Principal Investigator

Dr. Creasy earned her Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences, researching transcriptional changes in liver gene expression during development, damage, and regeneration. Her work now focuses on understanding genetic contributions to metabolic diseases and investigating precision nutrition approaches to treat cardiometabolic diseases.

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Postdoctoral Researcher

Sarah earned her PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Pennsylvania in early 2026. Her dissertation in Dr. Matthew Hayes’s lab focused on how the satiation signal glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mediates eating behavior. She found that brainstem GLP-1 signaling increases near ovulation, reducing novelty-driven overconsumption and likely enhancing the weight-loss efficacy of GLP-1 agonists during this time. Drawing on her background in nutrition neuroscience, Sarah now aims to investigate gut-liver-brain crosstalk in metabolic diseases and associated comorbidities to help develop improved pharmacotherapies. She is particularly interested in steroid hormone signaling and is passionate about improving clinical translation through gene-to-bench approaches and preclinical behavioral assessments.

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Undergraduate Research Assistant

Natalie is a senior and Masters Degree candidate (submatriculation) at Penn, majoring in Biology. She has been with the Lab since summer 2023, and is currently investigating the effect of the PPP1R3B gene on the expression of circadian-clock genes in microglial cells and on microglial phagocytotic activity. She intends to attend medical school in the fall of 2027.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Lauren is an undergraduate BSN student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, graduating in Spring 2027. Her research interests focus on how metabolism intersects with genetics, diet, and organ function. Following graduation, Lauren plans to work with cardiac and transplant patient populations, with the goal of integrating high-quality clinical care with scientific inquiry in her nursing practice.

Research Specialist

Varnitha earned her BA in Cell Biology and Neuroscience from Rutgers University, where she studied the role of orexin in opioid addiction, particularly investigating how sex differences impact drug dependence and treatment outcomes. Currently, her research centers on the intersection of cardiometabolic function, brain health, and nutritional intervention, with a strong emphasis on the underlying genetic mechanisms at play. In the future, Varnitha aims to pursue a PhD to further explore the intricacies of human health and disease, with the goal of developing practical and accessible healthcare solutions.

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Ruth is an undergraduate student at the University of Pennsylvania studying Biology with a focus in neurobiology, graduating in Spring 2028. Her research interests focus on how underlying genetics and diet intersect with metabolic disease and eventually later stage brain disease. Following graduation, Ruth plans to pursue a medical degree and work with underserved populations with cardiometabolic diseases and further explore the connections between cardiac disease and nutrition with the goal of developing accessible healthcare solutions.  

Graduate Research Assistant

Beth is a current Family Nurse Practitioner Graduate student at Penn. She earned a BA from Salisbury University in political science with a minor in biology and obtained her MSN at the University of Maryland. Research interests include studying the role genetics play in the link between metabolic diseases and nutritional interventions. Beth plans to continue research during NP school with intent to pursue a PhD in the future. 

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Jory is a Junior at Penn, studying Biology and Ancient History, with research interests in nutrition, disease pathogenesis and clinical manifestations within the liver and GI systems. His current work studies the metabolic effects of varied dietary challenges in liver-disease models.