention, Self-Care

  • Billy Caceres, PhD, MSN, RN

    • Assistant Professor of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Comparative Effectiveness, Interdisciplinary, Precision Health
    Research Interests: Cardiovascular Health, Interventions, Adverse Life Experiences, Intersectionality

  • Elizabeth J. Corwin, PhD, MSN, BS, BSN, FNP, FAAN

    • Anna C. Maxwell Professor of Nursing Research (in Nursing)

    Research Approaches: Interdisciplinary, Precision Health, Translational
    Research Interests: The Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis, Postpartum Depression, Fatigue, Depression, Anxiety, Metabolomics, Multiple Chronic Conditions

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  • Tonda L. Hughes, PhD, RN, FAAN

    • Henrik H. Bendixen Professor of International Nursing (in Psychiatry)

    Research Approaches: Survey, Quantitative, Mixed Methods, Methodological, Couple-level
    Research Interests: Health Disparities, Social Determinants of Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Use, Sexual Minority Women's Health, Sexual and Gender Minority Health, Intersectionality, Intimate Partner Aggression, Epidemiology

  • Elaine L. Larson, PhD, RN, FAAN, CIC

    • Anna C. Maxwell Professor Emerita of Nursing Research and Professor Emerita of Epidemiology
    • Special Lecturer in Nursing

    Research Approaches: Clinical, Comparative Effectiveness, Interdisciplinary
    Research Interests: Bioethics, Clinical Research, Nursing Research, Epidemiology, Infection Prevention and Control

  • Rebecca Schnall, PhD, MPH, BSN, FAAN, FACMI

    • Mary Dickey Lindsay Professor of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (in Nursing) and Professor of Population and Family Health

    Research Approaches: Dissemination and Implementation, Informatics, Interdisciplinary
    Research Interests: HIV Prevention, Point of Care Testing, Racial and Ethnic Minorities, mHealth, Mobile Technology, Medication Adherence

  • Jacquelyn Y. Taylor, PhD, PNP-BC, RN, FAHA, FAAN

    • Helen F. Pettit Professor of Nursing

    Research Approaches: Interdisciplinary, Precision Health, Translational

    Research Interests: Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Genomics, Black Populations, Social Determinants of Health, Racism/Discrimination, Blood Pressure

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